Category: Basketball

Why Draymond disagrees with LeBron's playoffs scheduling idea originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors icon Draymond Green doesn’t agree with his friend and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James’ recent proposal for the NBA to give teams a month off before the playoffs to address fatigue-related injuries.

Green explained why James’ proposition might be counterproductive on Tuesday’s episode of the “Draymond Green Show” podcast.

“I know Bron talked about there being a month off before the playoffs; I don’t know that that’s possible,” Green said. “A, guys will get a bit out of shape and can have an adverse effect, guys getting back in, and all of a sudden, you pull something because it’s been a month. 

“So I don’t know if a month is the right answer, but two weeks – ain’t no NBA player getting out of shape in two weeks, but you can get a lot healthier in two weeks.”

Green believes a month off might be too much rest for players. Though, as he mentioned, some rest might be desirable.

The four-time NBA champion cited hamstring injuries to superstar Golden State teammate Steph Curry and Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon as proof that moderate recovery time can be helpful, as the pair of players didn’t have enough time to return to near 100 percent amid their respective teams’ eventual eliminations.

Green explained how the current postseason format generally has teams playing every other day, which doesn’t leave much time for rest between travel, rehab and schematics. 

“You look at Steph Curry pulling a hamstring … Aaron Gordon saying there should be two days in between games – I agree,” Green said. “Here’s the thing: if you end up with a series like [against] Houston, and there’s a day in between games, that’s a four-hour flight from San Francisco to Houston on a day in between games, your rest day. 

“By the time you land in Houston, it’s eight o’clock at night … By the time you make it to the hotel, it’s dark. … everything’s quick, you’re trying to get ready for bed. So the recovery process ain’t great.”

James’ proposition probably isn’t the answer. But Green – and probably all of Dub Nation – would like to see an NBA playoffs where rest allows the best players to stay on the floor.

“Is it about bunching in games, or is it about the best team winning and putting your best product out there on the floor for the fans? And I think that’s where you run into the issue,” Green said.

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Mannix: Spurs the ‘team to watch the closest' for Jaylen Brown originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Not even Jaylen Brown is safe from trade talks this offseason as the Boston Celtics look to shed significant salary.

Just about everyone from the 2024 championship core is on the table with the C’s aiming to avoid the restrictive penalties associated with being in the second apron of the luxury tax. They will have to move at least one rotational player, but another option is to wipe the slate clean with a full reboot.

Brown, a four-time All-Star and 2024 NBA Finals MVP, has massive value if Boston opts to dangle him in trade discussions. Although sending Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a popular talking point, one up-and-coming Western Conference team seems like a more realistic trade partner.

“The team I’d watch the closest with Jaylen Brown is probably the Spurs,” Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated said Wednesday on NBC Sports Boston’s The Off C’season special. “Sure, I think (the Spurs would) love to make a run at Giannis, but do the Bucks ask for Stephon Castle? Like, is that on their wish list? And if it is, I can’t see San Antonio doing a deal like that.

“One of the concerns people in San Antonio told me about is, you go and deal for a guy like Giannis, all of a sudden you’ve created a championship window, but it is a window with a closing date. You’ve got De’Aaron Fox, who’s in his late 20s, Giannis in his early 30s, and the last thing they want is to have a roster after those guys kind of age out where when (Victor) Wembanyama is maybe looking around going, ‘All right, where are the young guys I’m going to play with after that?’

“It certainly is a problem for another day, but that’s on the mind of the San Antonio Spurs. That’s why they want to hold on to Stephon Castle, so he can be that second guy opposite Wembanyama for a long time, assuming they trade that No. 2 pick.”

As Mannix puts it, the Celtics would be a more attractive trade partner for the Spurs because they likely wouldn’t require a player like Castle in return. Instead, the deal would center around the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft — likely Rutgers standout guard Dylan Harper.

“I think if you’re Boston, you’re not going to ask for a Stephon Castle. You’re not going to get a Stephon Castle in a potential Jaylen Brown deal,” Mannix added. “You would get the No. 2 pick back in return. You would get the Devin Vassells, the Keldon Johnsons, future first-round capital. That’s something I’d watch if and when the Giannis Antetokounmpo stuff shakes itself out over the next few weeks.”

