FATALLY FLAWED 😬 Wilbon has NO solution for Phoenix's roster + Lakers' HC search | NBA Today
TLDRThe Phoenix Suns have dismissed head coach Frank Vogel after being swept in the first round of the postseason. The team is reportedly close to finalizing a deal with Mike Budenholzer as their next head coach. Despite Budenholzer's impressive track record, including a nearly 70% win rate with the Milwaukee Bucks, there are concerns that the Suns' roster is fatally flawed and lacks a player who can take charge in crucial moments. The team's reliance on big threes is questioned, and it's suggested that a significant roster change, possibly involving a trade, is necessary to address the team's issues. The Los Angeles Lakers are also searching for a new head coach, with the focus on finding someone who can maximize the potential of Anthony Davis. The Lakers' search is expected to intensify during the NBA draft combine, with a variety of candidates being considered, including assistant coaches and unconventional choices.
Takeaways
- 🏀 The Phoenix Suns fired head coach Frank Vogel after being swept in the first round of the postseason.
- 📈 Mike Budenholzer is in advanced talks to become the next head coach of the Suns and is expected to finalize a deal soon.
- 🏆 Budenholzer has a strong track record, with nearly a 70% win rate over 5 years with the Milwaukee Bucks and has been named Coach of the Year.
- 🤔 Despite Budenholzer's impressive credentials, there are concerns that Phoenix's roster has fatal flaws that even a new coach might not be able to solve.
- 👥 The Suns lack a player who can take charge and organize the team during crucial moments, which is seen as a significant issue.
- 🔄 It's suggested that substantial roster changes, potentially involving trades, may be necessary for the Suns to improve.
- 🤝 Kevin Durant is noted to not typically take on a leadership role, which could impact the team dynamic.
- 📉 The Suns' roster issues are compounded by the loss of assets from trading for key players like Bradley Beal and Durant.
- 🚫 Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are primarily scorers, which may not align with the team's needs for a more balanced approach.
- 🚀 The Lakers are also searching for a new head coach, with a focus on finding someone who can maximize Anthony Davis's potential.
- 🤝 Anthony Davis is expected to have significant input in the selection process, as he is likely to play under the new coach for a longer period than LeBron James.
Q & A
Why did the Phoenix Suns fire their head coach, Frank Vogel?
-The Phoenix Suns fired head coach Frank Vogel after they were swept in the first round of the postseason by the Timberwolves.
Who is expected to be the next head coach of the Phoenix Suns?
-Mike Budenholzer is expected to be the next head coach of the Phoenix Suns, with talks progressing and a deal anticipated to be finalized.
What is the issue with the Phoenix Suns' roster according to the transcript?
-The issue with the Phoenix Suns' roster is that it is fatally flawed, lacking a player who can run and organize the team during crucial moments, particularly in the fourth quarter.
Who are the three all-star level players on the Phoenix Suns' roster?
-The three all-star level players on the Phoenix Suns' roster are Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.
What is the significance of Mike Budenholzer's coaching record with the Milwaukee Bucks?
-Mike Budenholzer has a strong coaching record with the Milwaukee Bucks, having won nearly 70% of his games in 5 years and reshaping the Atlanta franchise, where he was also named Coach of the Year.
Why is it suggested that the Phoenix Suns need to make a significant roster change?
-It is suggested that the Suns need to make a significant roster change because their current roster lacks the necessary pieces to build out the depth required for a championship team, and they may need to trade one of their key players to alter the team's dynamic.
What is the role of a head coach in the context of the discussion about the Lakers' head coach search?
-The head coach's role, in the context of the Lakers' search, is to ensure they get the best out of Anthony Davis, as it is considered more of an Anthony Davis hire rather than a LeBron James hire.
What is the challenge for the Lakers in their head coach search?
-The challenge for the Lakers is to find a coach who can maximize the potential of their players, particularly Anthony Davis, and who can lead the team to success in a highly competitive environment.
