Choose The Suns Next Head Coach?

Who would you like to see the Suns hire as head coach this summer?

  • David Fizdale

    Votes: 13 19.1%
  • Jay Wright

    Votes: 23 33.8%
  • Monty Williams

    Votes: 2 2.9%
  • Jeff Van Gundy

    Votes: 4 5.9%
  • Mark Jackson

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Jason Kidd

    Votes: 8 11.8%
  • Jay Triano

    Votes: 5 7.4%
  • Dan Majerle

    Votes: 6 8.8%
  • Other

    Votes: 13 19.1%
  • Mike Budenholzer

    Votes: 12 17.6%

  • Total voters
    68

AzStevenCal

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As Igor knows Doncic it could also be a reason the Suns do not draft him... if he would not be the right choice.

Hopefully the new Suns coach puts the team first. The Suns shouldn't hire him otherwise. If the Suns are sitting there at 3 or 4, I want them to draft the BPA.

I like Young too.

I guess I don't really care who we draft as long as the guy is first team All NBA a dozen times or more. All with the Suns, of course. I just don't think that's Doncic.
 

Mainstreet

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I guess I don't really care who we draft as long as the guy is first team All NBA a dozen times or more. All with the Suns, of course. I just don't think that's Doncic.

These are my thoughts as well but I'm trying to keep an open mind about Doncic.

However, the reason I don't draft him, he is not a pure PG.

The Suns need a definite skill set from the draft... a center, point guard or power forward.
 

SirStefan32

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http://arizonasports.com/story/1505176/alvin-gentry-igor-kokoskov-phoenix-suns/

I am warming to this idea. I like Jeff Van Gundy, but it does not look like he is under consideration. Igor seems to have all the qualities necessary. I certainly would take him over Fizdale. But I am not sure that Fizdale deserves the backstabber rep he is getting.

I am very high on Igor. I had forgotten he worked for Gentry in LA at the very beginning of his career, and for Quinn in NCAA. Everyone always speaks very highly of him, and he was the only assistant to stay after Gentry was fired. Well, Carthwright may have been there too, but Turner and Majerle left.

That was a nice interview. I really like Gentry. I enjoyed one of the guys referring to Hunter as the backstabber. It was also interesting that Gentry mentioned Bender specifically as someone who will end up being a really good player.
 

Mainstreet

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I am very high on Igor. I had forgotten he worked for Gentry in LA at the very beginning of his career, and for Quinn in NCAA. Everyone always speaks very highly of him, and he was the only assistant to stay after Gentry was fired. Well, Carthwright may have been there too, but Turner and Majerle left.

That was a nice interview. I really like Gentry. I enjoyed one of the guys referring to Hunter as the backstabber. It was also interesting that Gentry mentioned Bender specifically as someone who will end up being a really good player.

I'd feel better if Bender was further along.

I want Igor the coach, not Igor the scout. Hopefully he can separate the two if he becomes the Suns head coach.
 

Folster

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I am very high on Igor. I had forgotten he worked for Gentry in LA at the very beginning of his career, and for Quinn in NCAA. Everyone always speaks very highly of him, and he was the only assistant to stay after Gentry was fired. Well, Carthwright may have been there too, but Turner and Majerle left.

That was a nice interview. I really like Gentry. I enjoyed one of the guys referring to Hunter as the backstabber. It was also interesting that Gentry mentioned Bender specifically as someone who will end up being a really good player.

There seems to be a lot of chatter and praise circulating around Kokoskov in recent days from multiple sources in connection with the Suns. He's definitely intriguing, but doesn't have an NBA head coaching resume. I wonder if he'd be able to tap Bender's potential, and the prospect of him coaching Luka is also interesting despite there being no guarantee we'd draft him or even be in the position to do so.
 

Mainstreet

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There seems to be a lot of chatter and praise circulating around Kokoskov in recent days from multiple sources in connection with the Suns. He's definitely intriguing, but doesn't have an NBA head coaching resume. I wonder if he'd be able to tap Bender's potential, and the prospect of him coaching Luka is also interesting despite there being no guarantee we'd draft him or even be in the position to do so.

