The Phoenix Suns Should be Willing to Trade for Mike Budenholzer

Mike Budenholzer is in the running to become the next Phoenix Suns head coach. He should be Ryan McDonough’s first choice.

It was recently reported that the Atlanta Hawks have given the Phoenix Suns permission to interview current head coach, Mike Budenholzer, for the Suns’ own vacant head coaching position. The news has many Suns fans buzzing at the prospect, and that alone is an exciting development in the previously depressing line of former Suns’ head coaches that have come and gone.

Budenholzer is still under contract for two more years and $14 million with the Hawks, and the fact the Hawks seem willing to part with a successful coach like Mike is a little puzzling. If Robert Sarver and Ryan McDonough like what they hear from Budenholzer when they interview him, they need to commit to bringing him here to be the next head coach of the Phoenix Suns.

Phoenix Suns

Budenholzer’s resume is somewhat limited, yet rather impressive even still. In 2014-15, he won Coach of the Year by leading Atlanta to the number 1 seed and 60 regular-season wins. He followed that season up with two more winning seasons, before last year’s dismal start to the rebuilding process. Before he was a head coach and he spent several years under the tutelage of Gregg Popovich, a fact that gives Mike plenty of credibility in and of itself.

Mike Budenholzer is actually an Arizona native as well, and the fact that he seems interested in coming home to coach the Suns is an incredibly exciting prospect.

For much of the past few years, Phoenix has declined in its popularity with both players and coaches alike, as the front office has struggled with relations with former coaches and players. For a successful, up-and-coming coach like Budenholzer to show interest in the Phoenix Suns is a promising step in the right direction for the franchise.

With that being said, Budenholzer is still under contract with Atlanta. For Phoenix to get him, it is very likely they would have to trade some kind of pick or asset. Nearly any pick should be on the table for Phoenix, with a few exceptions.

Obviously the Suns’ own pick in this draft is off the table, as no coach is worth a top-4 pick in a loaded draft class. The Suns would be wise to keep their own pick next year off the table as well, as that could still have lottery value depending on the pieces they bring in this offseason and the team’s health.

Besides those two picks, however, the Suns should not hesitate in giving up their other assets to acquire Budenholzer. It is not often a good coach with potential and location ties becomes available. Phoenix needs to jump at the opportunity to shore up their weakest position in the organization. Even if Atlanta wants the Miami pick this year, the Suns should be willing to part with it.

Let’s face it, when trading picks for stars, or even above-average players, first round picks from the back-end aren’t worth nearly as much as higher picks. The 17th pick is not likely to land anyone of an All-Star caliber. Not to mention the Suns have already made it clear that they don’t particularly want to keep the player they would draft with the Miami pick, unless a top prospect falls catastrophically for some reason. Trading away that pick for their next head coach, a proven coach, is a very smart play.

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Budenholzer will completely change the culture of this team, and in doing so, he will once more make Phoenix an attractive free agent destination. That, combined with James Jones, the great weather, and the promising young core of the team already in place, he would give the Suns numerous assets to work with when building this team for the long haul.

So whether it takes a couple of second round picks, Miami’s first round pick this year, the Bucks’ pick, or any other first rounder the Suns own (besides their own this year and next), the Phoenix Suns need to ensure that they secure the services of the best head coach Phoenix would have since Mike D’Antoni, Mike Budenholzer.