Phoenix Suns: 5 candidates to replace Igor Kokoskov as head coach

5. David Blatt

The Suns were in contact with David Blatt at this time a year ago, when they were searching for a new head coach. Though he’s currently coaching Olympiacos in the Greek Basket League and EuroLeague, he only signed a two-year contract last summer.

Blatt would be a decent option to groom a young team, which is what he was supposed to be doing with the Cleveland Cavaliers before LeBron James returned home and his job security was completely upended a year and a half in.

Despite the abrupt end to his time in the NBA, Blatt is a decorated head coach overseas and his Cavs went to the NBA Finals in his first season in the league. He finished his stateside tenure with an 83-40 record (.675), and he’s won championships in the EuroLeague, Italian League, Adriatic League, EuroCup and Israeli Super League.

The Suns don’t have three All-Star caliber players like Blatt had in Cleveland, but he’s got a ton of experience and could help raise these youngsters up right. Then again, after a one-year stint with one foreign-born coach who got fired unfairly, it feels unlikely the Suns would replace him with another.