FATALLY FLAWED 😬 Wilbon has NO solution for Phoenix's roster + Lakers' HC search | NBA Today
TLDRThe Phoenix Suns have fired head coach Frank Vogel after being swept in the first round of the postseason by the Timberwolves. The team is reportedly close to finalizing a deal with Mike Budenholzer as their next head coach, despite significant roster issues that even a coach with Budenholzer's championship pedigree may struggle to resolve. The Suns lack a player to lead and organize the team during crucial moments, and a major roster overhaul is suggested. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers are also searching for a new head coach, with the focus on finding someone who can maximize Anthony Davis's potential. The Lakers' search is expected to intensify at the NBA draft combine, with potential candidates including assistant coaches and unorthodox choices like JJ Redick, who has shown interest in both front office and coaching roles.
Takeaways
- 🏀 The Phoenix Suns have fired their head coach, Frank Vogel, after being swept in the first round of the postseason.
- 🗣️ Mike Budenholzer is in advanced talks with the Suns and is expected to become their next head coach, pending final agreement.
- 🏆 Budenholzer has a strong track record, with nearly a 70% win rate over five years with the Milwaukee Bucks and has been named Coach of the Year.
- 🤔 The Suns roster is considered 'fatally flawed' and lacks a player to take charge in crucial moments, which is seen as a significant issue.
- 🔄 It is suggested that the Suns may need to make substantial changes to their roster, potentially involving trades of key players.
- 📈 The Suns have traded many assets to acquire players like Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, limiting their ability to improve the roster depth.
- 🤷♂️ There is a debate about whether a 'big three' approach is effective in the NBA, with some arguing that it is outdated and that duos are more successful.
- 👥 Concerns are raised about the fit of the Suns' star players, as they may not complement each other's playing styles effectively.
- 🤝 The Suns are expected to try another year with their current group, hoping that Budenholzer can maximize their potential.
- 🔍 The Lakers are also searching for a new head coach, with the focus expected to be on finding someone who can get the best out of Anthony Davis.
- ⏳ The Lakers' coaching search is anticipated to intensify, with important discussions likely to take place at the NBA draft combine.
Q & A
Why was Frank Vogel fired as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns?
-Frank Vogel was fired because the Phoenix Suns were swept in the first round of the postseason by the Timberwolves. He was in the first year of his 5-year contract.
Who is the leading candidate to become the next head coach of the Phoenix Suns?
-Mike Budenholzer is the leading candidate to become the next head coach of the Phoenix Suns. Talks between Phoenix and Budenholzer are progressing, and both sides expect a deal to be done.
What is the main issue with the Phoenix Suns' roster according to the transcript?
-The main issue is that the roster is fatally flawed. The Suns lack a player who can run and organize the team in crucial moments, particularly in the fourth quarter and crunch time.
What type of roster change is suggested to improve the Phoenix Suns' chances?
-A primary roster alteration is suggested, which could involve trading one of the key players to improve the team's dynamics and potentially build out the roster depth.
What is the current situation with the Lakers' head coach search?
-The Lakers' head coach search is expected to heat up, with Rob Pelinka likely to start asking permission and talking to candidates at the NBA draft combine in Chicago.
Who are the types of candidates the Lakers are considering for their head coach position?
-The Lakers are considering three types of candidates: assistant coaches, former head coaches who might be assistants elsewhere, and unorthodox candidates who haven't coached before, such as JJ Redick.
Why is Anthony Davis expected to have more influence in the Lakers' head coach hiring process?
-Anthony Davis is expected to have more influence because he is likely to play for the next coach longer than LeBron James, given LeBron's age and potential retirement timeline.
What is the challenge for the Lakers in finding a new head coach?
-The challenge is to find a coach who can maximize the potential of Anthony Davis and thread the needle in a highly competitive market where many capable coaches are already employed elsewhere.
What is the significance of Mike Budenholzer's coaching success with the Milwaukee Bucks?
