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The Phoenix Suns have already begun their offseason with firing Mike Budenholzer on Monday, April 14, after one season with him as head coach.
So what’s next?
The Suns will have their fourth coach in four seasons under team owner Mat Ishbia, who has received criticism for his decision making on the roster and coach.
Names like Taylor Jenkins, Michael Malone and Mike Brown, three guys who were fired during this season, have been thrown out there, as has that of current Pelicans coach Willie Green, who was an assistant under Monty Williams when the Suns reached the 2021 finals.
Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori and Boston Celtics assistant Sam Cassell are continual candidates for head coaching positions in the league, but the success Kevin Young had in his first year at BYU is creating a buzz.
Also a former assistant under Williams, Young had a strong relationship with Devin Booker. Young coached BYU to a 26-10 record and trip to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.
The Suns will look to deal Durant this summer as there will be several suitors for the 15-time All-Star. The Suns were shopping him prior to the trade deadline as they tried to acquire Jimmy Butler from Miami.
Here are three teams to watch.
Houston Rockets – Houston won 52 games this season to land the second seed in the West, are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, but this postseason will show how much the Rockets have really grown under Ime Udoka.
If they don’t make it out of the first round in a matchup against Golden State, the Rockets may look to land Durant as they have Phoenix’s draft picks to use as bargaining chips. Phoenix also could also get, say, Jalen Green, in return to pair up with Booker in the backcourt. Udoka was an assistant in Brooklyn when Durant was there.
Minnesota Timberwolves – Anthony Edwards’ favorite player is Durant. The T-Wolves might have to part with Julius Randle, but Randle may be a better fit at power forward in Phoenix.
Dallas Mavericks – Having Durant, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving on the same team would prove super teams aren't dead. In exchange, how about P.J. Washington to start?
The Suns should be trying to get under the second tax apron so Ishbia can really see the value of how his dollars are being spent. Moving Bradley Beal would help, but he has a no-trade clause in his contract that will make that a challenge. Beal, who has had a string of injuries since landing in Phoenix, also is due more than $50 million in the next two seasons.
Booker is eligible for a two-year, $149.8-million extension to sign this summer. The Suns are expected to sign, further showing their commitment to the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
This also makes it even more imperative to build around him with complementary pieces.
What happens with Durant and Beal will greatly determine how flexible the Suns can be with their roster. They’ve essentially been filling it out with guys on veteran minimum deals because they’ve been over the second league tax apron, paying their Big 3 roughly $150 million this season.
Whatever the Suns do, finding guys who can defend should be a priority. Phoenix finished 27th in defensive rating this past season.
They have Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale under contract along with Booker, Durant and Beal. Allen and O’Neale each shot 40-plus percent from 3. Every team needs multiple shooters, but those two must be better on the defensive end.
Cody Martin and Nick Richards are on non-guaranteed deals. The Suns acquired them in separate trades from Charlotte before the deadline. Richards started at center and Martin worked his way into the rotation for his wing defense. They could contribute to a winning situation.
Point guard Collin Gillespie proved his value as a starter, but is a two-way contract player. The Suns must consider bringing him back on a regular contract because Gillespie will draw interest from teams this summer.
Forward Ryan Dunn and center Oso Ighodaro were contributors as rookies to put themselves in position to remain rotational players and even future starters in Phoenix.
Those two proved there is value in the draft for the Suns, who have the 29th overall pick in this year's draft via Cleveland. The Suns landed Dunn late in the first round and got Ighodaro in the second round.
Next step for Dunn and Ighodaro? Improve their games this summer. Both could use another year in the summer league in Vegas.
Dunn needs to improve shooting the 3, as he was 31.1% from distance this season. He must be better, especially when he’s getting open looks playing off star players. Scoring more off the bounce and learning the subtle tricks to defending like hand placement will take his game to another level, too.
For Ighodaro, developing a jump shot is a must for the big. Form needs major work. Truth is, he could flourish as a four man, but Ighodaro doesn’t have the perimeter shooting.
He also needs to get stronger and play more physical. He’s active and athletic, but was moved around and muscled by stronger players.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
Support local journalism. Start your online subscription.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Deal Kevin Durant? What's next for Suns after firing Mike Budenholzer
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So what’s next?
