It has been widely reported that the Suns are down to nine candidates in their search to find their fourth coach in four years. In a series of articles, Duane Raskin of AZ Central broke down the varying strengths of three potential first-time NBA head coaches.
Chris Quinn, the associate head coach for the Heat, has been a popular name, especially after a turbulent season in Miami that presented the coaching staff with many different challenges.
According to Raskin, Quinn is considered an instrumental part of keeping the team together through the ups and downs of the Jimmy Butler trade drama, and the transitional state that came from pivoting to a new era. That points to his ability as a developmental coach, of which Tyler Herro‘s offensive growth is considered a prime example.
Quinn is also considered the “right hand man” of head coach Eric Spoelstra when it comes to in-game adjustments. This is an important detail, considering the Miami Heat are largely considered one of the better teams in the league when it comes to their game plan and execution.
The Mavericks’ assistant Sean Sweeney is another candidate. Raskin writes that he’s famous for having a limitless work ethic for himself and demanding the same of his players. A longtime confidant and collaborator with Jason Kidd, he’s described as being “… A winner that will hold players accountable” by league sources.
Jordan Ott is a Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach who is widely viewed as a leading candidate in the job hunt, reports Raskin. This is thanks, in part, to his ties to Suns owner Mat Ishbia via their shared alma mater of Michigan State, where Ott was a video coordinator for five years.
Raskin describes Ott as a grinder with a specialty in player development, thanks in part to his abilities as a teacher of the game through film sessions in which he imparts his great understanding of offensive and defensive principles. While the Suns are a veteran team who don’t need much teaching, getting the fringe players on the rotation to become real contributors would be a huge inflection point for maximizing the roster. The Suns have also struggled to create an identity on either side of the ball, so having a tactician running the show could help from an organizational standpoint.
Ott also has a preexisting relationship with Kevin Durant, as Ott was an assistant with the Nets when Durant played there.