Yahoo Sports NBA insider Kevin O’Connor asked Mannix whether the Spurs would put the No. 2 pick on the table for Brown in a potential swap.

O’Connor: NBA sources view Dylan Harper as a franchise-changing talent

“Oh, absolutely. I don’t think Boston does that deal without the number two pick,” Mannix answered. “I think Jaylen — for San Antonio — is worth giving up a player that most people talk about as a potential franchise guy in Dylan Harper.

“People that I talked to really like (Harper), but I think Jaylen Brown is — at his age with his contract status, his playoff pedigree — I think that’s worth it. And all of a sudden, you’ve got Fox, you’ve got Brown, you’ve got Castle, and you’ve got Wemby backstopping that team. That’s a championship contender in the Western Conference next season.”

It will be a fascinating offseason for the Celtics and unquestionably the most challenging yet for president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. Even if Brown stays put, Stevens will have to make some agonizing decisions this summer with other key players — perhaps as soon as this month, with the 2024 NBA Draft set for June 25.

Here's the latest news and buzz on the Knicks' search for a new head coach...

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June 30, 5:50 p.m.

The Knicks will have a second interview with Mike Brown for their head coaching job, according to multiple reports.

Brown, 55, is one of four known candidates to have already interviewed for the vacancy along with Taylor Jenkins, Micah Nori, and James Borrego.

SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley noted on June 27 that Brown "has made a good impression during the interview process and garnered support."

ESPN's Shams Charania also mentioned that Brown has "emerged as a strong candidate" for the Knicks' job.

Brown owns a career 454-304 (.599) head coaching record with two Coach of the Year awards (2008-2009, 2022-2023) and has made one trip to the NBA Finals in 2007 with the LeBron James-led Cavaliers.

June 25, 6:26 p.m.

The Knicks have identified another assistant who could potentially be their next head coach.

New York is interviewing New Orleans Pelicans assistant coach James Borrego after the team granted the Knicks permission to speak with him, SNY NBA insider Ian Begley confirmed.

Borrego is the fourth known candidate to interview with the Knicks, joining Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori and former head coaches Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown. Begley notes that the door is still not closed on Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd.

Borrego, 47, does have head coaching experience. He was named interim coach of the Orlando Magic in February of 2015 and finished with a 10-20 record. After three years as a Spurs assistant, he was hired as the Charlotte Hornets head coach in 2018. In four seasons, Borrego had a 138-163 record.

June 24, 8:58 a.m.

The Knicks are interviewing Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori for the head coaching job, SNY NBA insider Ian Begley confirmed.

This makes three candidates who've interviewed for the vacancy, as New York completed its initial interviews with Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown last week.

Begley notes that the door is still not closed on Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd.

Nori, 51, has been the lead assistant coach for the Timberwolves under Chris Finch since 2021 after previous stops as an assistant with the Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, and Toronto Raptors.

June 12, 5:10 p.m.

Former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins remains squarely on the Knicks' radar as they continue their search for a new head coach, per people familiar with the matter, according to SNY NBA insider Ian Begley.

Jenkins, 40, was fired by Memphis after nearly six seasons with nine games remaining in the 2024-25 regular season despite having a 44-29 record at the time. It was reported that the Grizzlies were anticipating on firing him after a first-round playoff exit, per ESPN.

The Grizzlies still made the playoffs with a 48-34, earning the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. They were eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in four games.

Jenkins owns a career coaching record of 250-214 (.539) with his best season coming in 2021-22 when he led the Grizzlies to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed. That team lost in the conference semifinals, falling to the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors.

New York is not in any rush with its search and are casting a wide net of candidates, Begley reported Wednesday.

June 11, 9:07 p.m.

The Knicks reportedly asked another team about the status of their head coach and were denied again.

According to the Chicago Sports Network's K.C. Johnson, the Knicks reached out to the Chicago Bulls for permission to speak to Billy Donovan.

Per Johnson, the Bulls "value Donovan highly for his coaching acumen, communication skills and ability to connect with players and all members of the organization."

June 11, 6:03 p.m.

The Knicks requested permission to interview Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder but have been denied, ESPN's Shams Charania reports.

Syder is the fourth currently-employed coach to have their team deny the Knicks' request to speak with them, joining Ime Udoka, Jason Kidd and Chris Finch.

