Slam Dunk Central

Help Wanted: NBA Coach.  Must have experience, preferably with a winning NBA franchise from outside the Phoenix Suns.  If such an ad actually ran, it would best describe what the Phoenix Suns’ criteria for their next head coach would be.  Which means that you can rule out 4 Suns’ candidates - Tom Chambers, Dan Majerle, Eddie Johnson and Vinny Del Negro; according to Jerry Brown of the East Valley Tribune, during an appearance on Phoenix radio station KTAR-AM, team owner Robert Sarver was asked if any member of the Suns staff or anyone involved with the organization are not in contention as the team’s next coach.  Sarver’s reply?  “I think that’s safe to say.” 

If that is the case - and I assume that it is - then current Suns assistant Alvin Gentry will be looking for employment elsewhere, perhaps to New York where Mike D’Antoni is the coach.  One individual who holds team general manager Steve Kerr’s attention is Mark Jackson.  Jackson, in so many words, expressed interest in the job, telling the Tribune, “It’s a great job.  That team is ready to win right now.  It’s very intriguing.  Anyone who got that job would consider themselves lucky.”  Jackson also coyly deflected any questions about any contact he had with the Suns.  Another couple names can be considered out of the running as well - current TNT broadcaster Doug Collins and former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy - although to be fair, Van Gundy expressed an interest in coaching but wants to wait an additional year before re-entering the coaching ranks.

Sarver also mentioned in the interview with KTAR-AM that he isn’t looking for a coach who is defense-minded (Boston Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau comes to mind); on the contrary, Sarver stated he wants his team to “play defense better”.  In addition, Sarver mentioned that the top 6-7 Suns players will not change that much and that there’s only a 2-year “championship window” remaining for the team.  Considering that the top-tier coaches have signed elsewhere, the Suns’ search for their next caoch should, at the very least, be very interesting.

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