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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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Phoenix Suns
Mar 6, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Archie Goodwin warms up prior to the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

Con: … At The Cost Of Development

The Suns are making progress .. .but it may not be as extensive as the overall record would indicate. Under Hornacek, the Suns posted a dreadful 99.6 offensive rating (27th in the NBA) and an atrocious 106.7 defensive rating (29th) … but neither one of those marks was as bad as it’s been under Watson, with Phoenix posting a 98.6 offensive rating and a 109.3 defensive rating since.

Even if the Suns were making progress, what cost is it coming at? Not only has this recent 15-game stretch jeopardized Phoenix’s position in the tank race (and therefore, their odds at securing a higher pick in this year’s draft), but Watson’s desire to win games has also meant sacrificing the development of guys like Archie Goodwin.

It wasn’t long ago that Goodwin was the team’s starting point guard (by necessity) and was receiving ample praise form Watson as a guy who could potentially play three positions and needed to be supported so he could grow. And grow he did in many examples. Even if he wasn’t a great floor general in his time at the point, he had a couple of big games and even had a game-winning three-pointer back in January.

But over the last seven games or so, he’s mostly been relegated to bench duty behind guys like Ronnie Price and John Jenkins in the rotation, averaging just 8.9 minutes per game and racking up two DNP-CDs in that span. That’s right: GOODWIN IS BEING BENCHED FOR RONNIE PRICE AND JOHN JENKINS.

Getting a look at Jenkins is a good idea with him signed on for the rest of the season is a good idea, and over the last two games, Goodwin has gotten back into the rotation with 14 and 23 minutes, but it’s concerning to see those kinds of fluctuations in the rotation for a team that should be allocating as many developmental minutes as possible to the younger guys.

Meanwhile, Chandler and Len are still starting together rather than starting Jon Leuer at the 4 and bringing Chandler off the bench to develop Len. Booker and P.J. Tucker are playing damn near 40 minutes a night, and the overwhelming sense is that Watson is doing all he can to win games to prove to the front office that he’s worth keeping around for the long-term.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to keep the job he’s landed, and his commitment to making the Suns more competitive from Day 1 is commendable. But it’s also hurting the Suns’ potential draft position, is coming at the cost of Goodwin’s possible development and is putting major wear on a 19-year-old rookie.

Watson’s lack of able bodies has played a part in all of this, but as he chases the full-time position, it’s come in direct contrast to what the Suns should be doing for the rest of this lost season: Carrying through with their unintentional tank, feeding minutes to young players (but not too many), and securing a high draft pick.

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At the end of the day, Watson has plenty of admirable attributes as a potential head coach, but between his head-scratching lineups and the extensive options available as a long-term replacement for Hornacek, it’s hard to see him lasting in Phoenix longer than a couple of seasons if he’s able to secure to job.

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