Stephen A. Smith reporting

[Steel Sun]

I know this guy "is a tool" like Mark Grace says but he is reporting Poter will be named coach of the Phoenix Suns.Kerr offered him the job this morning

 

[Irish]

I know this guy "is a tool" like Mark Grace says but he is reporting Poter will be named coach of the Phoenix Suns.Kerr offered him the job this morning

Who?

 

[Steel Sun]

stephen a smith ESPN reporter

 

[TheKid_1]

Great news if it's true!

 

[Irish]

Thank you. (When I see the letters SAS I think San Antonio Spurs. )

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3431024

Sources: Porter to become Suns' next head coach

ESPN.com news services



Updated: June 7, 2008, 3:04 PM ET

• Multiple sources told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith that Terry Porter is the new coach of the Phoenix Suns.

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Allen Einstein/NBAE/Getty Images
To be edited
Suns general manager Steve Kerr called Porter on Saturday morning to offer him the job, and Porter accepted.

Porter is a former head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and was an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons this season. Porter was interviewed twice, most recently on Monday.

The Suns had been searching for a head coach since Mike D'Antoni resigned to lead the New York Knicks. Other candidates included Houston Rockets assistant Elston Turner and former NBA player and TV analyst Mark Jackson.

Porter was Flip Saunders' lead assistant in Detroit the past two seasons. He led the Milwaukee Bucks' from 2003 to 2005, helping them win 41 games and earn a spot in the 2004 playoffs.

His coaching career started as a Sacramento Kings assistant in 2002.

Information from ESPN reporter Stephen A. Smith and The Associated Press was used in this report.

This was listed under theri "Breaking News" category at 12:03 PM MST. Smith is a jerk, but this sounds pretty credible.

 

[Mainstreet]

Thank you. (When I see the letters SAS I think San Antonio Spurs.

Irish, this was exactly my thought as well.

 

[Irish]

KTAR is repeating what Smith is saying, but seem to be taking the report seriously.

http://www.ktar.com/sports/?nid=21&sid=860195

 

[green machine]

Was Smith reporting it or screaming it?

 

[Steel Sun]

Im really interested who is going to be on his staff.
A Paul Silas,Dan Majerle or Eddie Johnson or maybe Vinny del Negro.Gambo has been pimpin this guy and says he would be a good coach someday

 

[Irish]

Was Smith reporting it or screaming it?

East Valley Trib appears to have confirmed the story and says the announcement will be on Tuesday.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/118038

Terry Porter is new Suns head coach

Comments 0| Recommend 1
Jerry Brown, Tribune

After a long and extensive search, the Phoenix Suns have finally settled on Detroit Pistons assistant Terry Porter as their next head coach.

Rim Shots Blog: Terry Porter's profile

ESPN reported Saturday that Porter, who spent 17 years in the NBA as a player and two as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, has accepted the job from his friend and former teammate, Suns general manager Steve Kerr.

Sources tell the Tribune that while the final details of a contract have not been completed, Porter could be introduced as the replacement to Mike D’Antoni at a press conference as soon as Tuesday.

Porter, 45, spent two seasons as the head coach in Milwaukee (2003-05), where the Bucks were one of the top offensive teams in the league in his first season. But he also adds the experience of two seasons as an assistant under Flip Saunders with one of the league’s best defensive teams in Detroit.

Kerr is a close friend a former teammate of Porter’s in San Antonio – where the two lived near each other and had a close friendship – and Kerr wrote in his own Yahoo.com column in 2003, when Porter was hired by the Bucks, that he would make a fine head coach.

 

[Mainstreet]

I just heard Del Negro was the front runner for the Chicago job on KTAR.

 

[JS22]

Woo!

Good news indeed.

 

[Mainstreet]

I really liked Porter as a player. As a HC hopefully he can hire some good assistants with some familiar faces. This past season has been frustrating. Just too much going on. I hope he can refocus the Suns players and I am now so looking forward to the draft. I also like the fact Porter played PG in the NBA. It's sort of like being a QB in football. One has to understand the whole game.

 

[Andrew]

Still have no idea who or what type of coach he will be...

