The Phoenix Suns have already made some big moves this offseason, but there is plenty more left for them to figure out before they can even consider themselves close to being a cotending outfit once again. The hiring of Brian Gregory as their new General Manager was a surprising start - although given his ties to Michigan - perhaps shouldn't have come as such as shock.
The future of Kevin Durant remains up in the air - and before the Suns can decide what to do with the 36-year-old - they have to hire a new head coach. A process that they have rightly been taking their time with, given the disaster that was the Mike Budenholzer hire of a year ago. Including Devin Booker in the process also seems a smart move by owner Mat Ishbia.
First finalist for Suns' head coaching job rumored to be confirmed.
The organization have also seemingly veered towards having a first time head coach take over, given the failures of both Budenholzer and Frank Vogel in the last two seasons. This also tracks when you consider the team would ideally want an in his prime Booker to not only stick around in Phoenix, but grow with whoever the Suns hire for the role.
According to Miami Heat expert Ira Winderman, their assistant Chris Quinn has been confirmed as a finalist for the top job in The Valley. Not a surprise either, given Quinn was mentioned as one of the five people still in the running for the job having come through at least two interviews to get to this point.
Although that doesn't mean that the job is indeed Quinn's, there are few assistants in the league right now with as much buzz around them as the 41-year-old. He has already come close to getting a head coaching gig with both the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers, while prior to that his name was also floated when the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks had openings.
Learning from Erik Spoelstra for over a decade is obviously a massive plus, and these days is viewed in much the same way as the many assistants who learnt under the tree of the great Gregg Popovich. In fact another reason Suns fans should be excited by the possibility of Quinn in The Valley is the fact he's actually already more than just an assistant.
Prior to this season he was promoted to the role of associate head coach, and takes over on the sidelines if ever Spoelstra is not available to. Even if he doesn't get this job, it speaks volumes about the level of individual in line to be the next head coach of the Suns that Quinn is in the mix. It makes the idea of giving it to this person even more ridiculous.
Quinn's time is clearly coming in this league, and the Suns will hope he can have the same impact as Joe Mazzulla has with the Boston Celtics. Failing that, even giving them the same kind of identity - which has been painfully lacking the last two seasons - as Jamahl Mosley has with the Orlando Magic. Badly needed change is finally coming to Phoenix, and Quinn is an exciting name to have in the mix.