(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Fans and analysts have been trying to understand the Phoenix Suns’ recent postseason collapse over the past several weeks.
Despite having a roster filled with stars, the Suns were once again unable to make a substantial run in the playoffs, losing in the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
After seeing the team fall early in the playoffs, the Suns decided to act quickly and remove Frank Vogel from his post as head coach.
Vogel only coached the team for one year, but that seemed like enough time for the organization to make up their mind about him and his future with the Suns.
The Suns also acted quickly to hire his replacement, as it was soon announced that they hired Mike Budenholzer as their new head coach, the former coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.
While Budenholzer seemed like an easy choice for the Suns, analyst John Gambadoro indicated that there were a few other candidates.
As he illustrated in a recent podcast, Gambadoro pointed to Ty Lue and Chauncey Billups as two other head coach options.
The Suns were showing interest in Ty Lue and Chauncey Billups as potential head coach candidates before hiring Mike Budenholzer, per @Gambo987 (https://t.co/nF0TDgQEDF).
With Lue and Billups under contract elsewhere, and not able to interview, Budenholzer became their choice. pic.twitter.com/7ONct2F5HD
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 14, 2024
While either Billups or Lue could have done well with this roster, the Suns elected for Budenholzer, who has recent success of winning the NBA Finals.
It was surprising for Bucks fans to see Budenholzer leave, especially since he had done so much for the organization.
If he is able to replicate his success from Milwaukee in Phoenix, the Suns could be a dangerous team in the 2024-2025 season, assuming they retain most of their core pieces.
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