Choose The Suns Next Head Coach?

[SirStefan32]

I'm intrigued by Igor Kokoskov as a possible head coach for the Suns. He has a a lot of experience as an assistant head coach and he is currently an assistant with the Jazz. He also coached for the Suns as an assistant coach. I hear he is very familiar with Doncic. I'd like for the Suns to at least give him a look.

He was an assistant coach in Detroit for that championship team too with Billups, Hamilton, the two Wallaces, etc.
He also has plenty of International experience, including coaching Doncic and Dragic for their title run at Eurobasket. I am a huge Kokoskov fan. He was actually an outstanding player before getting hurt and not being able to play, so he started coaching very early on.

 

[sunsfan88]

Who do you have in mind as the Suns new head coach?

Only coach with NBA HC experience I’d like is Budenholzer if Hawks let him go because they have a new management that may want their own guy.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Only coach with NBA HC experience I’d like is Budenholzer if Hawks let him go because they have a new management that may want their own guy.

I don't know if he's the only experienced NBA coach that interests me but he'd certainly be high on my list if he's available.

 

[sunsfan88]

I don't know if he's the only experienced NBA coach that interests me but he'd certainly be high on my list if he's available.

Oh I take that back, David Blatt is someone I’d be interested in as well. He’s actually a good coach when not being sabotaged by LeBron. Would still prefer Budenholzer over him.

 

[Hoop Head]

This poll is pretty bad. All the options are pretty poor.

Guys like Kokosov, Nurse, Tibbetts, Wright, Bennett etc should be on it.

Wright is not only included in the poll but is the leading vote getter. Other than Kokosov I haven't seen the other's you mentioned listed as candidates in any article going over the coaching candidates for the Suns. I wasn't going to list every name that's been mentioned by fans because that would have required well over 30 selections. There is an "other" spot for that reason but so far that's only received 1 vote so I think the top candidates are included.

 

[sunsfan88]

Wright is not only included in the poll but is the leading vote getter. Other than Kokosov I haven't seen the other's you mentioned listed as candidates in any article going over the coaching candidates for the Suns. I wasn't going to list every name that's been mentioned by fans because that would have required well over 30 selections. There is an "other" spot for that reason but so far that's only received 1 vote so I think the top candidates are included.

Jeff Van Gundy shouldn’t even be an option. He’s not gonna come here to take over a rebuilding team. If he decides to come back, it’s gonna be for a team that’s already in contention similar to Doc Rivers taking over LAC.

Mark Jackson is a joke. I shouldn’t have to get into why he’s the worst choice as next HC...I’d rather bring Earl Watson back than hire Jackson.

Monty Williams...not been mentioned at all in regards to the Suns.

As for the others, I’m just saying if you looked up best coaching candidates and such on google or other search engines, you’d get comprehensive lists with detailed resumes for them. The guys I mentioned are surely on such lists.

And my apologies for not seeing Wright’s name...he’s rightfully leading the poll from the options available.

 

[Hoop Head]

I provided links with all of the candidates mentioned at the beginning of this thread, including Monty Williams who you said has not been mentioned. He has been mentioned, you just haven't seen it yourself.

 

[Mert]

Blatt is doing good in Turkey.He reached top8 stage in Euroleague last year and this year he will be playing EuroCup final to participate in Euroleague for the next season.If he wins i dont see him going to Phoenix.He said he had a lot of problem with players and managers in NBA and he thinks europe is better place for him.
I hope Suns are interested in him.

 

[Matt L]

Three assistant coach references do not equal one head coach need.

Enough of LOTJ -- learn on the job. As much as experience, we need a Head Coach with the credentials -- proven credentials -- and courage to stand up to Sarver's interference.

One who will say to Sarver at the interview, "You count the money." And to McDonough, "You provide a balanced roster." And to both of them. "I'll do the coaching."

so who's on your short list? Steve Kerr, Greg Popovich? anyone else?

 

[Western Font]

Jeff Van Gundy shouldn’t even be an option. He’s not gonna come here to take over a rebuilding team. If he decides to come back, it’s gonna be for a team that’s already in contention similar to Doc Rivers taking over LAC.

I don't disagree, but think the Suns could become an option: if they get the #1 pick and take who JVG would take (or let him make the pick), trade for or sign a vet that he would bring in (or let him do it) and jettison the players he doesn't like in Len, Bender, and Chriss.

Maybe there's an Eastern team that he sees as a quick route to the finals (esp. depending on what Lebron does and how the Celtics injuries progress). But in the West, there's no team for him that's going to the finals next year in all likelihood. He'll have to wait a couple either way. Just depends on whether he wants to stay in the booth in the meantime, and what jobs he thinks may come available.