Snyder began his head coaching career with the Utah Jazz (2014-22), amassing a 372-264 record and a 21-30 record in the postseason. Snyder then joined the Hawks, where he's led the team to a 86-93 record in the regular season and a 2-4 record in the playoffs since the 2022-23 campaign.

June 11, 9:22 a.m.

The Knicks requested permission to interview Jason Kidd, which the Mavericks declined, per multiple reports.

New York also recently asked for permission to speak with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch -- with those requests also denied.

June 7, 2:58 p.m.

Former Villanova head coach Jay Wright is not a candidate for the Knicks job, SNY NBA insider Ian Begley confirms.

Knicks team president Leon Rose and Wright have a close relationship and speak regularly, but because of that, Rose knows Wright is very happy as a retiree, Begley notes.

Of course, many speculated Wright could be a candidate because he coached Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges in college. Wright retired in 2022 after 21 seasons at Villanova and is now a college basketball analyst on CBS and TNT.

June 6, 1:18 p.m.

Ime Udoka, Chris Finch, and Jason Kidd are among the coaches currently under contract who the Knicks have degrees of interest in, reports SNY NBA insider Ian Begley.

Per Begley, the Knicks will request permission from the Mavericks to interview Kidd.

Marc Stein was first to report the expectation that the Knicks would ask to speak with Kidd.

Kidd, 52, has been the Mavericks' head coach since 2021.

Udoka is the head coach of the Rockets, while Finch is the head coach of the Timberwolves.

Kidd wrapped up his Hall-of-Fame playing career with a stint with the Knicks, so there is some familiarity between the two parties.

If the Knicks wind up hiring Udoka, Finch, or Kidd, they will be required to send compensation to their former team.

June 4, 2:41 p.m.

The Rockets have "no interest in entertaining" a scenario where they allow head coach Ime Udoka to leave for the Knicks job, reports Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

Per The Athletic, Udoka and the Rockets are "committed to the long-term project and are actively preparing for a busy offseason."

Udoka, 47, has been the Rockets' head coach since the 2023-24 season.

He served as the Celtics' head coach from 2021 to 2023, and has worked as an assistant for the Spurs, 76ers, and Nets.

June 2, 12:40 p.m.

The Suns are hiring Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott to be their next head coach, which means potential Knicks candidate Johnnie Bryant is still available.

Bryant was reported to be one of the finalists for the job in Phoenix.

June 2, 3:02 a.m.

SNY NBA insider Ian Begley reports that it would be surprising if the Knicks found their next head coach by the end of this week.

Additionally, Begley noted that people recently in touch with the team have downplayed the idea of Mike Malone being a slam-dunk hire.

Begley also noted that the early read is that Dan Hurley isn’t at the top of New York’s initial list, adding that Ime Udoka was a name he had heard mentioned. To hire Udoka, the Knicks would have to get permission from Houston and give the Rockets compensation to let Udoka out of his deal.

As far as Jason Kidd, Begley reported that he can’t see the Mavericks even entertaining the idea of letting Kidd go.

Mannix: How teams are viewing Celtics ahead of pivotal offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics might be the most fascinating franchise ahead of what could be a very exciting NBA offseason.

The Celtics are one of three teams in the second apron, and based on what their roster could cost next season, it would make sense to shed some salary this summer and create future flexibility.

With superstar forward Jayson Tatum sidelined as he starts a lengthy recovery from Achilles surgery, the Celtics could choose one of several different paths. Do they make a couple minor changes and try to remain competitive in a weak Eastern Conference next season? Or do they take a bit of a step back, make moves with an eye toward the future and look to be a serious contender two seasons from now?

And what does the rest of the league think of the Celtics’ dilemma?

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix answered that question Wednesday on NBC Sports Boston’s The Off C’Season YouTube show.

“Whenever I talk to teams about Boston, they’re almost viewed as a target where they’ve got a little something for everybody,” Mannix said. “If you want a wing player, you can try to pull Sam Hauser out of there. If you need a defensive-minded guard, Jrue Holiday is available. I just think teams are waiting to see how deep the cuts with Boston are going to go. We all know they’re going to slice away some of this payroll.”

