Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

3 Monty Williams Replacements Linked To Phoenix Suns

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Kenneth Teape | Last updated 5/15/23

The Phoenix Suns didn’t waste much time making some major moves after being eliminated in the Western Conference semifinal for the second straight NBA postseason in embarrassing fashion. This time it was at the hands of the Denver Nuggets, who went to FootPrint Center and ran the Suns out of the gym.

Denver held a 30-point halftime lead, reminiscent of what the Dallas Mavericks did to the Suns in Game 7 last year. This time around, the performance cost head coach Monty Williams his job. Williams oversaw some excellent performances during his time on the sidelines.

The Suns made the NBA Finals in 2021, losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Last season they had the best record in the NBA and Williams won the Coach of the Year award. The team has made the postseason three straight years after missing it the first Williams was at the helm.

That wasn’t enough to save Williams from getting fired, who lasted four years on the job. New owner Mat Ishbia will now be tasked with finding a new head coach to lead his franchise and the team already has some candidates emerging.

According to Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report, the Suns have already added assistant Kevin Young, Mike Budenholzer and Nick Nurse to their list of prospective candidates. Haynes also shared the list will expand as Phoenix is a prime opening on the market.

Phoenix Suns are formulating a list of head coaching candidates that includes assistant Kevin Young, Mike Budenholzer and Nick Nurse, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 14, 2023

Budenholzer and Nurse are expected to be very popular candidates during this cycle. Budenholzer was fired by the Bucks this offseason and was the head coach that defeated Williams and the Suns two years ago.

Nurse also has an NBA championship on his resume, leading the Toronto Raptors to the title over the Golden State Warriors in 2019, his first year on the job. He was relieved of his duties after five seasons as he and the front office didn’t see eye-to-eye on the direction of the franchise.

Both candidates have championship experience, which the Suns are likely looking for. This is a team built to win now and having a coach on the sidelines that knows what it takes to reach that level would be ideal.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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