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Durant repeatedly complained both publicly and privately about Kerr’s offensive principles during his final season with the Warriors, and he continued to do so even after he left for Brooklyn. The two have since reconciled, but league sources identify Kerr as among the reasons Durant opted not to return to Golden State at the trade deadline. In Gotham, Durant had similar critiques of Nash’s concepts, and the coach was later fired during Durant’s last season. And this past season, cameras routinely caught him in verbal spars with Suns coach Mike Budenholzer, urging him to simplify the offense, yelling at him during possession changes, or pouting in the corner in protest as the offense flowed without him.
League sources informed The Arizona Republic last month that Budenholzer’s assistants were kept because they’re under contract. Chaisson Allen and Schuyler Rimmer attended Ott’s news conference.
Kendrick Perkins: Kevin Durant 'not a needle mover' for championships anymore
Kendrick Perkins:Obviously, he's going to be traded from the reports before the draft or maybe on draft night. I would like to tell the teams out there that's actually looking to get Kevin Durant approach with cautions. Okay? Because Kevin Durant is not a needle mover in my opinion no more when it comes down to if you're trying to win a championship and this is not something that I'm making up. This is facts, right? Like he hasn't moved the needle. Brooklyn Nets, one of the biggest busts in NBA history with that Big Three in Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. Move over, you go to the Phoenix Suns, another bust with another big three. Two firings of two championship coaches in Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer.
Jake Fischer: There's a ton of skepticism around the league that Michael Malone—with a similar personality and coaching style to Tom Thibodeau—is going to ultimately be the man on New York's sideline at the end of the day. I'd say there's also plenty of skepticism that Mike Budenholzer would be that man as well. So I think we're going to hear names that are potentially lower down on the totem pole in terms of proven veteran playoff success. I think we're going to be hearing names like Mike Brown, the former head coach in Sacramento—his name's already been linked to the job. Taylor Jenkins, the former Grizzlies head coach, might be the most respected coach available on the market right now. There are a ton of questions about whether or not New York will go back to their own well and try to bring Cavs assistant Johnny Bryant back to Madison Square Garden. That's not something I've been able to confirm yet, but it's definitely something people are wondering about, as he was a finalist for the head coaching job in Phoenix and, of course, was part of the Eastern Conference–leading Cleveland Cavaliers coaching staff this season.
Devin Booker involved in Suns head coaching search
After firing Mike Budenholzer on April 14 and naming Gregory as the new GM on May 1, the Suns embarked on a comprehensive coaching search. Gregory led a multi-round process that began with over 15 coaching interviews. A group of approximately eight candidates had second-round meetings before five -- Johnnie Bryant, Jordan Ott, Miami's Chris Quinn, Oklahoma City's Dave Bliss and current staff member David Fizdale -- advanced to in-person visits with team officials last week. Suns franchise cornerstone Devin Booker has been involved in the search process over the last seven to 10 days, sources said.
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As The Stein Line first reported Saturday, Suns star Devin Booker has been speaking to candidates as part of the interview process in this third round of the search for Mike Budenholzer's successor. Phoenix is said to have interviewed more than 15 candidates in Round 1 before narrowing down to nine candidates for Round 2.
As covered here in depth Sunday, Phoenix has moved onto the second round of its hunt for Mike Budenholzer's successor, with eight candidates from the assistant coaching ranks confirmed by The Stein Line advancing to Round 2: Brooklyn's Steve Hetzel, Cleveland's Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott, Dallas' Sean Sweeney, Miami's Chris Quinn, Minnesota's Micah Nori, New Orleans' James Borrego and Budenholzer staff holdover David Fizdale. My old podcast partner Chris Haynes reported Sunday that Oklahoma City's Dave Bliss also still remains under consideration.
Hornets assistant Josh Longstaff among candidates for Suns head coaching job
Michael Scotto: Sources: Hornets assistant Josh Longstaff is among the candidates for the Suns head coaching job. He was an assistant for Bulls coach Billy Donovan, former Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer, Team USA for Jeff Van Gundy, Erie BayHawks head coach, a Knicks assistant, and worked for OKC.
Gerald Bourguet: Mat Ishbia on Mike Budenholzer and the Suns' next head coach: "We've gotta get the next hire right, and we will....There's a lot of reasons why coach Bud is not here, I'm not gonna get into all of those, but we definitely should've won more games"
Mike Brown, Jared Dudley among candidates for Suns job
Following the dismissal of former head coach Mike Budenholzer, the Phoenix Suns are expected to have an extensive, wide-ranging coaching search. Several coaching candidates are expected to be in the mix, including potential first-time NBA head coaches, including Cleveland Cavaliers associate head coach Johnnie Bryant, Houston Rockets assistant coaches Royal Ivey and Ben Sullivan, Miami Heat associate head coach Chris Quinn, Dallas Mavericks assistants Sean Sweeney and Jared Dudley, etc. Former head coaches Mike Brown and James Borrego are also expected to draw consideration for Phoenix’s coaching opening. Another interesting subplot amid Phoenix’s coaching search is the future of general manager James Jones, who delivered the news along with Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein to Budenholzer that he was out as coach. Jones is on an expiring contract, and the belief is his future is murky in Phoenix.
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Jrue Holiday on Bradley Beal comparison: We're different players, Brad is an elite scorer
Bobby Manning: Jrue Holiday wasn't sure why his name's in the Bud-Beal reports: "We're different players. Brad is an elite scorer ... I just don't know why people gotta bring me in it. Let me just do me, go out here and try to win as many rings as I can."
Whether the Suns hire a first-time head coach or another one with experience, they might pivot from someone who, at least by reputation, could instantly lead the team to a championship, to one who could come in and build relationships with the players. That, sources said, was something Budenholzer, who is still owed another $40 million, was unable to do.
John Gambadoro: The Phoenix Suns fired Mike Budenholzer for several reasons. The team did not compete. There was no energy. The team didn't like each other. His relationship with players was not good. They were awful defensively. Just overall performance. Overall it was considered "A bad fit"
John Gambadoro: I know about this story it is true - Beal told Bud "Don't ever disrespect me like that. Don't ever tell me to play like another player"
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