I felt Suns fans were being prepped to hire Budenholzer. Now I feel the same about Kokoskov.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...ared-dudley-believes-igor-kokoskov/539076002/
 

SirStefan32

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Since I am very wrong most of the time, I do want to point out that I started talking about Kokoskov before (to the best of my knowledge) he was mentioned by anyone. For once, I was ahead of it all. Now I can go back to being wrong for about three months. :mrgreen:
 

Cheesebeef

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Since I am very wrong most of the time, I do want to point out that I started talking about Kokoskov before (to the best of my knowledge) he was mentioned by anyone. For once, I was ahead of it all. Now I can go back to being wrong for about three months. :mrgreen:

Bookmarked for the next time you scoff at the tiniest of Doncic slights.
 

Mainstreet

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Since I am very wrong most of the time, I do want to point out that I started talking about Kokoskov before (to the best of my knowledge) he was mentioned by anyone. For once, I was ahead of it all. Now I can go back to being wrong for about three months. :mrgreen:

Better hope Kokoskov is a great head coach. I think it's coming. ;)
 

BC867

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I think he will be. I will say that if I am right about just one thing, let it be about Igor.
Question, Stef. Does he have the gones to go to McDonough (or more probably Sarver) and say, "This is the type of player(s) I need to take us to the next level." To me, that is up there with any other priorities.

And, while we're at it, did Sarver really mean (and practice) what he said that Devin Booker would have a say in future (now current) planning? Or was that just a ploy to get him to re-sign?
 

SirStefan32

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Question, Stef. Does he have the gones to go to McDonough (or more probably Sarver) and say, "This is the type of player(s) I need to take us to the next level." To me, that is up there with any other priorities.

And, while we're at it, did Sarver really mean (and practice) what he said that Devin Booker would have a say in future (now current) planning? Or was that just a ploy to get him to re-sign?

Well, for a successful partnership to work, the coach and the GM have to be on the same page, and the owner has to trust them. Grand gesturing of marching into a bosses' office and demanding crap is not up there with the priorities.
I want a coach who will hold players accountable, figure out how to develop them, get the most out of their skills, be able to have a consistent strategy, and be able to adjust the tactics.

I would also think that your best player should have some say, and be involved in the process when it comes down to signing players. When I am hiring and/or promoting people, I ask my best people for their opinions on some candidates. Collaboration is always a good thing.
 
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Hoop Head

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Question, Stef. Does he have the gones to go to McDonough (or more probably Sarver) and say, "This is the type of player(s) I need to take us to the next level." To me, that is up there with any other priorities.

And, while we're at it, did Sarver really mean (and practice) what he said that Devin Booker would have a say in future (now current) planning? Or was that just a ploy to get him to re-sign?

We wouldn't hear about a coach marching into the owners office like that anyways. I'm not sure why you prioritize that. It's like seeing that happen has become the new championship you want to see the Suns win. Almost every post you make now takes a swipe at Sarver and any call for what you want to see in the future is someone telling him off. It's unrealistic and unnecessary. Sarver has spent money in the past and he will again. With how poorly the team has done I can't blame him for not opening his checkbook for a team that is at the bottom of the standings. Once there is a plan in place and progress being made towards turning the franchise into a winner then he'll pay who he has to.
 

BC867

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We wouldn't hear about a coach marching into the owners office like that anyways. I'm not sure why you prioritize that. It's like seeing that happen has become the new championship you want to see the Suns win. Almost every post you make now takes a swipe at Sarver...
This is about how the hierarchy operates, which we see in the results.

The news that Sarver had the last (solo) conversation with Bud, who then said he is not interested, is not about me taking a swipe.

It is just another example about Sarver's incompetence as anointed GM, screwing up the future of the Suns and disappointing the fans.

Do you really think it's my fault? Really? The top consensus on this Board for Head Coach met with Sarver (without his GM), then walked.

Why are you covering for Sarver?
 

JCSunsfan

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This is about how the hierarchy operates, which we see in the results.

The news that Sarver had the last (solo) conversation with Bud, who then said he is not interested, is not about me taking a swipe.

