Head coaches are often seen as a replaceable commodity in the NBA.
Indeed, many are given shorter leashes than the players that they’re tasked with leading. That’s even more true for coaches of star-laden teams, particularly when they fail to reach postseason expectations. This season, the coaching carousel has made its usual rounds. But up to this point, the Milwaukee Bucks are the only championship-contender to give their head coach the axe.
That could change this offseason.
Suns Head Coach on the Hot Seat?
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, there’s “increasing buzz” Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel will be fired this offseason (h/t Evan Sidery of Forbes Sports).
There is increasing buzz around the league that the Suns will fire Frank Vogel after one season, per @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/fAK1p8HRFJ
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) April 28, 2024
The Suns went 49-33 in the 2023-24 regular season.
That’s hardly a poor record, especially considering that Phoenix traded future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul for three-time All-Star Bradley Beal in the offseason. The Suns also traded former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton for Bosnian center Jusuf Nurkic.
Both moves were made with the intent of building a fitting support system for 14-time All-Star Kevin Durant and four-time All-Star Devin Booker. Yet, the Suns have needed the very same skills that they lost when they traded Paul and Ayton.
That’s not on Vogel.
However, the Suns have been thoroughly outplayed by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the First Round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Down 3-0 against an up-and-coming team, Phoenix’s performance this through the postseason has been a huge disappointment. After all, why trade for Durant and Beal if not hoping to consistently make deep runs in playoffs?
With that said, the talk of the Suns-Timberwolves series has been the play of defensive stud Jaden McDaniels. The 23-year-old broke out last season, leading to him signing a five-year, $136 million contract with Minnesota last October. Yet, the fact that Vogel has been unable to scheme his way around McDaniels is worth questioning. Vogel’s basketball IQ is higher than most, but he seems overwhelmed by the Timberwolves’ defensive approach.
Who Could the Suns Hire?
Having coached LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers to a championship in 2020, Vogel’s appeal as a head coach is clear. He’s an experienced and defensive-minded coach that’s proven himself on the biggest stage. However, as evidenced by the fact that Suns associate head coach Kevin Young is their de facto offensive coordinator, Vogel has his weaknesses. With Young heading to BYU to become their next head coach, Phoenix could always hire a new lead assistant. But why not just bring in a head coach that doesn’t need an offensive or defensive coordinator?
If the Suns do opt to hire a new head coach, they’re likely to go the veteran route considering the makeup of their roster. If so, they may tab former Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer for the job. Budenholzer, who won a championship with the Bucks in 2021, was a finalist for the Brooklyn Nets head coaching vacancy before they hired rising star Jordi Fernandez.
