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Phoenix Suns: Pros And Cons Of Making Earl Watson Head Coach

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson looks on in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets defeated the Suns 116-98. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson looks on in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets defeated the Suns 116-98. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 12, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau reacts in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Con: More Experienced Options Are Available

For all that Watson has done to create a more positive, learning environment in Phoenix, there will be quite a few impressive head coaching candidates available this summer. The Suns don’t need a ringer in this stage of an ongoing rebuild, but it’s hard to envision him being the long-term answer at this time.

After all, the Suns will have plenty of attractive pieces once Eric Bledsoe and T.J. Warren return. Between them, Brandon Knight, Devin Booker, Alex Len and an amiable veteran like Tyson Chandler, Phoenix will be hoping for a coach who can make this team as competitive as they should have been this season.

If the front office is not convinced that Watson can be that guy, more experienced options like Tom Thibodeau, Scott Brooks, Luke Walton, David Blatt and Mark Jackson will be available. Each one of those options obviously has their pros and cons, but Phoenix would not be doing its due diligence if it didn’t reach out to at least Thibs and possibly even Brooks.

With Thibs, the Suns would have a coach who could come in and demand defensive intensity from day one. Phoenix would be more competitive with him at the helm, though the risk of him running down youngsters like Bledsoe, Knight, Booker, Len and Warren is very real. Then again, Booker is currently playing 35.5 minutes per game under Watson, so why not upgrade to Thibs?

As for Brooks, he’d bring many of the same positive, nurturing elements to the table that have become Watson’s calling card, only Brooks has the track record to back it up. His flaws with Xs and Os are well known by now, but he’s an undeniably terrific developmental coach, even if there’s a major difference between developing Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden and nurturing Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight and Devin Booker.

No matter which available coach you cape for, there’s no question that more experienced options are available. If the Suns desire a steadier hand than that of an interim head coach with little experience, there’d be a few avenues they could take.

Next: Pro: Progress

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