Fansided

Phoenix Suns seem determined to not take chance with next head coach

By Brad Berreman

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 4: Jason Kidd of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the first quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on December 4, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 4: Jason Kidd of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the first quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on December 4, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The Phoenix Suns are conducting a wide search for a new coach, but they’re taking it to a low-risk level.

The first head coach firing of this NBA season came from the Phoenix Suns, with Earl Watson gone just three games in. Interim coach Jay Triano led the team to an 21-58 record from there, and the Suns finished with the worst record in the league (21-61).

A long list of candidates have surfaced for the Suns’ job, including former Memphis Grizzlies coach David Fizdale and recently fired coaches Steve Clifford and Frank Vogel. Former Cavaliers’ coach David Blatt and former Rockets’ head coach Kevin McHale have also had rumors tying them to Phoenix, and a couple more retread coaches have now been added to the list.

According to Scott Bordow of the Arizona Republic, the Suns have spoken to Jason Kidd and Vinny Del Negro about their head coaching job. Kidd, who was fired by the Milwaukee Bucks in January, has been linked to the Suns and according to Bordow has “openly campaigned for the job.”

Kidd and Del Negro both spent part of their playing careers in Phoenix. Del Negro eventually shifted into the Suns’ front office, as director of player personnel then assistant general manager before leaving to become the Chicago Bulls’ head coach in 2008. Over five total seasons as a head coach, with the Bulls and Clippers, Del Negro has a 210-184 regular season record.

Conflicts with management, seemingly over personnel control, ended Kidd’s head coaching stints with both the Brooklyn Nets and the Bucks. So it’s easy to see the same conflict happening with Suns’ general manager Ryan McDonough, which is something that should not be invited just because Kidd wants the job.

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The Suns have had rumored interest Fizdale going back months, but they have competition for his services from at least the New York Knicks and Charlotte Hornets. A path of least resistance seems to lead to Kidd or Del Negro, which is a troubling thought for Suns’ fans with hopes a rebuild will get on track soon.

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