After being swept out of the First Round, the Suns have chosen to move in a different direction at head coach.
He believed that he had clemency and that the owner of the organization was providing him with his full support. Frank Vogel found out today that neither was true as he has been relieved of his head coaching duties for the Phoenix Suns. He lasted but one year with the organization, posting a regular season record of 49-33. He was 0-4 in the postseason.
ESPN Sources: The Phoenix Suns dismissed coach Frank Vogel. The Suns — who won 49 regular-season games with league’s third-highest payroll and tax — were swept in opening-round series to Timberwolves. Mike Budenholzer will be prominent part of search. pic.twitter.com/SDTRkXxkrG
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 9, 2024
The leash was assuredly long for Vogel, who came to Phoenix with the championship pedigree and a history of coaching teams that have either been through the rebuilding process or possessed three All-Star caliber players. He took LeBron James and Anthony Davis to the promised land in the Orlando Bubble in 2020. When Russell Westbrook joined the team, however, Vogel was soon scaped-goated out of the City of Angels.
Is he being scapegoated once again?
While injuries hampered the team early in the season, a lack of cohesiveness and direction was the foundation of their fall. You can blame the injuries, but losing three times to the San Antonio Spurs was a prime example of this team’s utter lack of focus throughout the season. They often played like they believed they were better than they were.
Something in the locker room was broken, as the culture was fractured and the cohesiveness mirrored an unglued vision board. Whether it was roles not being properly defined or a clear offensive game plan, the Suns lacked a willingness to execute, an ability to overcome, and a desire to perform.
The team was embarrassingly swept out of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the First Round. It is only the third time in the history of the Phoenix Suns organization that they have been swept in a four-game series, the two other times coming at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers.
How many times have the Suns been swept in a four game series?
1982 Second Round vs Lakers
1989 WCF vs Lakers
2024 First Round vs WolvesThey were also swept:
1978 First Round vs Bucks (0-2)
1985 First Round vs Lakers (0-3)The Suns have swept their opponent 5 times
— John Voita (@DarthVoita) April 29, 2024
Immediately following the game, The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Doug Haller released an exposé detailing issues within the Suns locker room, noting that Frank Vogel was not taken seriously nor were roles properly defined. While he might’ve had the support of ownership, it is clear that he did not have the support of the players that he coached.
Therefore his tenure with the Suns organization lasted less than 365 days.
The next steps for the Suns organization will be to scour the open market for someone who can assist in writing the wrongs of this season. A list of coaches who are currently on the market include:
- Mike Budenholzer
- Terry Stotts
- Mark Jackson
- Kenny Atkinson
- Nate McMillan
- Becky Hammon
- Stan Van Gundy
- Jeff Van Gundy
- Mike D’Antoni
- Dwane Casey
- Stephen Silas
- Dave Joerger
- James Borrego
- JJ Redick
The Suns have numerous directions they can go in and the search is officially on. Stay tuned to Bright Side of the Sun as we ride the offseason rollercoaster with an organization trying to figure itself out.