The Phoenix Suns don't want a repeat of their previous two coaches, Mike Budenholzer and Frank Vogel. Both signed five-year contracts, but were fired after one season. Mat Ishbia and the Suns want to take a different direction, so they're interested in hiring a young, first-time head coach.
NBA insider Marc Stein listed several first-time head coaches Phoenix is interested in, including two still involved in the playoffs with their current teams (Cleveland's Johnnie Bryant and Oklahoma City's Dave Bliss). On Sunday, Stein reported that the Suns are deciding whether to include a few candidates with head coaching experience (subscription required):
"Two such names that have already emerged as possibilities: New Orleans Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego and Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Dave Joerger."
Stein didn't write that Borrego and Joerger are candidates. At least, not yet. Maybe Phoenix wants to diversify its candidate pool by including coaches with experience at that level. While that's understandable, it will also be worrisome for fans if Borrego and Joerger do become candidates who are interviewed for the position.
Suns must hire a head coach that will be around for more than one year
Borrego was the Magic's interim head coach in the second half of the 2014-15 season after Jacque Vaughn was fired. He wasn't officially hired as a head coach until 2018, when he was named the Hornets' head coach. Borrego went 138-163 in Charlotte before he was fired after four years in 2022. He is currently an assistant in New Orleans.
Joerger has more head coaching experience than Borrego. He was the head coach of the Grizzlies from 2013-16, posting a 147-99 record. Memphis fired him because of what management called a needed "culture change." Sacramento was interested in Joerger before Memphis fired him, and the Kings got their wish to hire him when the Grizzlies let him go.
Sacramento signed Joerger to a four-year contract in 2016. The Kings fired him in 2019 after a 39-win season, which was the team's best in almost 15 years. Joerger had a 98-148 record in Sacramento. He spent a few seasons as an assistant in Philadelphia before joining Doc Rivers' staff in Milwaukee in January 2024.
Phoenix didn't have any luck hiring two coaches who had won an NBA title in recent years, so going with Borrego or Joerger (who haven't led a team to a championship) would feel like a step back. Fans might be hesitant about the Suns hiring a first-time head coach, but they need to hit the reset button with a culture change. Promoting Brian Gregory to GM didn't do anything to reassure fans, so Phoenix needs to nail its head coaching hire.
It wouldn't be the end of the world if the Suns interviewed Borrego and/or Joerger, but choosing one of them wouldn't give Phoenix what it needs.