Finding a head coach
The Suns will have their fourth coach in four seasons under team owner Mat Ishbia, who has received criticism for his decision making on the roster and coach.
Names like Taylor Jenkins, Michael Malone and Mike Brown, three guys who were fired during this season, have been thrown out there, as has that of current Pelicans coach Willie Green, who was an assistant under Monty Williams when the Suns reached the 2021 finals.
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Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori and Boston Celtics assistant Sam Cassell are continual candidates for head coaching positions in the league, but the success Kevin Young had in his first year at BYU is creating a buzz.
Also a former assistant under Williams, Young had a strong relationship with Devin Booker. Young coached BYU to a 26-10 record and trip to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.
Deal Kevin Durant?
The Suns will look to deal Durant this summer as there will be several suitors for the 15-time All-Star. The Suns were shopping him prior to the trade deadline as they tried to acquire Jimmy Butler from Miami.
Here are three teams to watch.
Houston Rockets – Houston won 52 games this season to land the second seed in the West, are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, but this postseason will show how much the Rockets have really grown under Ime Udoka.
If they don’t make it out of the first round in a matchup against Golden State, the Rockets may look to land Durant as they have Phoenix’s draft picks to use as bargaining chips. Phoenix also could also get, say, Jalen Green, in return to pair up with Booker in the backcourt. Udoka was an assistant in Brooklyn when Durant was there.
Minnesota Timberwolves – Anthony Edwards’ favorite player is Durant. The T-Wolves might have to part with Julius Randle, but Randle may be a better fit at power forward in Phoenix.
Dallas Mavericks – Having Durant, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving on the same team would prove super teams aren't dead. In exchange, how about P.J. Washington to start?
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Move Bradley Beal also, get under second tax apron?
The Suns should be trying to get under the second tax apron so Ishbia can really see the value of how his dollars are being spent. Moving Bradley Beal would help, but he has a no-trade clause in his contract that will make that a challenge. Beal, who has had a string of injuries since landing in Phoenix, also is due more than $50 million in the next two seasons.
Devin Booker extension
Booker is eligible for a two-year, $149.8-million extension to sign this summer. The Suns are expected to sign, further showing their commitment to the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
This also makes it even more imperative to build around him with complementary pieces.
You must be registered for see images attach
Roster building
What happens with Durant and Beal will greatly determine how flexible the Suns can be with their roster. They’ve essentially been filling it out with guys on veteran minimum deals because they’ve been over the second league tax apron, paying their Big 3 roughly $150 million this season.
Whatever the Suns do, finding guys who can defend should be a priority. Phoenix finished 27th in defensive rating this past season.
They have Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale under contract along with Booker, Durant and Beal. Allen and O’Neale each shot 40-plus percent from 3. Every team needs multiple shooters, but those two must be better on the defensive end.
Cody Martin and Nick Richards are on non-guaranteed deals. The Suns acquired them in separate trades from Charlotte before the deadline. Richards started at center and Martin worked his way into the rotation for his wing defense. They could contribute to a winning situation.
Point guard Collin Gillespie proved his value as a starter, but is a two-way contract player. The Suns must consider bringing him back on a regular contract because Gillespie will draw interest from teams this summer.
Huge summers for Dunn, Ighodaro
Forward Ryan Dunn and center Oso Ighodaro were contributors as rookies to put themselves in position to remain rotational players and even future starters in Phoenix.
Those two proved there is value in the draft for the Suns, who have the 29th overall pick in this year's draft via Cleveland. The Suns landed Dunn late in the first round and got Ighodaro in the second round.
Next step for Dunn and Ighodaro? Improve their games this summer. Both could use another year in the summer league in Vegas.
Dunn needs to improve shooting the 3, as he was 31.1% from distance this season. He must be better, especially when he’s getting open looks playing off star players. Scoring more off the bounce and learning the subtle tricks to defending like hand placement will take his game to another level, too.
For Ighodaro, developing a jump shot is a must for the big. Form needs major work. Truth is, he could flourish as a four man, but Ighodaro doesn’t have the perimeter shooting.
He also needs to get stronger and play more physical. He’s active and athletic, but was moved around and muscled by stronger players.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
Support local journalism. Start your online subscription.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Deal Kevin Durant? What's next for Suns after firing Mike Budenholzer
Continue reading...
