Suns 2024-2025 Season Discussions

[BirdGangThing]

Yep, this is the most depressing Suns team since the John hot rod Williams season that ended the Barkley era.

There have been much worse teams to be sure, but we expected those teams to be bad.

exactly - worst team in suns history - the no draft pick simply solidifies the p.o.s. season

 

[Hoop Head]

I'm a little surprised by the reaction to Bud tell Booker to quiet it down. That seemed to be the biggest knock on Booker here over the years, that he talks too much trash and whines to the refs too often, so a coach trying to correct that gets the fans to side with the player and label the coach as a problem? I don't know.

It doesn't always need to be a negative, the Suns provide enough negatives 48 minutes a night, 3 nights a week.

 

[Phrazbit]

I'm a little surprised by the reaction to Bud tell Booker to quiet it down. That seemed to be the biggest knock on Booker here over the years, that he talks too much trash and whines to the refs too often, so a coach trying to correct that gets the fans to side with the player and label the coach as a problem? I don't know.

It doesn't always need to be a negative, the Suns provide enough negatives 48 minutes a night, 3 nights a week.

That's not how I took it. Pretty sure he was asking Booker to not be so vocal with his own team... which seems like the exact opposite message we should be sending.

Booker seemed to confirm that with what he said last night about the "we'll get em next time" not being enough and someone needs to draw a line in the sand... and probably already should have a while ago.

 

[Hoop Head]

That's not how I took it. Pretty sure he was asking Booker to not be so vocal with his own team... which seems like the exact opposite message we should be sending.

Booker seemed to confirm that with what he said last night about the "we'll get em next time" not being enough and someone needs to draw a line in the sand... and probably already should have a while ago.

That's fair. I didn't take it that way reading it but I see it how you did after watching. Ill wait to form a solid perspective until the next game.

This team is a mess. Lots of blame to go around. I'd question anyone being happy right now.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm a little surprised by the reaction to Bud tell Booker to quiet it down. That seemed to be the biggest knock on Booker here over the years, that he talks too much trash and whines to the refs too often, so a coach trying to correct that gets the fans to side with the player and label the coach as a problem? I don't know.

It doesn't always need to be a negative, the Suns provide enough negatives 48 minutes a night, 3 nights a week.

Booker also tends to lash out at teammates even when sometimes he's the reason the defense fell apart. Until that report I hadn't realized he was vocal on the sidelines during timeouts but if true it's no wonder that Bud decided to make his point. I'm all for communication out there but interrupting coach time, whining to the referees almost non-stop and chastizing teammates are behaviors he'd be better off un-learning.

 

[GatorAZ]

Last year KD had communication issues with Vogel and know it’s Booker and Bud. Three years ago Monty didn’t speak to Crowder LOL.

 

[Hoop Head]

Last year KD had communication issues with Vogel and know it’s Booker and Bud. Three years ago Monty didn’t speak to Crowder LOL.

And James Jones was initially hired as a liaison to help players communicate with the front office and coaching staff. Now he's the GM and the issues persist.

 

[95pro]

Something is going to hit the fan. I suspect it's Bud.

It should have happened a long time ago.

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Monty got hired by Detroit so we are not paying him.

But we are paying two, Vogel and Bud.

It will be three if we fire Bud and hire another.

 

[Mainstreet]

Monty got hired by Detroit so we are not paying him.

But we are paying two, Vogel and Bud.

It will be three if we fire Bud and hire another.

Are you worried about Mat Ishbia's budget?

If he could pull the Suns out of their doldrums by hiring a new head coach or using an interim, that would be cheap. The Suns have the most expensive roster in the NBA.

 

[Mainstreet]

Btw, how many of us had made multiple mistakes in a row before they found success. I think almost everyone has.

If Bud is not the right head coach for the Suns, what good does it do by hanging onto him? Firing a head coach doesn't count under the second tax apron.

