The Suns announced Earl Watson as their new head coach

[Saberestar]

Earl Watson signed a three-year contract to remain the Suns' 17th head coach. He and Ryan McDonough will speak at a 3 p.m. press conference.

https://mobile.twitter.com/paulcoro/status/722504931614130176

[Gorilla Warfare]

I'll be back at the end of next season when he's fired. I'm done with being irrelevant.

[rsavaj]

I don't like hiring Earl without interviewing the other candidates first. How do you know he's the right guy if you haven't explored the field and seen what other coaches propose to do with your roster?

This just seems really shortsighted to me. Feels like another "hey why not?" move from a franchise that's made far too many of them in the past 5 years.

Earl's clearly motivated the guys and he has some great rapport with them, but when I'm thinking about who to hire for the next coach to lead my franchise, I'm not thinking, "man, if the guys on the 2nd worst Suns roster ever really like him, that must be really important." All of the players loved Hornacek a year ago and look how that turned out.

I just don't get it. This franchise seems rudder-less.

Edit: Am I alone in thinking this is more Sarver than McDonough? Seems like a classic "let's cheap out on the coach" move.

[RaisingArizona]

Don't like this.

[saintEscaton]

Keep calm and trust the process. Now we just need to bring Hinkie on board

[rsavaj]

get ready for another 82 games of the offense-destroying Len/Chandler frontcourt

[gaspar]

I like it. I think it shows that the Suns are truly committed to rebuilding and developing young players.

[Saberestar]

I'm OK with this move, we didn't have a ton of great options out there. We are a rebuilding team without All-Stars players, hard to sell that to experienced coaches.

Watson knows how to motivate players to play hard and that is a really important skill in a head coach. He connects with players and he is pretty clear about their roles and expectations.

Hopefully this is the first step on the right direction for our team and we can see in he next few years a successful team.

[Damkac]

I like it. I think it shows that the Suns are truly committed to rebuilding and developing young players.

Feeling the same.
Tired of those unsuccesfull 8th seed pursuits. Want to see Book, Warren, Len and rookies (and Archie?) playing.

[phnart]

I coach little league baseball in an area of Phoenix where a lot of the kids have a very, very nice lifestyle. Of our 11 kids, about three of them actually accept coaching and seem to want to improve their game. The other eight think they are god's gift to the game of baseball and know everything. I have to imagine this is somewhat akin to what an NBA coach goes through.

Good luck, Earl Watson. Maybe you're the next Popovich. Maybe you're the next casualty of Sarver. I don't know what will happen, but I do know we won't see the playoffs again until, at the soonest, 2018.

[GetYourPHX]

Earl's clearly motivated the guys and he has some great rapport with them, but when I'm thinking about who to hire for the next coach to lead my franchise, I'm not thinking, "man, if the guys on the 2nd worst Suns roster ever really like him, that must be really important." All of the players loved Hornacek a year ago and look how that turned out.

Quoted for truth right here. I don't think I can add much more to what you've said because it's spot on.

The one pro is that Sarver seems to have finally accepted the fact that we're a rebuilding team. It sucks to bottom out like this but it's been inevitable since we traded Nash.

The only thing to look forward to for the next 3 years is the draft lottery. Let's get that Harry Giles/Jayson Tatum hype train started up!

Edit: Am I alone in thinking this is more Sarver than McDonough? Seems like a classic "let's cheap out on the coach" move.

I saw you added this and I'll agree with you again. Sarver has a pattern of being the guy who buys the car with the twin-turbo and then puts regular fuel in it. We've haven't paid an established FO type since we ran Pringles out of town.

When Sarver bought this team I was excited. I loved the Colangelo's but it was awesome to have an AZ native in charge of our most storied pro sports franchise. Unfortunately, I don't think Sarver thinks of the Suns that way. He runs this team to make money first and win second.

I get it, it's just disappointing. Years of mismanagement have turned the Suns from crown jewel to second fiddle in AZ.

[Maystack]

I think next season is all about development, so going out and spending big cash to get a big name coach isn't something I would have liked to see. I'm okay with this decision.

[saintEscaton]

There isn't even much talent to develop. Das all I'm saying

[Saberestar]

Suns did reach out to other people & gathered info if they were to open up the job search but decided Watson was best for developing team

https://mobile.twitter.com/Gambo987/status/722512432472547329

[GetYourPHX]

I think next season is all about development, so going out and spending big cash to get a big name coach isn't something I would have liked to see. I'm okay with this decision.

Why not though? Spending money on coaches, GMs, etc. doesn't impact the salary cap at all. There's essentially no reason to cheap out on that part of your franchise unless you're more concerned with your bottom line than the product on the court.

[jcsunsfan]

I am OK with this, but not that excited about it. Watson seems to be a teacher and motivator. That is probably what we need right now. I do not think there is any way he is a championship coach, so we will probably go through a uncomfortable coaching change before we become contenders.

[Damkac]

There isn't even much talent to develop. Das all I'm saying

Booker (top 5 rookie this year), Warren, Len, rookies from upcoming draft (one will be probably top 5 pick) is a lot of talent imo.

[letsgosuns]

Watson is the guy that gave the keys to the team to Booker. I am 100% on board with that. With Warren coming back next year, I expect him to become the starting small forward, unless the Suns draft a small forward they would rather start or trade for a new small forward. Either way, I think Watson is a good choice, especially when you look at who is available and the current state of the team. I thought he did a good job considering this was the worst constructed Suns team I remember. It was literally Booker and a bunch of role players.

[Saberestar]

There isn't even much talent to develop. Das all I'm saying

I disagree.

#4, #13, probably Bogdanovic or another rookie, Booker, Warren, Len and Goodwin.

Those are seven young players with some talent who need confidence and time on the court to develop.

[RaisingArizona]

Can't shake this feeling of disappointment.