Some early names

[Gaddabout]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/05/11/20080511suns.html

Coro offers up some names, almost all of them former Suns players:

- Kurt Rambis
- Tyrone Corbin
- Kenny Gattison
- Paul Silas
- Paul Westphal
- Vinny Del Negro
- Eddie Johnson
- Lionel Hollins

Of those players, probably only Silas, Westphal, and Eddie Johnson identify as Suns players. Rambis will always be a Laker. Del Negro will always be a Spur, even as a member of the Suns mgt. team. Corbin and Gattison were two of my favorite Suns players during that pre-Barkley era, but they were scrappers and unsung journeymen. Silas is probably best working with young players. I love Lionel Hollins having spent some time with the man while he was a Suns assistant, but for a variety of reasons I won't discuss here, I can't see him being the guy.

Of those names mentioned, I can see Rambis and Corbin as the only two legitimate candidates. Westphal already had his chance and EJ has never shown any interest in coaching in the NBA until now. Gattison is interesting and I'm sure he knows defense, but I'm not sure he's really cut his teeth yet.

For those looking for Jeff Hornacek, he's made it clear he wants to raise his family. He likes keeping a foot in the door, but he's not looking to on a more-than-full-time job right now.

The one name not on there that I'm disappointed to see missing is Mark West. He would seem to fit all of Ainge's criteria and he's someone all the players would respect -- especially Amare. Maybe West likes his management gig, but I think he'd be a huge asset on the floor. He's smart and people love him.

 

[damo]

The one name not on there that I'm disappointed to see missing is Mark West. He would seem to fit all of Ainge's criteria and he's someone all the players would respect -- especially Amare. Maybe West likes his management gig, but I think he'd be a huge asset on the floor. He's smart and people love him.

Good read, thanks, but you mean Kerr, right?

 

[Mainstreet]

The one name not on there that I'm disappointed to see missing is Mark West. He would seem to fit all of Ainge's criteria and he's someone all the players would respect -- especially Amare. Maybe West likes his management gig, but I think he'd be a huge asset on the floor. He's smart and people love him.

I agree Mark West should be considered, however, I understand he just fouled out.

 

[mojorizen7]

I agree Mark West should be considered, however, I understand he just fouled out.

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[Gaddabout]

Good read, thanks, but you mean Kerr, right?

Drat, yes. Kerr and Ainge are basically the game guy, right?

 

[sunsfn]

Drat, yes. Kerr and Ainge are basically the game guy, right?

game=same?

Not really!
Ainge knows a hell of a lot more than Kerr about running a team either as a coach or G.M.!

 

[cly2tw]

game=same?

Not really!
Ainge knows a hell of a lot more than Kerr about running a team either as a coach or G.M.!

Ainge and coaching? I remember only the towel throwing incident that involved also public enemy #1 Horry. As GM, all he did was to have a pal name McCale working for him on the Wolves managment.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

game=same?

Not really!
Ainge knows a hell of a lot more than Kerr about running a team either as a coach or G.M.!

Nobody was saying that, until he got KG. Ainge was almost ran out of town a couple of times.

 

[Covert Rain]

Nobody was saying that, until he got KG. Ainge was almost ran out of town a couple of times.

Exactly. He was fighting for his job this season. They were saying that if Ainge didn't do something this year, it would be his last. He made bad move after bad move up until the KG trade.

 

[sunsfn]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ainge traded for Garnett, Allen and others and signed as free agents or drafted these players. Pierce was there when he started. This is a pretty good team. Not sure they will go all the way this year but the city of Boston is jumping these days.[/FONT]
The part about him almost being run out of town was exagerated. The ownership of the Celtics were committed to him and still are.

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kevin Garnett[/FONT], [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ray Allen, [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kendrick Perkins, [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]James Posey, [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brian Scalabrine, [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tony Allen, [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Eddie House, [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Rajon Rondo, [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Scot Pollard, [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Leon Powe, [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Gabe Pruitt, [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]PJ Brown, [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sam Cassell, [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Glen Davis, [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brandon Wallace[/FONT], [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Paul Pierce.[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Maybe I was stretching it and went overboard, when I blatenly said Ainge knows a hell of a lot more than Kerr, but I do not think Kerr is a good GM.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I think he is a decent person with no experience that is more worried about the almighty dollar than anything![/FONT]

The KT giveway was a terrible thing to do. The money and trading KT was one thing, but to give up the two 1st round picks along with that was poor negotiating on Kerrs part. (San Antonio would have given us a 1st round pick for him)!

The Shaq trade will haunt this team for two years until he is gone! Miami had to be jumping for joy that they did not have to give up a 1st pick to get rid of that 40 mill contract after this year!