An interim head coach could fill in for the rest of the season and then we could see how the team responds. That's valuable information right there.

 

[Phrazbit]

Btw, how many of us had made multiple mistakes in a row before they found success. I think almost everyone has.

If Bud is not the right head coach for the Suns, what good does it do by hanging onto him? Firing a head coach doesn't count under the second tax apron.

An interim head coach could fill in for the rest of the season and then we could see how the team responds. That's valuable information right there.

I agree that Bud has gotta go, but finding a new coach is going to be tough. Going through 3 coaches in 3 years is going to probably make any of the highly qualified guys balk at the job. They will need to roll the dice on someone relatively unknown.

 

[Mainstreet]

I agree that Bud has gotta go, but finding a new coach is going to be tough. Going through 3 coaches in 3 years is going to probably make any of the highly qualified guys balk at the job. They will need to roll the dice on someone relatively unknown.

If the Suns overpay for a head coach, I'm not sure if that is necessarily true. Some coaching candidates might covet this roster.

However, I'm not opposed to hiring a lesser known candidate. The Suns haven't done well with name coaches.

Maybe the Suns have an assistant head coach willing and capable of taking over as an interim head coach. This would probably be the best option to see if the problem is the coach.

The tough part, I think the Suns need someone other than James Jones making the decisions unless someone else has already taken over this role.

 

[Phrazbit]

If the Suns overpay for a head coach, I'm not sure if that is necessarily true. Some coaching candidates might covet this roster.

However, I'm not opposed to hiring a lesser known candidate. The Suns haven't done well with name coaches.

Maybe the Suns have an assistant head coach willing and capable of taking over as an interim head coach. This would probably be the best option to see if it's the coach.

I don't think anyone covets this roster, not after this season and not with how many holes we have with no realistic ways to address them.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Are you worried about Mat Ishbia's budget?

If he could pull the Suns out of their doldrums by hiring a new head coach or using an interim, that would be cheap. The Suns have the most expensive roster in the NBA.

A new coach isn’t going to fix this team’s fatal flaw… it’s two biggest stars can’t run an offense and provide zero leadership.

The fish rots from its head… and those heads belong to KD/Booker.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't think anyone covets this roster, not after this season and not with how many holes we have with no realistic ways to address them.

I bet there are some top coaches out there who would relish the opportunity, but they may not have the marque name.

The Suns should be sifting through assistant coaches as well, especially if they are already on the payroll.

 

[Mainstreet]

A new coach isn’t going to fix this team’s fatal flaw… it’s two biggest stars can’t run an offense and provide zero leadership.

The fish rots from its head… and those heads belong to KD/Booker.

The idea is to find the problem and get through the season. Personally, I want a new GM and a head coach for next season.

However, if the Suns can find an interim head coach to give the Suns a test drive, I'd like to see the results.

I'm willing to be surprised. IMO, it couldn't hurt.

 

[Cheesebeef]

The idea is to find the problem and get through the season.

We’ve had 3 different coaches and a rotating group of players come and go. The only constant with this team are KD/Booker… and more important, the lack of assets to get someone who could be a leader over both of them. Those are the problems, IMO and they’re near impossible to change because of the apron/Beal’s contract.

 

[Mainstreet]

We’ve had 3 different coaches and a rotating group of players come and go. The only constant with this team are KD/Booker… and more important, the lack of assets to get someone who could be a leader over both of them. Those are the problems, IMO and they’re near impossible to change because of the apron/Beal’s contract.

I'm not ready to go through another season with Bud or James Jones for that matter.

Since the Suns have to play out the season, I'd like to get another perspective of how the team plays under a new coach, at least on a temporary basis.

The more information, the better.

The Suns made it to the Finals with Booker, but he cannot carry the team alone. IMO, Durant definitely needs to be traded as he is the not right piece. Too bad the Suns didn't make a move at the trade deadline. The way things are going, Booker might want to jump ship anyway. That would be sad because he plays with effort every night.

