Introductory news conference for new Suns GM Brian Gregory
The Phoenix Suns hold an introductory press conference for their new general manager, Brian Gregory.
Potential candidates include current Suns assistant David Fizdale and former Knicks assistants Mark Bryant and Othella Harrington.Several of the candidates have prior connections to Ott or the Suns organization.
Jordan Ott landed the job.
Now he has a coaching staff to put together.
The new Phoenix Suns head coach has made his share of NBA coaching connections over the years, but there may not be as many candidates available.
The New York Knicks are now the only team without a head coach after firing Tom Thibodeau despite reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1999.
Thibodeau’s assistants could be options for Ott.
Here are eight potential assistant coaches the new Suns head coach might want to pursue with the thought that they’ll be with the team for more than one season.
The Suns have fired Monty Williams, Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer after each of the last three seasons.
They’ve been paying staff members from previous staffs.
David Fizdale (Suns assistant)
Every first-year coach needs a veteran assistant to help him or her navigate through the experience of being in this position for the first time.
Fizdale has been the staff survivor the last two seasons as he worked for Vogel and Budenholzer.
He has a great relationship with several of the Suns current players, has been an NBA head coach in Memphis and New York and is well respected.
Mark Bryant or Othella Harrington (Knicks assistants)
Bryant and Harrington both coached under Thibodeau this season.
Bryant has familiarity with the Suns as he was part of Monty Williams’ staff when Phoenix reached the 2021 NBA Finals and posted the NBA’s best record with a franchise-best 64 wins the following season.
Not sure he’d be interested in returning to Phoenix after being part of Williams’ staff that was let go after the 2022-23 season in Mat Ishbia’s first year as team owner.
If the Suns are prioritizing a big man in free agency, Bryant worked with Deandre Ayton when the two were in Phoenix together, Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren and New York Knicks All-NBA big Karl-Anthony Towns.
As for Harrington, this was his first year as an NBA assistant. He has worked with USA Basketball and was the director of basketball operations at his alma mater, Georgetown.
Harrington may be a nice find early in his NBA coaching career.
A good staff always has an assistant that has the look of a future NBA head coach.
Enter 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 (2022-24). He checks boxes on offensive and defensive concepts – and developing player relationships.
Ott and Handy were assistants together with the Los Angeles Lakers under Darvin Ham.
Got some familiarity there.
Handy has been a longtime NBA assistant coach at three stops — Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors and Lakers. He’s known for his relationship with LeBron James and won NBA championships in each of those three stops.
Adam Harrington (former Brooklyn Nets assistant)
Harrington and Ott were in Brooklyn together as assistants from 2018 to 2022.
Even more familiarity there.
Known for his player development, Harrington is founder of The Clubhouse in New Jersey where players can develop their basketball skills. Harrington may be perfectly fine staying in this space, but Ott could certainly find out.
Brent Barry (Suns assistant)
Barry landed his first NBA job as a coach this past season under Budenholzer.
He played 12 NBA seasons and won two NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs in 2005 and 2007. Barry later served as the vice president of basketball operations for the Spurs, but he aspired to coach in the NBA.
Barry worked Suns rookies Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro and helped them improve over the course of the season. Anytime a new coach and rookies arrive at the same time, it’s good to build on that relationship.
She’s worked for Rick Carlisle at two different stops – Dallas Mavericks (2018-21) and Indiana Pacers (2021-Present).
Boucek started her NBA coaching career with the Sacramento Kings in player development. She was previously an assistant and head coach in the WNBA.
Boucek is part of a franchise that has made a special run to the NBA Finals as a fourth seed out of the Eastern Conference. Having winning experience and energy to a staff is very important.
Boucek is soaring in that lane right now.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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