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NBA Rumors: Suns might lose Jeff Hornacek to Iowa State

By Josh Hill

Mar 29, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek (left) talks to guard Eric Bledsoe in the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at US Airways Center. The Thunder defeated the Suns 109-97. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek (left) talks to guard Eric Bledsoe in the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at US Airways Center. The Thunder defeated the Suns 109-97. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Iowa State Cyclones lost head coach Fred Hoiberg to the NBA, but they could look at the Phoenix Suns when it comes to poaching his replacement. 

When the Chicago Bulls announced the firing of Tom Thibodeau, one of the winningest coaches in the franchise’s history, it was only a matte of time before Fred Holberg stepped into his shoes. Now that said time has finally arrived, Iowa State is left looking for a replacement for they head coach who just bolted.

It might not take the Cyclones that long to find Hoiberg’s replacement — and the might not even need to move to a different letter of the alphabet to find him.

Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek has ties to Iowa State dating back to his playing days there, and he’s a natural fit to succeed Hoiberg.

According to Paula Boivin of the Arizona Republic though, there is belief that the lame duck status of Hornacek’s deal with the Suns might push him to take the now vacant job at Iowa State.

If the Suns don’t give Hornacek another guaranteed year on his contract, then there’s little incentive for him to remain in Phoenix only to become the next great fired head coach. The firing of Monty Williams was one thing, but the firing of Tom Thibodeau proved that winning gets you nowhere in the NBA.

Hornacek has quietly made the Suns a better team each year he’s been on the bench but that might not be enough to save his job. Phoenix missed the postseason each of the last two years, despite boosting teams that could have won in the East.

That’s a knock that got Monty Williams fired, and losing in the East got Thibodeau canned as well. Hornacek may coach out West, but he’s coaching the team for 82 games a season when so many more games are desired. If he doesn’t get the security that he wants, don’t be surprised if Iowa State poaches the NBA for their next head coach.

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