Suns Coach 2018-19

[O_Gardino]

I agree with a lot of what Virtual had to say, I bet Bud wanted more money and more control than we had on the table. Maybe he didn't like our pitch about what we want to do with the roster. Maybe he didn't like how involved Sarver is. Bottom line is he woudn't have been working for Mc, he would have been working for Sarver.

It's too bad, because I think he's the best coach on the radar, and sometimes you have to overpay to get out of the gutter (like Atlanta did with Joe Johnson).

Kokoskov, Triano, and Borrego, JVG, Skiles are all names worth looking into, I guess. I would interview Cheryl Reeve from the Minnesota Lynx, too.

I might like Triano best out of those names, actually.

[O_Gardino]

I have no interest in Fizdale or Clifford.

[virtual9mm]

I agree with a lot of what Virtual had to say, I bet Bud wanted more money and more control than we had on the table. Maybe he didn't like our pitch about what we want to do with the roster. Maybe he didn't like how involved Sarver is. Bottom line is he woudn't have been working for Mc, he would have been working for Sarver.

It's too bad, because I think he's the best coach on the radar, and sometimes you have to overpay to get out of the gutter (like Atlanta did with Joe Johnson).

Kokoskov, Triano, and Borrego, JVG, Skiles are all names worth looking into, I guess. I would interview Cheryl Reeve from the Minnesota Lynx, too.

I might like Triano best out of those names, actually.

I'd think that control would work as a justification for the money. It is unfortunate that Bud is not as good of a GM as he is a coach.

I also don't think that Triano's as bad as folks here have been saying...but I'd think that Kokoskov has to be higher up? Not sure.

[Mori Chu]

My first guess was that we tried to low-ball Bud, but actually he is making huge money there in ATL and also gets to be their GM. So maybe he wanted to have some say over player transactions and GM stuff. I don't think we should be dumb enough to let our next coach be our GM or even part-GM. So if we said "no" to that, that's fine with me. Can't really speak to the money; I would have paid $7m / year to get Bud, but that is pretty high among league coaches. Just once I would like to hear that the Suns paid whatever it took to get "their" guy, though. That isn't Saver's way.

Can anybody tell me more about Borrego? Honestly any time I hear there's a Spurs assistant in consideration, my ears perk up. When in doubt, hire from really successful organizations like San Antonio.

Of the other names, I think in some order I prefer Vogel and Fizdale. I might lean slightly toward Fizdale, but I think both are appealing candidates. I'm bummed about Bud, but if we could get either of these 2-3 guys I would give them a chance.

[Split T]

I'm glad we're interviewing Kokoskov. I like him and have heard nothing but good things. I could get behind Vogel or fizdale. Not really excited about Clifford, at that point I'd just keep triano. Don't want McHale at all. Don't know anything about boreggo, I'd be open minded about him though.

[O_Gardino]

My first guess was that we tried to low-ball Bud, but actually he is making huge money there in ATL and also gets to be their GM. So maybe he wanted to have some say over player transactions and GM stuff. I don't think we should be dumb enough to let our next coach be our GM or even part-GM. So if we said "no" to that, that's fine with me. Can't really speak to the money; I would have paid $7m / year to get Bud, but that is pretty high among league coaches. Just once I would like to hear that the Suns paid whatever it took to get "their" guy, though. That isn't Saver's way.

Can anybody tell me more about Borrego? Honestly any time I hear there's a Spurs assistant in consideration, my ears perk up. When in doubt, hire from really successful organizations like San Antonio.

Of the other names, I think in some order I prefer Vogel and Fizdale. I might lean slightly toward Fizdale, but I think both are appealing candidates. I'm bummed about Bud, but if we could get either of these 2-3 guys I would give them a chance.

We paid what it took to get Bledsoe and Knight.

[Superbone]

https://twitter.com/sbordow/status/987163558730350592

[Superbone]

Let's not jump to conclusions regarding Bud, no matter how tempting. He had a 7mm per year contact in Atlanta, for both the coach and GM roles. Even though he was stripped of the GM role, he's still getting 7mm. For him to leave this contract and jump to Phoenix, he would need to be paid something like 7mm per year on a longer number of years. This is quite a high salary compared to what coaches were making as recently as 2016-2017, when the only coaches making that much or more (on a pure coaching contract) were Popovich (10mm) and Scott Brooks (7mm). Indeed, Frank Vogel made the top 10 on only 2mm per year:

http://moneyinc.com/nba-coaches-salaries/

So, if I had to guess, he wanted a big chunk of McDonough's job on top of coaching to justify a higher salary. He wasn't getting that -- and he was not a great GM anyway. The numbers were never going to work out, so he withdrew. I don't see how this is the Suns being "cheap". Bud was definitely a good coach...but not a tested championship-caliber coach like Pop, Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, and now Steve Kerr in their primes.

Regarding the bias against "retreads", let's try to remember that D'Antoni the first time around was a "retread" after having failed in Denver, Cotton Fitzsimmons was a "retread" in 1988, and Rick Carlisle by the time he got to Dallas. I'm perfectly fine with some of the names being thrown out there. Not with others, though.