Which players could be available if the Celtics are looking to shed salary?

“Hauser, to me, is the most likely candidate to go, just because you have (Baylor) Scheierman there to effectively fill his role,” Mannix said. “I think they’d love to find a home for Jrue Holiday, just because of the contract and where they are as a team. (Kristaps) Porzingis, who knows? I don’t think they want to take on contracts that go on longer than Porzingis’ deal, but he’s certainly available.

“Teams I’ve talked to just aren’t fully sure what Boston wants to do. Do they want to just nibble around the fringes and get under the second apron, or do they really want to reboot this thing, take that full gap year, and go into 2026-27 with Jayson Tatum and some other stuff as the centerpiece of the team?”

Hauser is about to enter the first season of a four-year extension worth $45 million. He is a career 42 percent 3-point shooter and can hold his own defensively. Hauser’s quality outside shooting and modest salary could make him attractive to a bunch of teams.

Holiday has two more years, plus a 2027-28 player option, left on his contract with an average annual salary of $33.6 million. The veteran guard is still a decent scorer, is a very good defensive player and has plenty of championship experience.

Porzingis is entering the final year of his contract with a $30.7 million salary cap hit. The veteran center is a good 3-point shooter and a strong interior defender, but he’s not very durable. Porzingis has played in 99 of a possible 164 regular season games since joining the Celtics.

The Celtics ran it back with their championship roster in 2024-25, and just like the previous five defending champions, they didn’t make it past the second round of the playoffs. Now the hard part has arrived. How will Brad Stevens and his front office staff tweak the roster? It’ll be exciting to watch it all unfold.

Watch the full episode of The Off C’Season in the video below:

Livingston believes Steph injury ‘robbed' Warriors in Wolves series originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Just about a month removed from Steph Curry’s Grade 1 hamstring strain in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, the “what if” still remains for the Warriors.

Curry’s former teammate, Shaun Livingston, agrees with most fans in saying that the Warriors would have had a chance to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves had the injury not occurred.

“They definitely have a shot,” Livingston told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole on Wednesday. “There’s no question about it. He changes the game, he changes the series and the outlook and the way you strategize for the team.”

The Warriors won Game 1 of the series against Minnesota before dropping the next four games sans Curry.

The 11-time NBA All-Star averaged 24.0 points, 5.7 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game in the Warriors’ first-round series against the Houston Rockets and was locked in Game 1 against the Timberwolves, as he had 13 points in just 13 minutes played prior to sustaining the injury.

“When you have guys that go down like that, it’s just, again, there’s so many ripple effects that come out of a player going down,” Livingston told Poole. “Just all these different second and third order effects, you know, to a guy going down. So, I really feel like obviously the Warriors were robbed in that series with injuries. They put a valiant effort up but again we’ll never know because injuries are just a part of the game.”

Curry, 37, racked up four championships with the Warriors, but the chance at a fifth title run this past season could be a “what if” that’s brought up for the foreseeable future.

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When the Knicks first paired Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, the offensive possibilities seemed endless. Brunson is one of the best shot creators in the NBA and has elevated as a three-point shooter, especially off the dribble.

Towns is one of the best shooting big men in NBA history. And the stats show it. Towns shot 42 percent from deep during the 2024-25 season and is a career 40 percent shooter from three. The pairing of the two All-Stars worked in a general sense. New York won 51 games and advanced to the Conference Finals.

Brunson (26.0 points) and Towns (24.4 points) both made All-NBA teams and were productive on the floor. But beyond the individual stats, Brunson and Towns didn’t find ideal balance. Both players seemed like two ships passing in the night.

Initially, the Brunson-Towns pick-and-roll was a massive success as New York’s offense was ranked first in offensive efficiency through the first 20 games. However, the team ran fewer of the action as the season progressed. There were some factors hindering the pick-and-roll. With Josh Hart on the floor with both stars, teams would have their centers check Hart and wings defend Towns. Also, Brunson and Towns both seemed more comfortable attacking in isolation or off the drive.

That strategic adjustment allowed teams to switch defensively on the Brunson and Towns pick-and-roll. New York’s offense faded as the season wore on, falling to just 16th in offensive efficiency after the start of the calendar year. It felt like both stars were playing in separate cubicles and not interacting on the floor. Brunson only assisted Towns five times during the Eastern Conference Finals.

