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Inside Suns coaching search

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Suns owner Robert Sarver summarily disqualified (campaigning) Eddie Johnson, Vinny Del Negro and Tom Chambers as coaching candidates when asked about his three Suns' employees on a Phoenix radio station. Confirming desert reports, Mark Jackson will meet with president/GM Steve Kerr and senior VP David Griffin today in Los Angeles. I'm informed there are no plans to reach out to Avery Johnson. Contrary to projections about a lengthy search, it appears management's list is rather condensed. Pistons assistant Terry Porter yesterday huddled with Kerr and Griffin. Kurt Rambis will get his turn after Jackson. Kerr looks up to Phil Jackson, whom he played for in Chicago. Rambis is a Lakers' assistant and exhibits a similar free spirit.

New York Post

Avery Johnson, AP Avery Johnson, AP
May 16, 2008  06:00 AM ET

Now, things are getting interesting. Of course, the former Sun players have ties to the franchise but are too new to take over the high-octane team at the moment.
Mark Jackson would be a bit bizarre as well - a New Yorker city boy taking over a team out in the desert? He'd have to trade nachos for hot dogs.
Hiring Rambis is also quite intriguing. On one hand, he has experience. On the other hand, he comes from an arch-rival just West of Phoenix. If he has strong connections to LA, you have a spy that could leak info to the almighty Lakers. Even if he doesn't mean to do so, a clever "friend" of his from the Lakers could get him to say something simply in the course of a routine small-talk conversation.
Besides, how well does Rambis understand the Triangle Offense? He has coached in LA, but does he use a traditional approach, or did he spend the time and effort to learn the Triangle?
- JL

May 16, 2008  06:02 AM ET

If the Suns are smart, why don't they take a clue from New York and interview that Italian coach Messino? After all, they had success with the Italian D'Antoni, and it makes sense to try another Italian. Since the Knicks took their coach, it makes sense for them to take the coach that was going to be interviewed for the Knicks.
- JL

May 16, 2008  08:40 AM ET

Jay L RAMBIS played for Phoenix TOO He ended his career there

May 16, 2008  08:41 AM ET

-JL If the Suns were happy with D'Antoni style coach, don't you think they would have kept D'Antoni?

May 16, 2008  08:48 AM ET

Previous coach was of Italian descent. Hire another Italian. Your logic is impeccable sir!

May 16, 2008  08:59 AM ET

It is Messina and not Messino. I like Terry Porter. He did a good job with the Bucks and I still don't understand why they fired him.

May 16, 2008  10:04 AM ET

It would take a former Champ to fix things in the Valley of the deceased um I mean Suns (R.I.P)

Phoenix Suns - Texas owned since 2001

May 16, 2008  10:58 AM ET

donnedonne, brilliant logic isn't it! lol, i was about to make the same comment you did

May 16, 2008  11:05 AM ET

Read between the lines. Sarver is once again trying to "do it on the cheap."

May 16, 2008  11:11 AM ET

JL
Are you really that stupid, or are you for real. Robert Sarver is a businessman. He's trying to win basketball games. I really doubt that someone's nationality will play a part in his getting this job. Otherwise, Steve Kerr and David Griffin wouldn't be in the position they're in.

 
May 16, 2008  05:43 PM ET

Read between the lines. Sarver is once again trying to "do it on the cheap."

Hllywd | 05/16/08, 11:05 AM


Exactly. You could immediately tell that by the "I'm informed there are no plans to reach out to Avery Johnson," comment. He knows that AJ is making $4 mil/year, and he knows that to get AJ there, he's going to have to come off some change.

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