What is the current status of the Lakers' head coach search?
-The Lakers' head coach search is expected to heat up with the NBA draft combine in Chicago, where they may start asking permission to talk to candidates.
Why is it suggested that big threes are no longer effective in the NBA?
-It is suggested that big threes are no longer effective because the dynamics of having three superstars often do not fit well together, and it is more effective to have a dynamic duo with a strong supporting cast.
What is the key to the Phoenix Suns' potential success in the future?
-The key to the Suns' potential success is finding a way to maximize the talents of their all-star players and building out the roster depth without trading away all their assets.
Outlines
🏀 Coaching Changes for the Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns have dismissed head coach Frank Vogel after being swept in the first round of the postseason by the Timberwolves. Vogel was only in the first year of his five-year contract. The Suns are reportedly in advanced talks with Mike Budenholzer, who has a strong championship pedigree and a successful track record with the Milwaukee Bucks, to become their new head coach. Despite the Suns' roster featuring three All-Star level players, there are concerns about the team's lack of a leader in crunch time. The discussion also touches on the challenges of building a roster around a 'big three' and whether the Suns need to make significant roster changes, potentially involving trades.
🤔 The Lakers' Search for a New Head Coach
The Los Angeles Lakers are also in the market for a new head coach, and their search is expected to intensify in the coming week. The focus is on finding a coach who can maximize the potential of Anthony Davis, rather than catering to LeBron James. There are three main categories of candidates: former head coaches who are currently assistants, such as James Borrego from New Orleans, unorthodox candidates without prior coaching experience like JJ Redick, and other potential candidates. The Lakers' challenge is to find a coach who can elevate the team to compete with rising powers like Minnesota and Oklahoma City, and to avoid the pitfalls of their previous coaching searches.
🎉 Celebrating the Lakers' Legacy
The segment concludes with a brief mention of the historical significance of the Lakers franchise in sports, hinting at the high expectations and pressure that come with being a part of such a storied organization.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Phoenix Suns
💡Frank Vogel
💡Mike Budenholzer
💡All-Star Players
💡Roster Depth
💡Trade Clause
💡Leadership
💡Big Three
💡NBA Draft Combine
💡Lakers' HC Search
💡Anthony Davis
Highlights
The Phoenix Suns fired head coach Frank Vogel after being swept in the first round of the postseason.
The Suns are expected to hire Mike Budenholzer as their next head coach, marking their third coaching change in as many seasons.
Budenholzer has a nearly 70% win rate over five years with the Milwaukee Bucks and a history of success, including Coach of the Year.
Despite a strong coaching hire, the Suns' roster is considered 'fatally flawed', lacking a player to lead in crucial moments.
The Suns need a primary roster alteration, which may involve trading one of their star players to improve depth.
The current roster lacks a player to organize the team in the fourth quarter, a role previously filled by Chris Paul.
Kevin Durant is not seen as a natural leader, and there is debate over whether an alpha personality is needed alongside him.
Durant has had his best seasons playing with ball-dominant players like Russell Westbrook and Steph Curry.
Devin Booker is primarily a scorer and has not shown the ability to consistently involve others in the offense.
The concept of a 'big three' in the NBA may be outdated, with more success seen in dynamic duos and strong supporting casts.
Phoenix traded significant assets to acquire Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant, limiting their ability to improve the roster.
Other successful teams like Boston, Minnesota, and Denver have developed their cores through drafting and less trading.
The Suns may consider a significant trade to create assets, potentially moving on from one of their key players.
The Lakers' head coaching search is expected to intensify, with a focus on finding a coach who can maximize Anthony Davis' potential.
The Lakers' search will likely consider assistant coaches, former head coaches, and unorthodox candidates without prior coaching experience.
Anthony Davis is expected to have a significant voice in the hiring process, given his future with the team.
The Lakers aim to find a coach who can lead them back to championship contention amidst strong competition from other Western Conference teams.