 

[mjb21aztd]

Very nice coach hire for the suns hopefully we will bring some defense to the suns and use some of the suns bench players like Tucker etc

 

[BC867]

Im really interested who is going to be on his staff.
A Paul Silas, Dan Majerle or Eddie Johnson or maybe Vinny del Negro. Gambo has been pimpin this guy and says he would be a good coach someday

Great news about Terry Porter. It's good that the Suns acted when they needed to and did not let him get the Head Coach job elsewhere.

Regarding assistant coaches, it's got to be Paul Silas (for the Centers and Forwards, boxing out and rebounding primarily) AND one of the others you mentioned. My vote is for Eddie Johnson.

Not only does he have a good feel for the Suns strong points and weak points, night after night. He could specialize on the 2's and the 3's.

Terry Porter for the Point Guards, as well as leading the team.
Eddie Johnson for the Shooting Guards and Small Forwards.
Paul Silas for the Power Forwards and Centers, as well as running the team if Porter ever gets ejected.

Three former players who excelled at their specialties, with the rest of the coaching staff rounding things out.

Perfect!

What a different picture from last season's tunnel vision coaching staff.

I can't wait for the season to start. Oh, I guess this all has to be put into place first. And the draft picks. And getting a backup Center and a backup Point Guard.

 

[Irish]

Great news about Terry Porter. It's good that the Suns acted when they needed to and did not let him get the Head Coach job elsewhere.

Regarding assistant coaches, it's got to be Paul Silas (for the Centers and Forwards, boxing out and rebounding primarily) AND one of the others you mentioned. My vote is for Eddie Johnson.

Not only does he have a good feel for the Suns strong points and weak points, night after night. He could specialize on the 2's and the 3's.

Terry Porter for the Point Guards, as well as leading the team.
Eddie Johnson for the Shooting Guards and Small Forwards.
Paul Silas for the Power Forwards and Centers, as well as running the team if Porter ever gets ejected.

Three former players who excelled at their specialties, with the rest of the coaching staff rounding things out.

Perfect!

All we need is a backup Center and a backup Point Guard.

What a different picture from last season's tunnel vision coaching staff.

I hope the rumors that Silas is in line for an assistant coaching slot are correct. Clearly Porter will have to spend some time with him to establish a comfort level, but I think Porter has learned that a team needs a really srong coaching staff to succeed and former head coaches bring a lot to the table.

I agree about Eddie Johnson, but I would not be surprised if Jeff Hornacek is given consideration as well.

 

[BC867]

I agree about Eddie Johnson, but I would not be surprised if Jeff Hornacek is given consideration as well.

I admire what Jeff Hornacek accomplished in the NBA, both with the Suns and Jazz.

As they used to say, he looks like your newspaper delivery boy, but he's a starting Guard in the NBA.

What's the word on Horny? Has he gained the maturity to be an authority figure with NBA players?

I'd still rather see Eddie Johnson, who could teach the 2's and 3's, rather than Jeff, who could teach the 1's and 2's.

EJ AND Horny. That would be OK.

I was at the game when Horny tried (and failed) to make the only in-game slam in his career. 'Stood around with his head down, as the fans sympathized with him. Then got the pass, from an offensive rebound, and calmy sunk a '3' from the corner.

What a heartfelt standing ovation at the Madhouse on McDowell.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I thought he did an excellent job with the Bucks, especially in that first year.

 

[PhxGametime]

Great news! Can't wait for the Draft now...

 

[Irish]

Suns.com have confirmed the signing and link to an Arizona Republic article. http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/06/07/20080607sunscoach.html

 

[DevonCardsFan]

Great News, Hope Silas is next, I am very happy D'antoni is gone, offense wins games, Defense wins Championships!!

 

[az1965]

Yahoo also confirmed.

I like this signing. I think Kerr was going to hire Porter, the rest was just formality.

Let's hope he is not as egocentric and narrow visioned as D'Antoni.

 

[Irish]

Let's hope he is not as egocentric and narrow visioned as D'Antoni.

Oh, such high standards.

 

[SirStefan32]

It won't make any difference. Sarver is cheap, regardless of who the head coach is.


Eh, sorry, I couldn't resist.

On a serious note, I like this signing. Porter was a tough player and is an outstanding coach who will be able to run-and-gun as well as defend.
Good move by Kerr. Now let's hire Silas, get us a back up point guard and re-sign Giricek and Skinner.