Defensive challenges

An even larger concern for the duo was on the defensive end. Both Brunson and Towns are limited defenders. New York was able to reach a passable 13th in defensive efficiency during the regular season. The rest of the Knicks’ core seven-man rotation are plus defenders. New York’s starting lineup asks players like OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges to make up for the limitations of their two stars.

Opposing teams emphasized going after both Brunson and Towns all year long. Defense was an issue for Towns throughout the postseason, as he looked lost at times defending the pick-and-roll. The center was often in no man’s land, backing up towards the basket and conceding open looks to players like Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton at various points of the playoffs. New York’s season essentially ended with Haliburton hunting Towns over and over again for midrange floaters down the stretch of Game 6.

In the playoffs, New York was outscored by 3.39 points per 100 possessions in 493 minutes with both Brunson and Towns playing together according to PBP Stats. Lineups with just one of either player on the floor were more effective.

After the Knicks let go of head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday afternoon, the next head coach in line will face a tall task. They will have to find a way to optimize Brunson and Towns where both players are able to be their best selves on offense and fit together.

New York’s defense will always have a ceiling based on Brunson and Towns’ deficiencies on that end of the floor. But improving the offense—which ranked fifth during the regular season—is possible. There’s some low-hanging fruit. New York doesn’t generate many three-pointers. Under Thibodeau, the Knicks didn't rely on ball movement often. Finding a better way to utilize both stars would be a step in the right direction. New York could feature more five-out lineups with shooting to open up space for drives.

That should be one of the first things the Knicks look at as they pursue candidates. For the next Knicks head coach, finding the right balance for both Brunson and Towns will be the deciding factor in the franchise’s quest to win an NBA championship.

Draymond believes he's the greatest defender in NBA history originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors icon Draymond Green revealed his top-five list of the NBA’s all-time defenders on Wednesday and initially crowned himself the greatest.

“What you should understand about me is that I think I’m number one on that list,” Green declared on the latest edition of the “Draymond Green Show” podcast. “However, I think top five, to go in order, I’m really not a fan of those.”

Though Green shared his list, explaining that there is no order or science to it.

“But who I would regard as my top five defenders of all time? I definitely put myself in that list; Ben Wallace is on that list; in my opinion, Tony Allen is on that list; Tim Duncan is on that list. And the last one on that list? … My fifth would go to – who I did have the opportunity to see very young in my life, but more film around him – Hakeem Olajuwon.”

Green undoubtedly has a strong case for the top spot on his own stacked list.

The 13-year Golden State veteran has found his way onto nine All-Defensive teams and was the 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year and steals leader. Green has quarterbacked the Warriors’ defense to four NBA championships, too, and also is a four-time All-Star because of his two-way prowess during the franchise’s dynastic era.

Meanwhile, Wallace, Allen, Duncan and Olajuwon all were like Green as defenders, making his choices clearer. They were leaders who gave opposing offenses fits every time they laced ‘em up, just like Green still does to the game’s best scorers and facilitators today.

Green mentioned two other NBA greats who come to mind when considering the game’s greatest defenders, but he mentioned they weren’t included in his list.

“Also, understand that I’m not including Wilt Chamberlain; I’m not including Bill Russell,” Green said. “I didn’t see them play. I have the utmost respect for those guys – the pioneers – the utmost respect. But I’d be lying to you if I’m like, ‘Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain.’ Like, I’d be just going off of stats, and I don’t love when people do that, because there’s an eye test, and I haven’t seen enough of their games to say that. 

“So, understand I’m not excluding them – I was born in 1990, and that’s my only reason for not including them. Saying all of that … my top five in no particular order: myself, Tim Duncan, Ben Wallace, Hakeem and Tony Allen.”

Fair enough.

Green wasn’t alive to witness the greatness of Chamberlain and Russell. But he has been around to see Wallace, Allen, Duncan, Olajuwon and, of course, himself flourish on the defensive side of the court.

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The Knicks have kept their fans on their toes over the past year, once again rocking headlines on Tuesday afternoon when they fired head coach Tom Thibodeau after five of the winningest seasons in recent franchise history.

