Mike Budenholzer - Officially Suns new Head Coach - NOW FIRED on 4/14/2025

[Yuma]

I wish we could stop giving him a pass. Every bad thing that happens, why is James Jones assumed to not be involved?

Occam's Razor

 

[Yuma]

There are reasons to pay Booker the max. Fan draw, and loyalty are important. He's a great player who doesn't make waves or create distractions when the team is in the tank and players come here to play with him.

The problem, he's not good enough to be the best player on a championship team, and I see no way out of this mess without trading him.

However, if we can somehow move on from Beal, clear some cap space, and get a significant haul for KD the rebuild might not take as long as we think.

Also, the reason we paid so much for KD was he had a long contract left. Signing Booker is just tying up an asset for more years. It gives the Suns more control. In fact many of the NBA analysts are predicting the Cap is going up and salaries will rise accordingly. They are saying it would be better for Booker to wait to sign the extension. The Suns may be more willing than Booker. If Booker waits, it puts more pressure on the Suns to get him a better supporting cast to get him to stay.

 

[Phrazbit]

If it was Book, KD, Beal, or a guard involved in a ruckus then I can see being mad at Bol² for not being involved and having his teammates back but Plumlee was ejaculating dudes left and right towards the end of the season so I don't blame Bol² for wanting to steer clear.

Bud sucks but this is a terrible look from Bol, keep an eye on him.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

Everyone else goes to try and break it up, while Bol starts tossing the ball in and out of the opposing hoop.

I mentioned it a few times during the season that when the rest of the team would be warming up for the shoot around he would goof off and try shots that he should never attempt in a game. He comes off as very immature.

 

[Hoop Head]

Bud sucks but this is a terrible look from Bol, keep an eye on him.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

Everyone else goes to try and break it up, while Bol starts tossing the ball in and out of the opposing hoop.

I mentioned it a few times during the season that when the rest of the team would be warming up for the shoot around he would goof off and try shots that he should never attempt in a game. He comes off as very immature.

Ok that was bad. He didn't even walk over and check on Plumlee. That is inexcusable.

This is part of why I didn't comment much on guys being unknowingly removed from the rotation. We don't see everything and definitely aren't privy to players attitudes. Bud definitely tweaked the rotation more than Vogel did as he had more guys available but in the case of Bol², his attitude was something questioned before coming here.

 

[Mainstreet]

Bud sucks but this is a terrible look from Bol, keep an eye on him.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

Everyone else goes to try and break it up, while Bol starts tossing the ball in and out of the opposing hoop.

I mentioned it a few times during the season that when the rest of the team would be warming up for the shoot around he would goof off and try shots that he should never attempt in a game. He comes off as very immature.

Even if Bol Bol had walked over to the scrum and went through the motions, I doubt he would have been on the outs.

The problem is, he separated himself from the team in a manner so obvious.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Even if Bol Bol had walked over to the scrum and went through the motions, I doubt he would have been on the outs.

The problem is, he separated himself from the team in a manner so obvious.

Yeah I think the "bad look" is his apparent disinterest in what was happening. I don't have a problem with him not running to the melee or diving into the action but he should have kept watching while moving in that direction. At 85 pounds soaking wet he wasn't going to do much good if a real fight broke out but you have to have your teammates back, or at least look like it.

 

[Mainstreet]

Do we know of a particular play or plays where Nurkic separated himself from the team? Maybe this too was another Bud issue.

I know Nurkic was a huge disappointment and his trade was a salary dump. However, when the Suns didn't replace him, I viewed this as a defining moment, when Phoenix threw in the towel.

Richards was supposed to be only a temporary fix.

 

[Hoop Head]

Do we know of a particular play or plays where Nurkic separated himself from the team? Maybe this too was another Bud issue.

I know Nurkic was a huge disappointment and his trade was a salary dump. However, when the Suns didn't replace him, I viewed this as a defining moment, when Phoenix threw in the towel.

Richards was supposed to be only a temporary fix.

After Christmas day he played 13 minutes against Dallas and then he was away from the team for 3 games before he returned and was brought off the bench. I'd look to that game. I can't recall what happened then but I'd say that's a good place to start.

Mavericks vs Suns, December 27, 2024 | Basketball-Reference.com

DAL (98) vs PHO (89). Get the box score, shot charts and play by play summary of the Mavericks vs Suns, December 27, 2024.

www.basketball-reference.com

 

[taz02]

I'm pretty sure everyone on the team turned on Bol after that. It's not ok to chill out and shoot hoops while a teammate is fighting.

 

[Hoop Head]

Found this about the Dallas game....

The Mavs were left further short-handed on Friday in the third quarter after forwards Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington - along with Phoenix's Jusuf Nurkic - were ejected after a brief fight.

I'd say this is when something happened between Bud and Nurk.

Dallas Mavericks vs Phoenix Suns Dec 27, 2024 Game Summary

Dallas Mavericks vs Phoenix Suns Dec 27, 2024 game result including recap, highlights and game information

www.nba.com