Suns sign Watson to 3 year deal

[Phrazbit]

The Kings are a complete train wreck. Their owner is the biggest meddler in the NBA right now and he is a total crackpot where NBA philosophy is concerned. Their GM is a complete dope who spent a few years loading up on bad players on huge deals under some wild idea that it was equivalent to buy low/sell high. And they've got a team loaded with difficult players highlighted by a coach killing cancer.

You guys should look up the video of them drafting Nik Stauskas, it is a real cringe. Their owner puts forth some really dopey reasons that he likes Nik, then takes pole of everyone in the room about who they prefer, basically be looking at them and going "Stauskas?!" And the room of yes-men end up bending over.

 

[Carolinacacti]

So is Watson keeping the same assistant coaches? I think that will help Earl with the game plan.

 

[sunsfan88]

So is Watson keeping the same assistant coaches? I think that will help Earl with the game plan.

I hope we can get some new assistant coaches...we can use some fresh blood.

 

[Mainstreet]

So is Watson keeping the same assistant coaches? I think that will help Earl with the game plan.

I hope we can get some new assistant coaches...we can use some fresh blood.

I did some searching yesterday on this topic but I could not find any current information about his assistant coaches. I would suspect there might be some changes or additions but I couldn't find any. This was a bit surprising but perhaps some changes will occur after teams get eliminated from the playoffs.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I did some searching yesterday on this topic but I could not find any current information about his assistant coaches. I would suspect there might be some changes or additions but I couldn't find any. This was a bit surprising but perhaps some changes will occur after teams get eliminated from the playoffs.

I doubt Watson will keep very many of them, maybe Hill and the guy that coached in the D League for us. I think that guy is wanted for the international connection. I wouldn't be disappointed if Hill didn't stick around, I think he was a good coach at one time but the game has changed a lot and he's been out of action for a long time. I'd rather see him bring in a veteran assistant that is more current with the game.

 

[Mainstreet]

I doubt Watson will keep very many of them, maybe Hill and the guy that coached in the D League for us. I think that guy is wanted for the international connection. I wouldn't be disappointed if Hill didn't stick around, I think he was a good coach at one time but the game has changed a lot and he's been out of action for a long time. I'd rather see him bring in a veteran assistant that is more current with the game.

Suns assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren will be the only assistant coach returning so you nailed one of them. So four coaches will be gone. I found the following information from a Paul Coro article.

Suns assistant coaches Corey Gaines and Bob Hill were informed Wednesday that their expiring contracts will not be renewed. Player development assistant Irving Roland and assistant video coordinator Ross Geiger also will not return to the Suns staff for Earl Watson’s first full season as head coach. All of the staff’s contracts will expire June 30 but the others will be renewed.

Assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren is the only assistant coach who will be retained from last season’s original staff other than Watson. Bjorkgren, a former D-League head coach, and Watson were in their first seasons with the Suns. Player development assistants Jason Fraser and Chris Darnell and video coordinator Bret Burchard, who took on an expanded bench role, also will return.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...enewing-2-assistant-coach-contracts/83992902/

 

[AzStevenCal]

Suns assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren will be the only assistant coach returning so you nailed one of them. So four coaches will be gone. I found the following information from a Paul Coro article.

I'm a little surprised he's not keeping Hill, I thought he brought him in because he'd had a long relationship with him.

 

[SirStefan32]

I'm a little surprised he's not keeping Hill, I thought he brought him in because he'd had a long relationship with him.

My guess is that Hill didn't want to return. I would guess he signed up last season as a favor to Watson. I don't think Hill has any interest in coaching in the NBA.

 

[mjb21aztd]

I like what Watson brings he did okay considering the talent he has to work with

Hopefully the suns get a nice player in the draft and somehow get few decent fa if any are available

Looking forward to next season

 

[AzStevenCal]

My guess is that Hill didn't want to return. I would guess he signed up last season as a favor to Watson. I don't think Hill has any interest in coaching in the NBA.

You're probably right but the way things have gone for us the past few years I can't quite avoid that nagging suspicion that it played out poorly in some way. Anyway, I like the end result.

 

[leclerc]

Well, with all the assistants gone it's hard to say what the end result will be. How much influence did Hill have on Watson the last few weeks? What experience do we bring in for video analysis and player development? Guess I have to be optimistic as well.

Go Suns!

 

[82CardsGrad]

Heard Watson this afternoon on Bickley & Marrotta. I really enjoy listening to Watson...probably even more than I do Arians.
Earl is really an amazing human being. He is so entrenched in all of the core leadership fundamentals. Who knows, he might crash & burn as a head coach. But after hearing him and watching him over the past 6 months or so, I like his chance and I REALLY like the fact that the Suns stuck with him!

 

[AzStevenCal]

Heard Watson this afternoon on Bickley & Marrotta. I really enjoy listening to Watson...probably even more than I do Arians.
Earl is really an amazing human being. He is so entrenched in all of the core leadership fundamentals. Who knows, he might crash & burn as a head coach. But after hearing him and watching him over the past 6 months or so, I like his chance and I REALLY like the fact that the Suns stuck with him!