Now eyes turn to a potential replacement who can take the team to the next level.

Here are the pros and cons of some of the potential candidates...

Johnnie Bryant

Pros: 

-Bryant is a highly respected player development coach, having forged strong bonds with guys over the course of his career, notably Donovan Mitchell while in Utah.
-He spent four seasons in New York as an associate head coach under Tom Thibodeau, watching him lay this foundation that he would get a chance to build further off.
-Having coached under Quin Snyder and Kenny Atkinson has given him a front row look at some of the NBA’s best offensive schemers. 

Cons:

-First-time head coach risk. For a team trying to elevate beyond a legend like Thibodeau and crack the Finals, it’s inherently a big swing to go with a newcomer to the position.
-His relative newness and player-first mentality may not be the strongman approach needed to get the most out of this contending core, and he would be working in a high-pressure New York environment.

Kenny Atkinson

Pros: 

-Renowned player development coach who has elevated the games of Evan Mobley recently and the plucky pre-big-three Brooklyn Nets.
-High-level offensive mind whose hiring boosted the Cleveland Cavaliers record from 48 wins in 2024 to 64 in 2025.
-Over 20 years of coaching experience, including under Steve Kerr and Tyronn Lue.

Cons:

-Untested as a head coach in deep playoff runs, his Cavaliers team flamed out in the 2025 postseason.
-Was fired from the Nets in part due to struggles with managing star personalities. 

Mike Malone

Pros:

-2023 NBA championship winning coach with over 30 years of experience.
-Strong defensive coach with high-level winning mentality. 
-Was a Knicks assistant from 2001-2005, so some experience coaching this franchise under his belt.

Cons:

-Has been critiqued for many of the things that got Thibodeau dismissed, such as a lack of adaptability and unwillingness to play and develop young players. 
-May not bring enough of a shakeup offensively, was similarly reliant on a one-man show in his time in Denver.

Jay Wright

Pros:

-Two-time NCAA champion with Villanova, known for building championship cultures.-Coached Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges at the collegiate level.

Cons:

-No NBA head coaching experience.-Transitions from the college level for any name are hit-or-miss.

Jeff Van Gundy

Pros:

-Fan favorite, deep roots with the Knicks including leading them to a 1999 Finals appearance.-Decades of coaching experience, including long playoff runs and dealing with multiple high-profile personalities.

Cons:

-Hasn’t been an NBA head coach since 2007-May be some concerns with transitioning to the modern game.

Mike Brown

Pros:

-Over 25 years of NBA coaching experience, including two Coach of the Year awards-Known for being player-first with a strong defensive mindset.

Cons:

-Shaky playoff resume, lots of cases of underperformance.-May not bring the offensive innovation the Knicks need.

Mike Budenholzer

Pros:

-NBA champion in 2021 and architect of the starless 60-win 2014-15 Atlanta Hawks team, two-time Coach of the Year. -Descends from the Spurs' coaching tree under Gregg Popovich and has seen his assistants grow into strong NBA coaches themselves.

Cons:

-Often on the brink of dismissal.-Similarly to Thibodeau, he has struggled with in-game adjustments during high-level playoff series.

Suns hiring Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as next head coach: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phoenix Suns’ coaching carousel has made another stop.

Phoenix is hiring Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott to be the franchise’s next head coach, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday.

Ott and fellow Cavs assistant Johnnie Bryant reportedly were among the finalists for the Suns’ head coaching job. Suns star Devin Booker was involved in the hiring process and had Ott as his top choice, Charania reported.

Ott will become the Suns’ eighth head coach since the franchise selected Booker in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft. Only one of Ott’s predecessors has held onto his position for more than two years (Monty Williams, 2019-23).

Phoenix has fired its head coach after each of the last three seasons. Williams was fired after a second straight second-round playoff exit in 2022-23, Frank Vogel was one-and-done after a first-round playoff defeat in 2023-24 and Mike Budenholzer’s lone season with the team resulted in a 36-46 record with no playoff berth.

Ott has been coaching in the NBA since 2012. His previous stops include the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Cavaliers.

One player Ott may not get the opportunity to coach in Phoenix is Kevin Durant. The 15-time All-Star is expected to have a “robust market of approximately four to six seriously interested teams this offseason,” Charania reported.