Valley of the Suns
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Ranking the Phoenix Suns head coaching candidates

By Matt Escobar

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 01: Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers looks on during the first quarter in game one of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at TD Garden on May 01, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 01: Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers looks on during the first quarter in game one of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at TD Garden on May 01, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MAY 07: Head Coach Doc Rivers of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates after defeating the Boston Celtics. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MAY 07: Head Coach Doc Rivers of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates after defeating the Boston Celtics. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

Ranking the Phoenix Suns head coaching candidates.

Doc Rivers

Under no circumstances can Doc Rivers be the Suns’ head coach. He has many of the same issues that Williams did, but all turned up a notch. He struggles to make adjustments over the course of long series, leading to blown leads and embarrassing exits. He’s stubborn in his rotations which is a problem Suns fans are all too familiar with.

Rivers has been gifted extremely talented teams again and again but has failed to capitalize on them since winning a championship with the Boston Celtics 15 years ago. Most recently he let a 3-2 series lead over the Celtics as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers slip, leading to his dismissal.

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The one thing Rivers does have going for him is that he can manage superstar personalities well, but it just doesn’t make up for all of his flaws. He’s a known quantity at this point and it would be a huge step back for the Suns.

Jordi Fernández

Having been a part of the coaching setup with the Denver Nuggets bench for several years, Jordi Fernández moved to the Sacramento Kings before this season. Those Kings, of course, had their best season in almost two decades, led by their incredible offense.

Now the question is, how much of that was due to Fernández? It is important to note that the Kings also brought in Mike Brown as head coach before the season, so a lot of their turnaround has been attributed to him.

Whatever the case may be, the Suns’ problem wasn’t their offense. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker surrounded by role players will generate an elite offense. On the defensive side of the ball the Kings were one of the worst performing teams in the league.

The Suns should be wary handing the reins over to a coach without an idea of how he’ll coach to a high level defensively. A first time coach can have success with this Suns team, but there is a better candidate if the Suns decide to go that route.

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