Who would you like as our next head coach? (Poll updated - Top 3 choices or less)

[Saberestar]

Plus can't Sarver stop getting these people with zero experience and go with someone that has a proven track record. Lance Blanks, Lon Babby, Lindsey Hunter, Ryan McDonough, and Jeff Hornacek were all first time people at their jobs. Get somebody that has done it before at that particular position and shown a championship pedigree.

In that regard, it's all about money. Experienced and respected guys on this business earn good money and we need to pay him about every dollar because we are not contenders or something like that.

An hypothetical example...Thibodau would probably go to the Cavs for $5M/year but he wouldn't sign here for anything less than $10M/year.

[bwgood77]

I cannot believe the Suns want to hire Nash to be the new head coach.

But Nash, sources say, is not ready to entertain the thought of a head-coaching position or even an assistant coach's role at this juncture, preferring to focus on fatherhood (he has three young children) and his various off-court interests in addition to a part-time consulting role he took on at the start of the season with the Golden State Warriors.

Nash made it clear when he retired last spring that he had no plans to go into coaching.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14691533/steve-nash-not-interested-phoenix-suns-coaching-vacancy-team-interest

[bwgood77]

Although I think Sean Miller would be good, I don't want to see him leave the Cats....but this is kind of interesting....

During the Arizona Wildcats' home loss to the Oregon Ducks Thursday night, Sean Miller got into a shouting match with Kaleb Tarczewski after the center had a few mental lapses on the defensive end. Miller got in Tarczewski's face and barked a few expletives after Tarczewski appeared to talk back to his head coach.

The spectacle, which happened in front of over 14,000 fans and a national television audience, caused quite a stir among the college basketball community, and a strong disagreement among our staff here at Arizona Desert Swarm. One of our writers thought Miller's actions were over-the-top and unnecessary, while another believed they're just part of the game and nothing to be worried about.

But did Miller have any regrets about his outburst?

"No," he said Saturday after the team's win against Oregon State. "I don’t care what it’s perceived like. I have a great relationship with Kaleb, and he has a great relationship with me and unfortunately in today’s world... it’s trying to catch you, trying to catch coaches. 'What can I do to get this guy fired? Is there anything I can do to catch him behind the scenes'?"

In Miller's mind, he's just doing his job.

"I’m myself. I’m the coach and I’m going to push our team to the best that we can be," he said. "I’m going to push our players to be the best they can be. I’m going to love them, but once in a while they’re not going to like the things that you do."

He likened it to being a parent.

"'Dad can I go out tonight and come back at midnight?' Yes. They come back at 1 a.m. Next weekend [they ask], 'dad can I go out tonight and come back at midnight?' No," he said.

"They don’t like it, but you have to follow the rules. When you’re a coach and you’re in a program like ours, you’re going to be corrected, you’re going to be coached and I think part of it is to be receptive to that. That’s what’s going to bring out the best not only in our team, but also the players."

To no surprise, Miller, who picked up his 300th career win Saturday, isn't going to change his coaching style because of a few dissenting opinions.

"The standards are the standards," he said. "For me, it’s not about anything other than what do we do to become the best team we can be, and to bring out the best in him."

"All that other stuff is nothing but noise. I can’t worry about that."

http://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2016/1/31/10878456/arizona-wildcats-basketball-sean-miller-responds-to-criticism-of-his-behavior

[Steve Nashidis]

Steve nash . 2 words of our glory & leadership

[Dr Manute]

Becky Hammon

[saintEscaton]

Jose Mourinho

[DRK]

Hopefully its Watson. And im not kidding.

We need to have some sort of stability here. If Watson does a good job the rest of the season, I dont see why he should be replaced with another new face.

[bwgood77]

Hopefully its Watson. And im not kidding.

We need to have some sort of stability here. If Watson does a good job the rest of the season, I dont see why he should be replaced with another new face.

I like the idea of stability. I'll need more of a sample size to judge. I don't like having more to do with Rich Paul though. I think I'd rather go with someone who's been on an nba bench for longer than a half year though. It will be interesting to see how this season plays out.

It's good that he gets to start out with a seven game home stand (which could have also possibly played a part in the timing).

[Damkac]

Personally I would trade veterans for picks, keep Earl Watson for next year and tank/develop youth (supposedly 2017 draft is very good) rather than sign good coach who will try to win at all costs.

[carey]

Hopefully its Watson. And im not kidding.

We need to have some sort of stability here. If Watson does a good job the rest of the season, I dont see why he should be replaced with another new face.

Define good job for me? He's 0-4 so far. The team looks a little better. Certain players are playing better. We can't really know what we have in him when our top 3 scorers are injured though. The team has to make a decision this Summer, too.

