Windhorst: Suns are ‘way down the list’ of teams with a coaching vacancy
Apr 14, 2016, 5:50 PM
Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson directs his team against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Phoenix Suns will be one of many NBA teams with a coaching vacancy this offseason.
That, along with other factors are expected to limit the Suns’ search for a new head coach according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
“(The Suns job) is way down the list,” Windhorst said on Burns & Gambo on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “Way down the list, and that’s probably why Earl Watson is going to get the job.
“If they go out competing for the top coaches I don’t know if they can get one.”
The Suns finished the 2015-16 season with the fourth-worst record in the NBA, and although they had to deal with injuries to significant players, they still don’t have an attractive roster compared to other open positions according to Windhorst.
There are also questions about the top members of the Suns organization.
“If you look at the organizational structure and the talent level, those would not be considered as positives,” Windhorst said.
“There’s not people beating down the door to go work for Robert Sarver.”
The top candidate on the market is considered to be former Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, but both Windhorst and Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro agree the Suns would not be willing to pay his salary.
The Suns’ roster is also a hindrance for Phoenix when compared to other openings.
“Talent on the roster (in) comparison to Washington, (in) comparison to Minnesota, my god, it’s a different stratosphere,” Windhorst said.
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ young core of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins and the exciting backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal in Washington are expected to attract the best head coach candidates.