 

[ARZCardinals]

that list has got to be a joke. Mike coached...none of those fools have a chance at coaching...they'll just tell them to play. Westphal is the only guy on there I'd give a shot to. If I was a Suns die hard I'd be extremely concerned.

 

[nashman]

If thats the list we are seriously downgrading, although from that list I would rather give EJ a shot than some retread loser!

 

[boisesuns]

Ugh. That list is interesting. Do we really want to give a rookie coach this team to work with?

 

[nowagimp]

Ugh. That list is interesting. Do we really want to give a rookie coach this team to work with?

Wet behind the ears GM's can only attract rookie coaches.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Bring back Westphal. I think he did well with our bigs and defense back in the day. I think Shaq and Amare would be easier to bring to the finals than barkley and west as far as frontcourts go.

 

[nashman]

Would rather have EJ than any of the others on that list, at least we will have something to watch rather than the other loser canidates.

 

[Irish]

Bring back Westphal. I think he did well with our bigs and defense back in the day. I think Shaq and Amare would be easier to bring to the finals than barkley and west as far as frontcourts go.

I don't remember the Westphal Suns playing much defense.

I don't know all the coaching prospects, but I hope that http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/silaspa01.html Paul Silas gets an interview. I was impressed at how well coached his Hornets teams appeared and how successful he was at developing big men. More than anyone else, I think his skill at teaching position rebounding would be a huge plus. (He was 6'7" 220 and averaged over 10 rpg 7 years in row (8 total) with career total of 10,000 rebounds,

Unfortunately for his chances with the Suns, his Hornet teams were not that great on offense even with Baron Davis. However, his teams were terrific on defense:

Opponent's Shooting Percentage

1998-99 43.4%
1999-00 44.8%
2000-01 42.6%
2001-02 43.2%
2002-03 43.8%

But without the credentials on offense, he would have a tough sell to get the job.

 

[TucsonDevil]

I am willing to take a chance on a rookie. Phil Jackson was a rookie with MJ and Pippen - that resulted in a ring. Popp was a rookie with TD and the Admiral, and that resulted in a ring. Pat Riley was a rookie with Magic and Kareem and that resulted in a ring. Why not a rookie with Nash, Amare and Shaq? Mix in a decent packup PG and a tough veteran defender - you could get right back into this with good coaching.

I am in the camp of 'we know the other doesn't work, so let's do something new'.

BTW, could we get Brandon Roy from Portland with any package that doesn't include Amare? How about ATL pick, Nash and LB... is that even interesting to them? Of course they would have to throw in junk to make the numbers work... but I think he is a legit star, and they still lack a good PG. Roy and Amare would be a sick combo for the next 5 years.

 

[jagu]

I dont want a noob coach.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

I want Paul Silas, From the List. I just read a couple Lakers books and it seemed like Rambis was a descent Coach, Had the Lakers start 10-0, but the Kobe Shaq rift started, Rambis sided with Kobe taking a million shots and could not keep egos in check, So Rambis would be bad for Amare. But Silas could get this team playing some D!!

 

[Cheesewater]

I am willing to take a chance on a rookie. Phil Jackson was a rookie with MJ and Pippen - that resulted in a ring. Popp was a rookie with TD and the Admiral, and that resulted in a ring. Pat Riley was a rookie with Magic and Kareem and that resulted in a ring. Why not a rookie with Nash, Amare and Shaq? Mix in a decent packup PG and a tough veteran defender - you could get right back into this with good coaching.

I am in the camp of 'we know the other doesn't work, so let's do something new'.

Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich had prior head coaching experience.

 

[TucsonDevil]

Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich had prior head coaching experience.

I know that Phil coached in the CBA... but where did Popp coach? BTW, I don't equate CBA with NBA, thus I consider Phil a rookie coach.

 

[Cheesewater]

I know that Phil coached in the CBA... but where did Popp coach? BTW, I don't equate CBA with NBA, thus I consider Phil a rookie coach.

Popovich coached some tiny college somewhere.

Regardless of where they coached, be it the CBA or euroleague or Tinytown Junior College...they have experience that guys like Eddie Johnson and Vinnie Del Negro don't have.

Edit: From NBA.com:
"...in 1979 was named the head coach at Pomona-Pitzer in Claremont, California … spent the next eight seasons at Pomona … during the 1985–86 season led the team to its first conference championship in 68 years and to a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament..."
http://www.nba.com/coachfile/gregg_popovich/

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

KTAR has a soundbite of Kerr today where he said Marc Jackson will probably be on the list. He spoke very highly of him too.

Very likely possibility

 

[JCSunsfan]

I agree. Eddie Johnson would be a great coach. He should be considered. It might be best to start by thinking about who would be the ideal coach (regardless of availability) and start from there.