 

[Covert Rain]

Gambo is on the radio now saying he is hearing some disturbing things about coach Bud. He says one person in the organization says that Bud is a jerk and won't talk to anybody unless they are winning. Another player told Gambo this morning that coach Bud won't look him in the eye every time they have a conversation.

Jeebus. That's on top of Bud calling out Book about running his mouth. What is it with coaches not being able to talk to players?!?!?

If this is true? The Wheels have truly fallen off. It's one thing to have player problems. It's another to have a coaching/player relationship problems. It's even another to have front office problems. When you add losing on top of it?

Yeah....the wheels have come off and we are riding down the road on the rims.

 

[how_sweet_it_is]

Budenholzer (not "Bud"--why should I want to use a nickname for him?) should certainly be fired immediately after this season. Actually, I wouldn't mind if he were fired tonight,

I already didn't like his blatant misuse of Devin Booker's skills--telling Booker to shoot fewer midrange shots is sort of like telling Steve Nash not to pass so much.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Gambo is on the radio now saying he is hearing some disturbing things about coach Bud. He says one person in the organization says that Bud is a jerk and won't talk to anybody unless they are winning. Another player told Gambo this morning that coach Bud won't look him in the eye every time they have a conversation.

Jeebus. That's on top of Bud calling out Book about running his mouth. What is it with coaches not being able to talk to players?!?!?

If this is true? The Wheels have truly fallen off. It's one thing to have player problems. It's another to have a coaching/player relationship problems. It's even another to have front office problems. When you add losing on top of it?

Yeah....the wheels have come off and we are riding down the road on the rims.

Good lord.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I'm not ready to go through another season with Bud or James Jones for that matter.

Since the Suns have to play out the season, I'd like to get another perspective of how the team plays under a new coach, at least on a temporary basis.

The more information, the better.

The Suns made it to the Finals with Booker, but he cannot carry the team alone. IMO, Durant definitely needs to be traded as he is the not right piece. Too bad the Suns didn't make a move at the trade deadline. The way things are going, Booker might want to jump ship anyway. That would be sad because he plays with effort every night.

KD has won titles… doesn’t mean he’s not a major problem on this team. And Booker has had one good fluky run through a Covid/injury marred Finals run where he was second banana to CP3. Otherwise his playoff performances have ended in utter catastrophe, the few times (four total appearances out of ELEVEN seasons), he’s even made the playoffs throughout his career.

He’s the Suns equivalent of the Wizards Bradley Beal. Costs too much for a guy who doesn’t do enough and is going to demand even more with his next extension. Team needs to sell high and realize the Booker era was a total bust for the overwhelming majority of his time here, outside of two years when CP3 ran the team. Continuing to hold on to the relative lack of success Booker has led this franchise will only prolong the pain, IMO.

 

[Mainstreet]

KD has won titles… doesn’t mean he’s not a major problem on this team. And Booker has had one good fluky run through a Covid/injury marred Finals run where he was second banana to CP3. Otherwise his playoff performances have ended in utter catastrophe, the few times (four total appearances out of ELEVEN seasons), he’s even made the playoffs throughout his career.

He’s the Suns equivalent of the Wizards Bradley Beal. Costs too much for a guy who doesn’t do enough and is going to demand even more with his next extension. Team needs to sell high and realize the Booker era was a total bust for the overwhelming majority of his time here, outside of two years when CP3 ran the team. Continuing to hold on to the relative lack of success Booker has led this franchise will only prolong the pain, IMO.

If Devin Booker had Stephen Curry playing beside him, he would have won titles too. KD can't carry the Suns. I always thought Devin Booker needed help.

I know how far Devin Booker went with Ayton, Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges and Chris Paul. And Paul was at the tail end of his career, although still a great player when healthy.

Food for thought. Maybe Durant was never a number one player who could carry a team. He may have been more of a closer. The Warriors were a super team with Stephen Curry back then.