The Phoenix Suns fired Mike Budenholzer, elevated Brian Gregory from vice president to general manager and shifted James Jones to senior adviser in fewer than 30 days.

They’ll make even more changes in the next two to three months.

Suns general manager Brian Gregory speaks during his introductory news conference on May 6, 2025, in Phoenix.

Patrick Breen, Arizona Republic

Searching for another head coach

Monty Williams, Frank Vogel and Budenholzer were fired under team owner Mat Ishbia, who bought the Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury for a record $4 billion during the 2022-23 season.

Budenholzer coached the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA championship in 2020-21, received NBA Coach of the Year honors twice, but he won just 36 games last season with the NBA’s first $400-million team to start a season led by Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.

Gregory said the Suns will go through an “extensive process” in hiring a coach in attempting to choose the right one. Sources informed The Arizona Republic that the Suns have interviewed more than 15 candidates.

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This will be Phoenix’s fourth head coach in four seasons under Ishbia. Let’s start with a short list of potential candidates who are assistants on current playoff teams or on teams just recently eliminated.

Micah Nori (assistant, Minnesota Timberwolves) — The Suns finished the 2024-25 season 27th in defensive rating under Budenholzer. That hasn’t been Minnesota’s problem with Nori, who is known for his defense.

Micah Nori, the lead assistant coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, watches during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals against the Dallas Mavericks, May 24, 2024, in Minneapolis.

Abbie Parr, Associated Press

The T-Wolves led the NBA in defensive rating last season and ranked sixth this season. They’ve been top three in this year’s playoffs.

Johnnie Bryant (assistant, Cleveland Cavaliers) — He’s never been an NBA head coach, but has established himself as someone who develops relationships and excels in offensive concepts. The Suns lacked the coach-player connection under Budenholzer.

Gregory stressed the importance of having communication with the players during his introductory news conference.

The Indiana Pacers eliminated the Cavs, the East’s No. 1 seed, in the second round.

Dave Bliss (assistant, Oklahoma City Thunder) — Bliss established himself as a player development coach with the Thunder from 2010-15 when Durant was there. After working as an assistant for the New York Knicks (2015-18), Bliss returned to OKC in player development in 2018-19.

He’s been an assistant for the Thunder since 2019. While Bliss is known for his player development, he has also put his defensive stamp at OKC. The Thunder continue to lead the NBA in defensive rating in the playoffs after doing so in the 2024-25 regular season.

Lloyd Pierce (assistant, Pacers) — He’s been an NBA head coach before in Atlanta (2018-21). Pierce won only 34.4% of his games (63-120), but he has played a role in Indiana’s postseason surges last season and this season.

Coaches tend to learn from past experiences and are better the second time around.

Golden State Warriors assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse, left, sits with head coach Steve Kerr during a game between the Warriors and the Phoenix Suns in San Francisco on Jan. 31, 2025. 

Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

Jerry Stackhouse (assistant, Golden State Warriors) — Being a former NBA player can be seen as beneficial because he can relate to the players. Stackhouse has also been a successful head coach in the G League, like Nick Nurse and Taylor Jenkins were.

Stackhouse is known for player development, structure, attention to detail on defense and culture building. The Suns are looking to establish a tough, physical mentality and style of play.

Then there’s Washington Wizards assistant Adam Caporn. He was named head coach of the Australian national team this year over Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder.

Caporn was a head coach in the G League for the Long Island Nets before becoming an assistant in Brooklyn. He checks boxes on offensive and defensive concepts — and developing player relationships.

Houston Rockets assistant Royal Ivey, Dallas Mavericks assistant Jared Dudley, Pelicans assistant James Borrego, Philadelphia 76ers assistant David Joerger, Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn and Cavs assistant Jordan Ott are potential candidates for the job, as well.

Borrego and Joerger have been NBA head coaches.

The Suns are currently in a position to take their time because they’re the only team with a head coaching vacancy.

The NBA draft: Suns eye options late in the first round again

Phoenix has the 29th overall pick in the first round and the 52nd overall selection in the second round of the June 25-26 draft.

Last year, the Suns maneuvered to land Ryan Dunn late in the first round and Oso Ighodaro in the second, two players who became rotational guys.

This year, lefty Ben Saraf may be on the board for the Suns late in the first round. The 6-6 guard has played pro ball in Germany. From Israel, Saraf can score, is a playmaker and excels in pick-and-roll.

Ratiopharm Ulm guard Ben Saraf, left, dribbles past Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson during the first half of a preseason NBA game in Portland, Ore., Oct. 16, 2024. 

Craig Mitchelldyer, Associated Press

The Suns could also look to draft size. Gregory talked about the idea of having two bigs in today’s NBA. Multiple mock drafts have Phoenix landing Yaxel Lendeborg.

Averaging 17.7 points on 52.2% shooting and 11.4 rebounds this past season at UAB, the 6-9, 240-pound Lendeborg has entered the draft, but can opt out as he has an NIL deal with Michigan.

From Pennsauken, New Jersey, Lendeborg played junior college ball at Arizona Western.

Maxime Raynaud is a 7-footer from France to consider, as well. He averaged 20.2 points on 46.7% shooting and 10.6 rebounds in his senior year at Stanford.

Raynaud made a significant jump in his 3-point productivity, making 67 from distance in his senior year after hitting a combined 45 in his first three seasons at Stanford.

Saraf, Lendeborg and Raynaud were invited to the NBA combine in Chicago.

Durant era over in Phoenix with trade?

The Suns entertaining deals for Durant before the 2025 trade deadline fuels the idea of moving him this summer despite being the team’s best player.

Reaching 30,000 career points this past season, Durant averaged a team-high 26.6 points on 52.7% shooting as he knocked down 43% of his 3s.

The Houston Rockets are mentioned as a trade partner because of their draft capital and young talent.

Beal has a no-trade clause. The Suns guard has averaged 17.6 points on 50.5% shooting overall, connecting on 40.7% of his 3s in two seasons with the franchise, but has played a total of only 106 games during that time, mostly due to injuries.

The Suns would have to find an ideal landing spot for Beal to move him. Beal has two years left on his five-year, $251-million contract. He has a player option on the final year of the deal that’s scheduled to pay him $57.1 million.

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35), left, shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during the first half on March 28, 2025, in Minneapolis. 

Abbie Parr, Associated Press

Suns remaining over second tax apron?

The Suns are projected to remain over the second tax apron for the 2025-26 season.

How they handle Durant and Beal this summer will have an impact on their apron status. The Suns have been filling out their roster mostly on veteran minimum guys; Booker, Durant and Beal combined for $150 million in salary this past season.

Gregory said he likes Phoenix’s current roster, but after Booker and Durant, it doesn’t match up well with championship contenders.

If the Suns can make their way under the second apron, they can have better roster flexibility to improve the roster’s overall talent and not remain so top-heavy.

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