The Phoenix Suns hired Jordan Ott to be their head coach, and the next move is getting the first-time HC some experience on the bench. They should look for a veteran head coach willing to be his top assistant. Ott worked under Steve Nash and Darvin Ham since becoming an assistant coach in 2018. Those are two options, but there are several other intriguing names available including Mike Brown or Michael Malone.
Ott felt like the obvious hire. He got his master’s degree at Michigan State and was coming off an exceptional season where the Cavaliers significantly outperformed expectations. Ott was deserving of his first head coaching shot, and the Suns gave him the opportunity.
This could end in absolute disaster. Phoenix is on their fourth head coach in four seasons and appears set to trade Kevin Durant. The Suns missed the playoffs in 2025, but want to win. Ott faces a tall task that is only manageable by upgrading the roster and getting him a veteran assistant to lean on.
Suns must hire assistant with head coaching experience to help Jordan Ott
This is common practice for a first-time head coach. The Lakers added Scott Brooks and Nate McMillan to be assistants under JJ Redick last season. Having someone who has been in the seat before helps significantly.
The Suns have David Fizdale, who was in the running for the head coaching gig. Can they convince him to stay on staff? That is the hope, but adding another assistant with head coach experience would be ideal, especially given the pressure put on Ott to win immediately.
Phoenix will trade Durant, but they have no plans of tanking. The Suns plan to keep Devin Booker and build around him. He had a say in Ott being hired as head coach and will continue to be the face of the franchise. That will only happen if the Suns win. They needed a new voice and got one. Now, it is all about maximizing the impact of the new head coach on his roster.
The Phoenix Suns offseason is just getting started. Expect a Kevin Durant trade before the draft and plenty of chatter in the coming weeks. The Suns missed the playoffs and must make significant upgrades to be competitive. The new lead decision-maker and head coach must build out their roster. It won’t be easy, especially given the financial situation. There are plenty of questions from fans and a growing lack of faith. Stay tuned to see how it all plays out.