“Phoenix Suns in no rush right now to hire NBA head coach”
Giannis Antetokounmpo thinks Suns head coach deserved a tribue video
Milwaukee Bucks large man Giannis Antetokounmpo thought Mike Budenholzer deserved a tribute video when he returned to Milwaukee on Tuesday.
Courtesy of Milwaukee Bucks
The Sacramento Kings have selected a head coach in reportedly eradicating the interim tag from Doug Christie after hiring Scott Perry as their new basic supervisor.
That leaves the Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies as the one two groups who, as of Could 1, have to resolve on their subsequent head coach. The Suns don’t look like in a rush, as sources knowledgeable The Arizona Republic it’s a gradual course of proper now.
Seven groups modified head coaches getting into the 2024-25 season from how they began the earlier season, with Phoenix being one among them. There aren’t as many openings proper now, however that would change because the playoffs proceed.
The Grizzlies fired Taylor Jenkins late within the 2024-25 season and made assistant Tuomas Iisalo the interim head coach. The Suns let go of Mike Budenholzer the day after Phoenix’s season ended on April 13 at Sacramento.
The Suns missed the playoffs and completed 36-46 to mark their first shedding season since 2019-20, which was the final time they did not make the postseason.
The Grizzlies made their approach by means of the play-in to land the eighth seed within the West, however the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, the highest general seed within the playoffs, swept them.
The Thunder blasted Memphis by 51 factors in Recreation 1 and took Recreation 2 by 19, however the Grizzlies performed significantly better in Video games 3 and 4. In the event that they hadn’t misplaced Ja Morant in Recreation 3 to damage, the Grizzlies probably would have received Recreation 3 after main by 29 factors.
Memphis took OKC right down to the wire in Recreation 4’s 117-115 loss, displaying a robust response underneath Iisalo after that embarrassing Recreation 1 loss.
The Denver Nuggets fired Michael Malone late within the common season as properly and continued with David Adelman as their interim head coach.
The fourth-seeded Nuggets have a 3-2 sequence lead over the Los Angeles Clippers. Recreation 6 is Could 1. Successful this sequence would assist Adelman’s case to stay head coach in Denver.
The Suns have mapped out an offseason playbook that has them addressing their entrance workplace earlier than hiring their third head coach in three years underneath staff proprietor Mat Ishbia. They introduced on Could 1 the promotion of vice chairman Brian Gregory to basic supervisor, which shifts James Jones to senior adviser.
Wanting on the Suns, Nuggets and Grizzlies, Denver has essentially the most enticing roster, beginning with three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
The Grizzlies are led by a younger, gifted trio in Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane and Morant. The Suns have Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, however will look to make some adjustments within the offseason.
The Suns explored commerce choices with Durant earlier than the 2025 commerce deadline and anticipated to do the identical this summer season.
They’re over the second tax apron, a place that limits their roster flexibility.
Nonetheless, if Memphis and Denver retain their interim head coaches, the Suns received’t must compete with these two groups for a brand new head coach.
The San Antonio Spurs are in a singular state of affairs with their head teaching place.
Gregg Popovich missed a lot of the season after struggling a stroke on Nov. 2. The Corridor of Fame coach is the NBA’s all-time chief in wins and coached the Spurs to 5 NBA championships, however is 76 years previous and has been battling well being points.
Mitch Johnson served as interim head coach for the Spurs, who ended the season 34-48 and missed the playoffs.
Popovich has earned the appropriate to depart the sport on his personal phrases. Signing a five-year, $80-million extension in July 2023, Popovich is underneath contract by means of the 2027-28 season.
The Spurs have a centerpiece in 7-footer Victor Wembanyama. Stephon Fortress simply received this yr’s NBA Rookie of the 12 months. If Popovich is wholesome and in a position to coach subsequent season, the Spurs may very well be a shock staff.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets and Suns employed new head coaches going into the 2024-25 season, whereas the Washington Wizards eliminated the interim tag from Brian Keefe, who changed Wes Unseld Jr. in the course of the 2023-24 season.
The Cavs, Pistons and Lakers every made the 2025 playoffs.
Cleveland posted the NBA’s second-best document at 64-18 underneath Kenny Atkinson and superior to the second spherical after sweeping the Miami Warmth, successful Recreation 4 by a historic 55 factors.
Detroit returned to the playoffs for the primary time for the reason that 2018-19 season underneath J.B. Bickerstaff, who Cleveland fired and changed with Atkinson.
Bickerstaff and Atkinson are finalists for NBA Coach of the 12 months, together with Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka.
The Pistons received 44 video games within the common season. They’re trying to power Recreation 7 as they face the New York Knicks in Recreation 6 at house on Could 1.
The Lakers posted a 50-win season underneath JJ Redick, who had no earlier head teaching expertise on any degree, in incomes a 3rd seed within the West.
The Minnesota Timberwolves eradicated the Lakers in 5 video games as they closed the sequence with a 103-96 win on April 30 in Los Angeles.
Have opinions concerning the present state of the Suns? Attain Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Observe him on X, previously Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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