I absolutely agree. I've crossed paths with a lot of people through the years that could talk a good game and, surprisingly enough, all but one of them delivered too. So I like our chances with Watson. Sometimes he seems a little too perfect but as I've said before, the players buying into him says a lot AFAIC. They deal with him closely enough to know whether he's the real deal or just talking out of his rear end.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I absolutely agree. I've crossed paths with a lot of people through the years that could talk a good game and, surprisingly enough, all but one of them delivered too. So I like our chances with Watson. Sometimes he seems a little too perfect but as I've said before, the players buying into him says a lot AFAIC. They deal with him closely enough to know whether he's the real deal or just talking out of his rear end.

Yep... Today he mentioned a cool story that took place last week. He was back in Socal and received a text from Booker just checking in and saying hi. Earl asked Booker where he was and Devin told him - Manhattan Beach. Earl was in Hermosa Beach, so he asked Booker if he wanted to get to a gym. Booker of course said yes and they met up at a gym on UCLA's campus. While there, Baron Davis texted Earl to just check in. When Earl told Davis he was at the gym with Booker, Davis immediately shot over to the gym as well and the three of them put in some high-quality practice!

Earl's legit...

 

[AzStevenCal]

Yep... Today he mentioned a cool story that took place last week. He was back in Socal and received a text from Booker just checking in and saying high. Earl asked Booker where he was and Devin told him - Manhattan Beach. Earl was in Hermosa Beach, so he asked Booker if he wanted to get to a gym. Booker of course said yes and they met up at a gym on UCLA's campus. While there, Baron Davis texted Earl to just check in. When Earl told Davis he was at the gym with Booker, Davis immediately shot over to the gym as well and the three of them put in some high-quality practice!

Earl's legit...

Thanks for that story, and the world knows we can use all the good press we can get.

 

[JCSunsfan]

So, I would love to see Watson find a way to hire Zeljko Obradovic as his top assistant. It would cost alot of money to get him here. But the guy might be ready for an assistant role. If he continues like he does as a HC he could end up with an aneurysm or something.

 

[Mainstreet]

So, I would love to see Watson find a way to hire Zeljko Obradovic as his top assistant. It would cost alot of money to get him here. But the guy might be ready for an assistant role. If he continues like he does as a HC he could end up with an aneurysm or something.

You are doing some thinking outside the box. He would be an intriguing addition to the Suns coaching staff. The Spurs did something similar with the addition of Ettore Messina.

 

[SirStefan32]

So, I would love to see Watson find a way to hire Zeljko Obradovic as his top assistant. It would cost alot of money to get him here. But the guy might be ready for an assistant role. If he continues like he does as a HC he could end up with an aneurysm or something.

I have never heard any indication that Obradovic has any interest in the NBA. He also has the ego the size of Europe, and I can't imagine he'd play second fiddle to anyone, let alone an Earl Watson.

EDIT: To clarify, I am a huge Obradovic fan, but I simply don't think he would have any interest in being an assistant coach in the NBA.

 

[Phrazbit]

That is also setting up Earl for failure. If you're going to put some experienced coaches behind a young HC then it has gotta be someone like Tex Winters once was, a guy who isn't going to be breathing down the HC's neck and making him fear for his job every time the team hits a rocky patch.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Suns assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren will be the only assistant coach returning so you nailed one of them. So four coaches will be gone. I found the following information from a Paul Coro article.



http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...enewing-2-assistant-coach-contracts/83992902/

And Nate B will be the next head coach when Watson gets fired.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I have never heard any indication that Obradovic has any interest in the NBA. He also has the ego the size of Europe, and I can't imagine he'd play second fiddle to anyone, let alone an Earl Watson.

EDIT: To clarify, I am a huge Obradovic fan, but I simply don't think he would have any interest in being an assistant coach in the NBA.

If his goal was to be a head coach in the NBA, yes, it would be a bad idea. If he was ready for a change from being the head guy (at some age, even the most ambitious are ready for this), then I would like it.

 

[SirStefan32]

If his goal was to be a head coach in the NBA, yes, it would be a bad idea. If he was ready for a change from being the head guy (at some age, even the most ambitious are ready for this), then I would like it.

I see the logic there, but Obradovic is not the "assistant" type. He also may be the biggest hothead in Europe outside of Vujosevic. That works in Europe, but it wouldn't fly in the NBA.

 

[sunsfan88]

I did some searching yesterday on this topic but I could not find any current information about his assistant coaches. I would suspect there might be some changes or additions but I couldn't find any. This was a bit surprising but perhaps some changes will occur after teams get eliminated from the playoffs.

They are adding Jay Triano from the Blazers as the top assistant coach.

https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/733096997977239552

He's never had a season with a winning record as HC but hope he can better as an assistant. He does have a lot of experience so I'm thinking that the Suns hope that will prove beneficial to Watson.

 

[Mainstreet]

They are adding Jay Triano from the Blazers as the top assistant coach.

https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/733096997977239552

He's never had a season with a winning record as HC but hope he can better as an assistant. He does have a lot of experience so I'm thinking that the Suns hope that will prove beneficial to Watson.

I didn't know this. It sounds like a good hire for a top assistant coach.

http://arizonasports.com/story/661078/blazers-assistant-coach-jay-triano-join-suns-staff/

 

[Chaplin]

Triano is supposedly a great friend of Steve Nash. Perhaps this is a precursor to bringing Nash into the team in some capacity?