Phoenix Suns: 5 candidates to be the long-term head coach
1. David Fizdale
Maybe the Phoenix Suns decide to give Jay Triano a chance, let him coach out the rest of the 2017-18 NBA season and then go from there. But with David Fizdale’s firing on Monday, and Triano’s reluctance to commit to anything long-term after this season, this is one candidate they shouldn’t hesitate to contact.
Simply put, if Ryan McDonough believes Fizdale is the right guy to have behind the wheel for the next 3-5 crucial years of this rebuild, he should reach out immediately, before more coaching vacancies open up around the league and he has more options to choose from.
It’s sad, but that’s how far the Suns have fallen. If the Milwaukee Bucks fired Jason Kidd, coaching Giannis Antetokounmpo would overrule anything Phoenix has to offer. If the Los Angeles Clippers move on from Doc Rivers, that L.A. lifestyle and Blake Griffin would win out.
Hell, even if the lowly Chicago Bulls came calling, the allure of the Windy City and coaching a once prestigious organization might have more appeal than the Suns currently do, though perhaps we’re underselling the Fizdale-James Jones connection from their days together with the Miami Heat.
In any case, Fizdale was a reputable assistant on two championship teams in Miami and compiled a 43-39 record last year with the Grizzlies despite having a banged up, underwhelming roster. He pushed the San Antonio Spurs to six games with that roster and it appears he was run out of town by Marc Gasol during an eight-game losing streak where Mike Conley was sidelined for six of them.
Fizdale is a good coach, but when push came to shove, he wound up getting the axe. Memphis’ misfortune could become the Suns’ good luck if they hurry. He’s a worthy long-term candidate, not only because he was wisely trying to implement a more modern, 3-point oriented offense within the Grit-N-Grind culture, but because he also overachieved despite his roster’s shortcomings.
That is exactly what this young Suns team needs: A stable system that can lead to success despite a lack of experience, and as his infamous “Take that for data” rant proves, he wouldn’t be afraid to go to war for his players.
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Fizdale would make life easier on Devin Booker, he’d put the youngsters on the right path and even better, he could even wind up being the long-term answer as well. If there’s any urge to hire David Fizdale, the Phoenix Suns need to pounce swiftly before more jobs open up and he becomes one of the league’s hottest commodities.