[blacksun]

If were continuing the rebuild, Earl Watson is a great choice IMO. Just hire some more developmental coaches. Maybe bring on Marion to mentor Simmons

If the deadline brings us some win now players, go for David Blatt. That Cle gig didnt do him justice IMO.

Just a thought, what do you guys think of Jeff van Gundy? I was 13 when he last coached so i dont remember him all that well. Hoping some of the more seasoned vets in this board can give feedback.

[WV-Sun]

If it's not a proven winner who has experience as a NBA head coach then give me an assistant who learned under Popovich.

Luke Walton

[saintEscaton]

The Walton hate is unreal. People are quick to jump to the conclusion that he deserves no credit in leading the Dubs to a 24-0 record to start the season because he inherited a juggernaut. He would benefit from being groomed as an associated HC before taking over the reigns but he has blueprints to the revitalized SSOL/ Spurs motion offense hybrid, we just need the personnel to execute it. He's sold drawing plays in crunchtime although he rarely calls timeouts to keep the momentum and still makes questionable hockey substitutions and minute management but thats part of the learning curve

[Damkac]

Don't think Walton would consider signing here. Transition from Warriors roster to our would be brutal.

[DRK]

Hopefully its Watson. And im not kidding.

We need to have some sort of stability here. If Watson does a good job the rest of the season, I dont see why he should be replaced with another new face.

Define good job for me? He's 0-4 so far. The team looks a little better. Certain players are playing better. We can't really know what we have in him when our top 3 scorers are injured though. The team has to make a decision this Summer, too.

Wins/Losses should not be his marker for him doing a "good job."

Grading him on his win/loss record right now is like asking a 6 year old to take a university entrance exam. Its not fair.

The team is depleted by injuries.

What the FO needs to grade Watson's performance on is:

- Do the players like him.
-Can he get the players to buy into the system.
- Is he a fair coach, who does not have double standards with regards to his expectations. (i.e Horny benching Booker/Goodwin/Warren for mistakes but allowing Knight to go nuts.)
- Is he instilling a offensive philosophy and identity in the team.

[bwgood77]

Updated with new poll based on new info and elminating previous poll participants with 1 vote or less

Additions -

KJ - one who is a leader, being mayor in Sacramento and holding is ground to keep the Kings there, a guy who is no nonsense and obviously knows point guard play and could be a great mentor for young point guards.

George Karl - likely to be a head coach, been to conference finals in both conferences (two different teams in west, taking one to NBA finals).

Scott Brooks - good with young guys, perhaps gives us a shot in the dark at Kevin Durant and maybe even Westbrook?

Jeff Van Gundy - been mentioned by some around here.

Earl Watson - Some seem to want to keep him around

[BobbieL]

Mark Jackson or Monty Williams
hire a good X's and O's uy for the bench
my third choice would - and never thought I would say this - is Scott Brooks - good with a young team

Suns need a leader of men first and foremost that can pull the group together and make it one cohesive unit
Jackson was a part of the Warriors success. I get the team got the right talent but at a time when that organization was floundering, he righted the ship.

Williams is a guy from the Pop tree - good enough for me

As if this is about X's and O's - you hire Thibodeau. Suns need more than that with the current dysfunction.

[DirtyDez]

Don't think Walton would consider signing here. Transition from Warriors roster to our would be brutal.

The transition from GS to any team would be brutal...

I've been critical of MDA but he's a legitimate head coach which we haven't had for some time. I would like to see it in regards to Eric Bledsoe. For this team to be great HE has to be great.

[BobbieL]

Don't think Walton would consider signing here. Transition from Warriors roster to our would be brutal.

The transition from GS to any team would be brutal...

I've been critical of MDA but he's a legitimate head coach which we haven't had for some time. I would like to see it in regards to Eric Bledsoe. For this team to be great HE has to be great.

It really is the key - maximizing Eric Bledsoe

I think I am done with Mike D'Antonio. But maybe Scott Brooks

[saintEscaton]

Don't think Walton would consider signing here. Transition from Warriors roster to our would be brutal.

The transition from GS to any team would be brutal...

I've been critical of MDA but he's a legitimate head coach which we haven't had for some time. I would like to see it in regards to Eric Bledsoe. For this team to be great HE has to be great.

It really is the key - maximizing Eric Bledsoe

I think I am done with Mike D'Antonio. But maybe Scott Brooks

Oh god please no. He has no set plays and would run the most vanilla autopilot ISO laden scheme without set plays , and he won't have the luxury of having two of the best one on one players.