Suns Could Move Away from Traditional Coaching Hire

Mat Ishbia has come under heavy scrutiny of late after the firing of Mike Budenholzer. The relatively new-to-the-game majority owner of the Phoenix Suns came into the job and started to make his mark immediately. However, so far, his marks haven’t panned out in any positive or impactful manner. Case in point: the firing of Budenholzer after just one season followed the firing of Frank Vogel, also a one-and-done coach after being let go after one season. Ishbia has made all the wrong noise to date, and as it stands with the Sun’s current coaching hire situation, their front office is reportedly willing to move in the direction that has made the Los Angeles Lakers successful this year.

Suns Could Move Away from Traditional Coaching Hire

Phoenix Suns search for new head coach includes candidates with no previous experience

The most scathing remarks regarding Ishbia’s limited tenure in Phoenix came from Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take last week. As with many of Stephen A’s takes, this was a complete overreaction. The bombastic media figure labeled Ishibia on track to being the worst NBA owner of all time. Smith retracted his remarks, sort of, but maintained his bigger point. That said, Ishbia hasn’t done himself any favors, and it has not started well for him. Under Ishbia, the Suns have hired and fired two former championship head coaches. Ishbia also pointed Monty Williams to the back door, who had recently led the Suns to the NBA finals. Those are three coaches Ishibia has let go, making the presently open position a shaky one for anyone who fills it.

The Suns had chosen coaches with the resume, experience, and championship pedigree to no avail. As they begin another search, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, Phoenix is planning to consider candidates with little to no head coaching experience this time around.

Following the Lakers blueprint?

When the Lakers eventually hired JJ Redick, the former player’s lack of coaching experience was spotlighted as a huge gamble. He had not coached on any NBA level before. Fifty regular-season wins, one healthy LeBron James, one Luka Dončić, and one transformed Austin Reaves later, the risky move has unquestionably paid off. It’s fair to question, though: Is Redick a one-off? Or can a similar move be replicated elsewhere?

Phoenix may try that as they search for a new bench boss. While Redick had no coaching experience whatsoever, a handful of the candidates the Suns are reportedly interested in have at least an assistant coaching background. It’s not the same path taken as the Lakers, but it’s close if that’s Phoenix’s chosen route. The assistant’s Phoenix reportedly has interest in don’t bring any head coaching experience. According to Stein and Fischer, this list includes Johnnie Bryant (Cleveland Cavaliers), Royal Ivey (Houston Rockets), Jared Dudley, and Sean Sweeney (Dallas Mavericks).

A new coach will inherit a new roster

Whichever candidate lands the job in Phoenix will likely take over a different-looking team. Kevin Durant is likely to be traded this summer. (possibly Bradley Beal also). Devin Booker is expected to be offered a significant contract extension this summer, and the word out of Phoenix is that Booker is expected to remain a long-term member of the Suns. Things happen, though, and the offseason can produce some wild and crazy stories. Durant is almost assuredly out. As for the rest of the roster, it’s a wait-and-see game. In the meantime, Phoenix will move on to their third head coach since they went to the finals in 2021. Ishbia is under the gun; there’s no question about it.