The Phoenix Suns have fired head coach Frank Vogel after just one season, following a disappointing first-round playoff exit. The team is reportedly interested in hiring former Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer as his replacement.
The Phoenix Suns have parted ways with head coach Frank Vogel after just one season, following a disappointing first-round playoff exit. The team announced the decision less than two weeks after being swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round of the playoffs.
Vogel was hired by the Suns in June 2023 after the franchise parted ways with Monty Williams. He signed a five-year deal with the team, but his tenure was cut short after failing to meet expectations in his first season.
The Suns entered the 2023-24 season with high hopes, boasting a roster featuring Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. However, the team struggled to find consistency throughout the season, finishing with a 49-33 record and entering the postseason as a sixth seed.
Despite the disappointing playoff exit, Vogel expressed confidence that he would be retained for the 2024-25 season. However, the Suns' ownership and management decided to make a change, believing that a different head coach was needed to maximize the team's potential.
The Suns will now embark on a search for a new head coach, and several potential candidates have already emerged. ESPN has reported that Mike Budenholzer, who led the Milwaukee Bucks to the 2021 NBA title, could be one of the leading contenders for the job.
Budenholzer was fired by the Bucks in May 2023 after the team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. He did not coach this season.
The Suns are reportedly impressed by Budenholzer's track record of success, as well as his ability to develop players and build a strong team culture. He is also seen as someone who can work closely with the team's front office to find a way to transform the team's hefty payroll into a championship contender.
The Suns carry $209 million into the offseason, the highest payroll in the league. The organization could move some key players this offseason to reduce its payroll and luxury tax bills.
The next Suns coach will presumably work closely with Jones and the rest of the front office to find a way to transform the team's hefty payroll into a championship contender. The Suns carry $209 million into the offseason, the highest payroll in the league.
The organization could move some key players this offseason to reduce its payroll and luxury tax bills.
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