It is just another example about Sarver's incompetence as anointed GM, screwing up the future of the Suns and disappointing the fans.

Do you really think it's my fault? Really? The top consensus on this Board for Head Coach met with Sarver (without his GM), then walked.

Why are you covering for Sarver?
Where was the news about Sarver being the last guy to speak to Bud?
 

SirStefan32

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Even if he was, who knows what was talked about? Maybe Bud wanted a one on one with the owner to ask him to fire the GM and give him both positions? Maybe McD didn't get anywhere, so Sarver decided to give it a shot? There are numerous possibilities, but in BC's mind (and to be fair, he is not the only one on this board who thinks this way) is that somehow it's Sarver's fault.
 

BC867

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Where was the news about Sarver being the last guy to speak to Bud?
Someone mentioned it on this site. I'm sorry, but I did not take note of exactly where.

If whoever posted that could help, I'd appreciate that. Or did I read it in the paper or online? I honestly don't remember.
 

AzStevenCal

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Even if he was, who knows what was talked about? Maybe Bud wanted a one on one with the owner to ask him to fire the GM and give him both positions? Maybe McD didn't get anywhere, so Sarver decided to give it a shot? There are numerous possibilities, but in BC's mind (and to be fair, he is not the only one on this board who thinks this way) is that somehow it's Sarver's fault.

I think people tend to jump on the "blame Sarver" bandwagon far too quickly. But it's difficult to explain away this situation any other way. I hope Sarver's penny-pinching nature or his personality didn't chase Bud away but it's the easy conclusion to draw right now.
 

JCSunsfan

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Someone mentioned it on this site. I'm sorry, but I did not take note of exactly where.

If whoever posted that could help, I'd appreciate that. Or did I read it in the paper or online? I honestly don't remember.
Someone mentioned it but I have been all over the site and listened completely to the Marc Stein interview and it was not there. Stein did say that there would be huge hurdles for the Suns and Bud to come to an agreement.

1. Bud is owed $14 million over the next two years with is a lot. But it is pay for both the coach and GM jobs. Stein did not think the Bud will find a team willing to match that salary.
2. Atlanta is going to want a first round pick as compensation and that would be a negotiation.
3. Bud probably wants a team that is a little further along.

If those were the hang ups, fine. If Bud wanted GM responsibilities, I would be totally against that. So, on to the next guy. Kokoskov sounds like a good fit.
 

Superbone

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It was Gambo who said Jones and McD met with Budenholzer and were prepared to offer him the job. Then there was another meeting with just Budenholzer and Sarver and then Budenholzer took himself out of the running and that he preferred the Bucks job. It is Gambo who speculates that either the Sarver meeting didn't go well or that Bud just preferred the Bucks job. Listen via the link below.

http://arizonasports.com/category/podcast_player/?a=342292&sid=1004&n=Doug+&+Wolf

1:10 - 2:10
 

BC867

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It was Gambo who said Jones and McD met with Budenholzer and were prepared to offer him the job. Then there was another meeting with just Budenholzer and Sarver and then Budenholzer took himself out of the running and that he preferred the Bucks job. It is Gambo who speculates that either the Sarver meeting didn't go well or that Bud just preferred the Bucks job. Listen via the link below.

http://arizonasports.com/category/podcast_player/?a=342292&sid=1004&n=Doug+&+Wolf

1:10 - 2:10
Thank you, Superbone, for finding the interview describing the negotiations and separate meetings.

I'm trying to understand the sequence. Jones and McDonough were prepared to offer Budenholzer the job. What does "prepared" mean? The interview doesn't say that he turned them down or that they even offered it. Did they or didn't they offer him the job? And if not, why not?

But there was another meeting with Sarver and Bud pulled himself out. And now they're saying he wanted the Milwaukee job all along. That doesn't tie in with the sequence.

One could think that Bud was playing divide & conquer with Jones/McDonough and with Sarver. But it doesn't sound that way.

In trying to be objective, the only fact we know is that the Suns missed out on their first choice for permanent Head Coach, while Sarver and Jones/McDonough stumbled over each other. The blind leading the blind, as the saying goes.

I guess we'll never know the truth. Or at least not for a long, long time.
 
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