PHOENIX SUNS

Report: Former Lakers coach Darvin Ham passed on joining Suns coaching staff

Jun 3, 2024, 10:19 AM

Lakers head coach Darvin Ham...

Head coach Darvin Ham of the Los Angeles Lakers disputes a call while playing the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter during game two of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 22, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Recently fired Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham turned down a possible role with the Phoenix Suns under head coach Mike Budenholzer, reports NBA reporter Marc Stein.

Ham “passed after two exacting seasons” with the Lakers, according to Stein.

Ham worked under Budenholzer for the head coach’s entire tenure with the Atlanta Hawks (2013-18) and then from 2018-22 with the Milwaukee Bucks before he landed the head job with the Lakers.

There, he succeeded former Phoenix Suns coach Frank Vogel for two seasons, reaching the conference finals in his first year before falling in the first round this current season.

Stein’s newsletter also details Vogel’s successor in Phoenix: Monty Williams still has his job but now has an uncertainty around him under a new boss, Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon.

Detroit went 14-68 in Williams’ first season. The head coach, who was fired by the Suns under new owner Mat Ishbia following the 2022-23 season, had earned a historic $80 million contract to jump right back into a head coach seat. Stein reports it took “multiple runs” and a massive contract to persaude Williams to return to coaching so quickly.

Detroit has already parted ways with GM Troy Weaver, who declined an offer to stay on in a scouting capacity, and one source with knowledge of the Pistons’ thinking says Langdon will immediately begin an evaluation phase that includes an assessment of Williams’ status.

Williams’ price point raised the bar across the league, with Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Golden State’s Steve Kerr and Dallas’ Jason Kidd taking advantage with extensions in the year since the Pistons made the hire.

Of course, that also impacted the Suns, who hired and then fired Vogel before adding Budenholzer. Here are Stein’s reported dollar figures of those decisions from the past two offseasons under Ishbia:

The Phoenix Suns recently hired Mike Budenholzer to a five-year deal in the $10 million-per-season range after firing Frank Vogel just one year into Vogel’s five-year deal worth in excess of $6 million annually … meaning new Suns owner Mat Ishbia will be paying $16 million per season for two sideline shot-callers for the foreseeable future.

Phoenix Suns

Suns...

Kellan Olson

Shorthanded Suns hit wall offensively in loss to Nuggets

It was a steep uphill climb for the shorthanded Phoenix Suns on the second night of a back-to-back.

23 hours ago

Bol Bol...

Damon Allred

Suns’ Bol Bol throws wild behind-the-back pass, sets up Damion Lee 3-pointer

Bol Bol took advantage of early minutes against the Nuggets by throwing a wild behind-the-back pass for an assist and following it up with a dunk.

1 day ago

Tom Izzo...

Associated Press

Tom Izzo ties Bob Knight’s Big Ten record with Mat Ishbia on hand for championship reunion

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo tied Bob Knight's Big Ten record for wins with Suns owner Mat Ishbia among the former champions attending for their team reunion.

1 day ago

Suns' Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal questionable against the Denver Nuggets....

Arizona Sports

Suns rule Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal out for Saturday’s game vs. Nuggets

The Suns listed Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal as questionable for Saturday's game against the Denver Nuggets.

1 day ago

Suns...

Kellan Olson

Suns avoid disaster, secure OT win via Booker and Allen heroics

We are better off not reviewing where the Phoenix Suns' 135-127 overtime victory over the Utah Jazz lands on the spectrum between nearly disastrous loss and spirit-lifting win.

2 days ago

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots in front of Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler during the f...

Lance Hartzler

Devin Booker drops season-high 47, Grayson Allen hits buzzer-beater in win over Jazz

Devin Booker dropped a season-high 47, and Grayson Allen hit a pair of clutch 3s en route to a win over the Utah Jazz Friday night.

2 days ago

Report: Former Lakers coach Darvin Ham passed on joining Suns coaching staff