Worth a look: Kokoskov, Vogel, Borrogeo
Dumpster: Fizdale, McHale
Placeholder: Triano

That's a balanced take. I want to hear more info on why Bud moved on. What about Clifford? Where does he fit in there for you?

[TOO]

https://twitter.com/sbordow/status/987163558730350592

But overreactions make the internet go round...

[Superbone]

BTW I'm really not impressed by Fizdale's apparent proclivity towards hookers. We don't need that kind of behavior around impressionable young players.

He was pretty high up on my list and I admit that this "news" put a damper on that but let's not take it as gospel as it comes from a friend of a friend.

[Superbone]

Bordow thought we might get more clarity today but I guess it's not happening. I sure hope we get more info on the reasoning. I'm curious what Bordow heard.
https://twitter.com/sbordow/status/987337298441158656 https://twitter.com/sbordow/status/987342341085118464

[Superbone]

BTW, not that I would want him, I wouldn't, but Kenny Smith is interviewing for the Knicks' head coach position.

[O_Gardino]

BTW, not that I would want him, I wouldn't, but Kenny Smith is interviewing for the Knicks' head coach position.

Why no Kenny? Just the inexperience, or do you still hate him from the old rivalry with the Rockets?

[Mori Chu]

My concern with Kenny would be whether he is willing to put in the work to be a great NBA coach. He seems to be used to the cushy life of being a studio analyst, showing up 1-2 days a week to give a few hours of punditry and then heading home. Not saying he's a lazy guy at all, just that it's hard to go from a life like that where it's doubtful you work 40 solid hours a week to the life of coaching where you're pretty much burning yourself out 24/7. I do think Kenny is a smart guy who understands the game very well. Dunno if he is great at drawing up Xes and Os, but I bet he is willing and able to learn. I also think he'd have a great camaraderie with players and would be good at reaching them and motivating them. I would enjoy watching him try to coach, though I don't think I would want it to be here in Phoenix.

[Ring_Wanted]

I have no interest in Fizdale or Clifford.

Same. Kokoskov before those two.

[ShelC]

Knicks gon' Knicks. They want the reality show and backpages/drama surrounding names like Jackson and Kenny Smith. All the fans want JVG back and he reached out to the Knicks who said they weren't interested. The fans were pissed, then a hit piece came out about JVG in the NYPost about how the Knicks were concerned he hasn't coached in the analytics era and doesn't get along with euros because he yelled at Frederic Weiss 20 years ago. They won't even meet with JVG, but interview Kenny Smith who has no experience. They think they're trying to appease fans (they said they want someone who can connect with fans) by meeting with guys like Mark Jackson and Kenny Smith. They don't seem interested in Vogel or Clifford (who has a history with the Garden) and Dolan threw Hornacek under the bus in an interview yesterday. They've also spoken with Woodson, presumably because they want him to be lead assistant under either Fizdale or Stackhouse. Some fans legit think management only wants to hire a black coach who can "relate to the players", and Dolan reinforced that with his comments about Hornacek and Phil.

The org is a clown show. They're like us, with more money.

[O_Gardino]

My concern with Kenny would be whether he is willing to put in the work to be a great NBA coach. He seems to be used to the cushy life of being a studio analyst, showing up 1-2 days a week to give a few hours of punditry and then heading home. Not saying he's a lazy guy at all, just that it's hard to go from a life like that where it's doubtful you work 40 solid hours a week to the life of coaching where you're pretty much burning yourself out 24/7. I do think Kenny is a smart guy who understands the game very well. Dunno if he is great at drawing up Xes and Os, but I bet he is willing and able to learn. I also think he'd have a great camaraderie with players and would be good at reaching them and motivating them. I would enjoy watching him try to coach, though I don't think I would want it to be here in Phoenix.

That's a pretty fair take about Kenny. In general, I think if you don't like coaching enough to work as an assistant, then you aren't going to be a great head coach. Unless you are Steve Kerr.

[JustWinBaby]

I really am no sure why the love affair with Bud. He appeared to have good success in Atlanta but why did it take 17 years to get his first head coaching job. While I would have supported the hire I am not losing any sleep over his loss.

Maybe the Hawks were demanding too much for us to hire him. Who knows? Next man up.

Maybe he told Sarver that McDonough sucked as a GM and he wanted that job to as well as James Jones job. What exactly have those two accomplished for this franchise?

[specialsauce]

It just looks really bad. Bickleys take on it was great. A cheap organization interviews an expensive candidate for 2! Days and then the candidate withdraws his name voluntarily after going through all of that. It just stinks of them being too cheap. If it was another organization maybe not but they have quite the reputation.

[Superbone]

BTW, not that I would want him, I wouldn't, but Kenny Smith is interviewing for the Knicks' head coach position.

Why no Kenny? Just the inexperience, or do you still hate him from the old rivalry with the Rockets?

Mostly inexperience. I think we need an experienced coach at this time. I think Kokoskov might be my leading candidate right now.