Frank Vogel Done In Phoenix, Frontrunner Named To Replace Him

As expected, the Phoenix Suns have dropped the hammer on head coach Frank Vogel, firing him after just one year on the job. The Suns were eliminated unceremoniously from the playoffs last week in a 4-game sweep by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

With Vogel out the door, names have already started to surface on his replacement to take over the reins of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker & Co., as the third Suns coach in three years.

Mike Budenholzer

A former NBA championship coach, Mike Budenholzer has emerged as the frontrunner at this point.

Mike Budenholzer is emerging as the frontrunner to become the Phoenix Suns’ next coach, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/chkIqrwxnP
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 9, 2024

Adrian Wojnarowski says it's far enough along that he's already looking to assemble a coaching staff.

The former Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks coach, Budenholzer took a star-led team in the Bucks to the title in 2021, and was not employed in the NBA coaching ranks this past season. He's a two-time Coach of the Year winner.

Chauncey Billups

Today, Chauncey Billups has also been rumored to be a candidate, even though he still has a job as bench boss of the Portland Trail Blazers. But we've heard, over the past 24 hours, that teams around the NBA are monitoring Billups' situation in Portland, after they just parted ways with two assistants, including Billups's brother, Rodney.

According to insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, "one name I’ve heard would have particular support from Suns players: Chauncey Billups."

Fischer went on to say that Billups told him recently that he is evaluating his situation after two years now in Portland, and that he "wants to have the opportunity to be in a winning situation." The fact is, he took the job because he thought he'd be coaching Damian Lillard, but of course, that was not to be, as the Blazers dealt Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks before this season.

As reported by Suns beat writer Gerald Bourquet, Billups "has Kevin Durant’s respect, Devin Booker has always spoken highly of Billups as a fellow Detroit guy, and the feeling is definitely mutual on both fronts".