[tblazer_NZParticipant]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26583507/suns-fire-kokoskov-williams-e

I can only believe this because it is the Sun’s.. What else was he supposed to do with that team in one year? Who wants this job now? Coach after coach, why would you want to go there now?

[BleedGreen808Participant]

According to Woj they fired him in order to go after Monty Williams who the Lakers are also interested in.  I don’t understand the logic of firing Igor to chase after another coach who might not even take the job.  Also what was Igor supposed to accomplish this season with a roster that lacked a seasoned point guard to run things and a mishmash roster full of young players?

[marcusfizer21Participant]

 This was a surprise. What the hell are they thinking? He’s doing a heck of a job considering the lack of talent on that Suns roster. Dumb move by the Suns.

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

 One of two coaches will end up in the job…

Stan Van Gundy-2 reasons: The Bower guy was hired in Detroit with Stan and he may do him a solid. Couple that with this team would actually fit his system amazingly for this roster. Ayton could be a better version of Dwight H and Booker could be the shooting the need to pair with him..

or 

Williams he seems like a really good people person…But personally I don’t like him as a coach as he is a bit overhyped. He did coach NOLA to something when they had a lot of average roster and injuries around A.D. But from what I saw when he was in OKC(pre wife death) He stinks he was supposed to be in charge of our defense but that improved once he left.. He is a good mentor though so if they are looking for that then maybe he could be their guy..

[khaled_a_dParticipant]

Van Gundy? that wil be weird after what he said about Sun’s ownership
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6DavrU-RhY

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

 I  also agree that not many legit coaches may take this job seriously as their is far to much turnover in staff and the owner seems very impatient. Especially with Grizzlies,Lakers,Thunder(if the get bounced first round I see donovan being fall guy) and maybe Kings if Walton can’t take post due to legal issues all being available… But being honest this team has the most that dreaded word Potential about it out there though…

[HobbyOGParticipant]

 NBA should make Owners sell teams if they continue to do a shiiittty job…The Suns have to be one of the worst in sports..not a good look. And Phoneix is such a nice city, the fans don’t deserve this shhhittty owner. 

[high floorParticipant]

Could be Frank Vogel. He had the year off since he was still getting paid by Orlando after his 2018 dismissal. Although I don’t think Frank did a great job with the Magic, much of the issues with the team were out of his control. During his tenure, the team was being ran by CEO Alex Martins (a marketing executive with literally zero basketball background) and a desperate / inexperienced Rob Hennigan as GM. They were giving him ultimatums on how to coach the team.

I know for a fact that Vogel did not want to trade Oladipo in the Serge Ibaka deal, and I think he could have done a nice job with Victor given the chance. Also, Phoenix badly needs a coach with some defensive acumen & experience. Yes, Orlando’s defense was shredded his final year at the helm…… but so much of that had to do with an overrated Elfrid Payton & a Front Office’s misguided vision of playing at a top 5 pace.

I think Vogel deserves a second chance, and from just a talent / timeline standpoint this opening would be similar to the situation he took over in Indiana. Where he experienced a ton of success.

[holefillers1Participant]

I like Vogel because he is a defense first coach as well.  They have some pieces that would work with  in Jackson and Bridges but Vogel might lose the rest of his hair trying to get Ayton and Booker to buy into his concepts

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

Can’t seem to find it but I did predict that Igor would not last long in Phoenix. It wasn’t that I didn’t like him, I actually did, just too much instability with former Jazz players and all of them did not last long. I think since Steve Nash left Phoenix for LA Lakers and then retired there have been 3 coaches with Jazz history. None of them lasted that long and none of them are head coaches elsewhere: Jeff Hornacek, Earl Watson, and now Igor Kokoskov.  

Not a big fan of this move either. I actually think a lot of good coaches would end up with a similar record based on the roster he had. Nor do I like that the Suns fire Igor to go after Monty Williams and the Lakers haven’t even hired a coach yet. You don’t fire a coach just to go after another one, you fire a coach after a horrible job either evident with player relationship or in the record. Yes, his record wasn’t that good but as far as I can tell every Suns player liked playing for Igor. 

 

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

My sources are saying Suns ownership is intrigued in LaVar Ball taking the helm as head coach. 

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

What are your sources? Or are you just saying this because you like anybody with the last name Ball? Because my sources say they hire Monty Williams or Stan Van Gundy. Those seem much more legit than LaVar Ball, who by my assessment shouldn’t be anywhere near a basketball team. He should just be happy that one of his sons is in the NBA. Could be two if Lámelo makes it next year but I have my doubts. You know how many fathers get that chance? Not many.

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

Utah sucks!!!!!! 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

I’ll admit I watched very little suns basketball this year so it’s hard to get a read on how we was doing as coach. The losing was to be expected but the main question is were the young players showing signs of progress and buying into the coach, and was the overall culture around the team optimistic? While I don’t know for sure, from the outside it didn’t seem like that was really taking place in Phoenix . I’m not necessarily assigning all the blame on Igor by any means and it’s completely fair to argue he wasn’t given much of a chance, I’m also not discounting the fact that he might not have been the coach to lead the rebuild in Phoenix and this might work out for the better in the long run.

However, the Suns really need to do their homework and make sure their next hire is someone who will stick. When you continuously just cycle through coaches, it tends to create a sense of uncertainty and distrust within the organization that filters down to the players. Part of the reason teams like philly, Boston, Brooklyn were able to rebuild successfully is that they stuck with one coach and system and were willing to let them grow with the roster. This next hire will already be bookers fourth coach in the league. They need to do their best to make sure whoever they hire will be around for a while.

[OhCanada-Participant]

I still believe hiring Igor was an attempt to acquire Doncic and then push for Porzingis/Dragic. Dont make this a race thing but its hard for American players brought up in the American basketball system to vibe with a European coach with a European system. Especially these young kids in Phoenix with absolutely no understanding of how to win games in the NBA. You expect him to just come in there implement his system and have these young guys follow it?

Monty Williams is a perfect fit for this young team. Hes proven he can lead young disorganized talent in the past and make the guys listen. Hopefully he gets a fair shot with this team if he is hired.

[HitsterParticipant]

 As a Suns fan it has been a bit of a surprise to see Igor be let go after only one season. But the team regressed from 21 to 19 wins and that included a young core which was a year further on including Booker  plus a top pick in Ayton.

As a left field choice for the next coach could they look at one of the guys from the D’Antoni era like Diaw, Bell or Nash?

Otherwise I’d serious consider one of the best young NCAA Head Coaches. 

[220Participant]

 Honestly it’s surprising anyone is willing to coach Phoenix. The owner is known for meddling in major ways at the worst possible times. I honestly don’t understand how Sarver could let McDonough run the draft and free agency only to fire him before the season began. If he felt he wasn’t right for the job waiting until the season is about to start is ludicrous. I don’t imagine any established coach being willing to come to Phoenix with an owner like Server.

[mowestenParticipant]

The bigger question may be why do fans in PHX continue to support this clown show. It’s nice outside, the sun is shining, go do something else … if you stop showing up, maybe the guy ruining it will eventually be forced to sell it to someone who can run things properly.

[HitsterParticipant]

 Sarver is honestly one of the worse NBA owners, he was all about saving costs when the team was a legit contender and his meddling with the front office which a certain Steve Kerr ran.

 

[CoachWyersParticipant]

 I think Monty Williams will end up in Phoenix, Alex Jensen in Cleveland, Tyronn Lue in LA, Mike Brown in Memphis.

[Author]

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