-Mike Budenholzer has a strong track record of success, having won nearly 70% of his games in 5 years with the Bucks, reshaped the Atlanta franchise, and was named Coach of the Year, which makes him a highly desirable candidate for the Suns.
Why is it suggested that the Phoenix Suns should consider trading one of their 'Big Three'?
-The suggestion is based on the belief that the current 'Big Three' of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal do not fit well together, and trading one could potentially create assets to improve the roster depth.
What is the general sentiment regarding the concept of 'Big Threes' in the NBA?
-The sentiment expressed is that 'Big Threes' may be outdated in the NBA, especially if it requires trading away valuable assets to acquire two of the three players, which can limit the team's ability to build a strong supporting roster.
Outlines
🏀 Suns Coach Firing and New Hire Prospects
The Phoenix Suns have dismissed head coach Frank Vogel after being swept in the first round of the postseason by the Timberwolves. Vogel was only in the first year of his five-year contract. The Suns are reportedly in advanced talks with Mike Budenholzer, who has a strong track record and championship experience, to become their new head coach. Despite the Suns' roster having All-Star level players, there are concerns about the team's lack of leadership and organization in crucial moments. The discussion also touches on whether a new coach can address the team's deeper issues, including the potential need for significant roster changes.
🤔 Phoenix Suns' Roster and Coaching Challenges
The narrative explores the Phoenix Suns' roster issues, suggesting that the team's problems run deeper than just the coaching situation. It is argued that the Suns lack a player who can take charge during critical moments in games. The discussion also addresses the team's roster being flawed, with past trades leaving them with limited assets to improve. There is speculation about potential trades involving key players to alter the team's dynamic. The importance of having a player like Kevin Durant in the center of the team and the need for an assertive personality to complement him is highlighted. The conversation also touches on the Lakers' search for a new head coach and the importance of finding someone who can maximize Anthony Davis's potential.
🎉 Celebrating the Lakers' Coaching Search
This paragraph is more of a transition with celebratory elements, such as music and applause, indicating a shift in the discussion or a pause for dramatic effect. It does not contain substantial content related to the main topics discussed in the previous paragraphs.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Phoenix Suns
💡Frank Vogel
💡Mike Budenholzer
💡All-Star
💡Roster
💡Trade
💡Leadership
💡Big Three
💡Assets
💡Los Angeles Lakers
💡Anthony Davis
Highlights
Phoenix Suns fired head coach Frank Vogel after being swept in the first round of the postseason.
The Suns are expected to hire Mike Budenholzer as their next head coach, marking their third coach in as many seasons.
Budenholzer has a nearly 70% win rate over five years with the Milwaukee Bucks and has reshaped the Atlanta franchise.
The Suns need to maximize the potential of their three All-Star level players and build out roster depth.
The current roster of the Suns is considered fatally flawed, lacking a player to organize the team in crucial moments.
Mike Budenholzer is a native of Arizona and is already discussing his potential coaching staff with the Suns.
The Suns' roster issues are believed to be beyond the scope of a single head coach's influence to solve.
There is a suggestion that the Suns need a player who can take charge and organize the team, which is currently lacking.
The concept of a 'big three' in the NBA is questioned, with the Suns' trio not fitting the traditional mold.
Kevin Durant's leadership is discussed, with a suggestion that he needs to become more uncomfortable as a leader.
The Suns traded many assets to acquire Beal and Durant, limiting their ability to improve the rest of the roster.
The Lakers' head coaching search is expected to intensify, with a focus on finding a coach who can maximize Anthony Davis.
The Lakers' search is divided into three categories: assistant coaches, former head coaches, and unorthodox candidates.
Anthony Davis is expected to have a significant voice in the Lakers' coaching decision, as he is likely to play for the next coach longer than LeBron James.
The Lakers aim to find a coach who can elevate the team amidst strong competition from other Western Conference teams like Minnesota and Oklahoma City.
The Lakers' coaching search faces the challenge of threading the needle to find the right fit for the organization.