 

[Hoop Head]

I think salary will keep Van Gundy from joining the Suns more than anything on their roster. He'd probably command a higher salary than any other potential head coach hiring in the NBA right now. I wouldn't be surprised if he got somewhere around $8-10 million to return to coaching. Stan is making $7 million in Detroit, although he was their GM as well before being relieved of those duties this year. Doc Rivers is making $10, Thibs is also making $10 million, and Popovich is making $11 million annually. Guys like Scott Brooks are getting $7 million a year.

When I looked up how much the highest paid NBA coaches are, I can't fault Sarver for balking at paying those sort of salaries to the head coaches linked to Phoenix in the past. It's no time to be cheap this summer though. The Suns haven't been linked to a coach that deserves that sort of salary in the past but there are a few big names like Jay Wright that they would need to open up their checkbook for. Here's a list of the 10 highest paid NBA coaches, some of their salaries were quite surprising, IMO.

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

Here's another list for all head coaches in the league that includes the duration of their contracts.
http://hoopshype.com/2016/06/15/the-salaries-of-nba-head-coaches/

 

[Mainstreet]

Only coach with NBA HC experience I’d like is Budenholzer if Hawks let him go because they have a new management that may want their own guy.

It would be a feather in the cap for those who live in Holbrook, Arizona. Winslow has the Eagles song.

It's sad what the Interstate did to those communities.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Jason Kidd in the last week has closed on a new home in Paradise Valley. Just sayin'...

If Jerry still owned the team, Kidd wouldn't sniff the arena.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[BC867]

BC. I disagree with your basic premise that being an assistant is not requisite experience. Bruce Arians is an example in football, and there are plenty of NBA assistants who became excellent head coaches. Now, I do agree that just because a guy has assistant coaching experience does not mean he has the leadership and managerial skills to be a head coach. That's what the evaluation and interview process is for.

With the Suns recent history of turnovers at the Head Coach position, my opinion is that, at this time, we should not consider a candidate who does not have the experience or track record of being the guy at the top on the court -- the figurehead and decision maker.

As far as trusting the evaluation and interview process, these Suns have not done well with that. This next hiring of Head Coach is a very specific situation.

As I've posted, we need one with the credentials and experience to stand up to a micro-managing "owner" and neophyte General Manager.

Will Sarver realize that he needs to allow that? We'll see! If he does, it's about time. If not, the Suns will continue to wallow in mediocrity. Living on hope until he sells his shares.

 

[Chaplin]

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[CardsSunsDbacks]

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Anyone know how much he makes at GCU? Can't imagine it is even close to what he would make with the Suns.

 

[Hoop Head]

I'd be surprised if Majerle was a true candidate and more than a courtesy call of sorts.

 

[elindholm]

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Oh for GOD's sake. This franchise is hellbent on out-stupiding itself. It has gotten beyond embarrassing.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Oh for GOD's sake. This franchise is hellbent on out-stupiding itself. It has gotten beyond embarrassing.

Settle down man. They were simply trying to bring him in for an interview. Doesn't mean he is even near the top of their list.

 

[elindholm]

Settle down man. They were simply trying to bring him in for an interview. Doesn't mean he is even near the top of their list.

Do you think any other NBA clubs with vacancies are going to give Majerle a courtesy look?

 

[Hoop Head]

Do you think any other NBA clubs with vacancies are going to give Majerle a courtesy look?

No but I could see other clubs that are looking for coaches giving someone who has a long history with their organization a courtesy look while no other teams do. It's all about Majerle's ties with the Suns, that's it.

 

[AzStevenCal]

No but I could see other clubs that are looking for coaches giving someone who has a long history with their organization a courtesy look while no other teams do. It's all about Majerle's ties with the Suns, that's it.

Along with mending fences with a very popular player who is still having success in our back yard. Not giving him at least the courtesy of an interview request just opens the door for more negative speculation and bad press. But here's hoping this is all it is. If we're really in pursuit of Dan, I'm more than a little worried.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'd be surprised if Majerle was a true candidate and more than a courtesy call of sorts.

Settle down man. They were simply trying to bring him in for an interview. Doesn't mean he is even near the top of their list.

I see it much the same.

It would be an insult not to consider-interview Majerle after the way he departed the Suns.

 

[elindholm]

No but I could see other clubs that are looking for coaches giving someone who has a long history with their organization a courtesy look while no other teams do. It's all about Majerle's ties with the Suns, that's it.

Right, exactly. It's provincial and silly. If Majerle isn't really a candidate, it's a waste of everyone's time, and if he is, they're idiots.

 

[Phrazbit]

Do you think any other NBA clubs with vacancies are going to give Majerle a courtesy look?

Exactly. We need to be setting a higher bar than "head coach at a tiny school... with a dash of nostalgia".