The Phoenix Suns may have made some massive roster changes this offseason in getting rid of both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal - with national media outlets taking notice based on the release of their schedule - but there were also some huge moves made with the franchise's coaching staff. Jordan Ott getting the chance to prove himself as a head coach for the first time.
The team that he has built around him is also young, and it is hoped that their fresh approach can be a welcome addition to The Valley after veterans Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer quickly overstayed their welcome. Crucially for Ott - as the Suns are clearly in a phase of re-tooling around Devin Booker - he is also going to get the time to implement his vision.
Suns bringing in Steve Clifford for this season a wise decision.
One move that the organization recently made that nobody saw coming, was them bringing in former Charlotte Hornets' leading man Steve Clifford in an advisory role. The 63-year-old having a wealth of knowledge from his various stops around the league, and for those keeping score at home he's the third person to jump from Charlotte to Phoenix since the trade deadline last season.
Just In: The Phoenix Suns are hiring Steve Clifford as a coaching advisor, sources told @hoopshype. Clifford has 23 seasons of NBA coaching experience, including head coaching stints with the Hornets and Magic. He was also an assistant for the Knicks, Rockets, Magic and Lakers. pic.twitter.com/hiroGGN0cR
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) August 13, 2025
The first was Nick Richards - who is likely on the trade block now anyway after the arrival of Khaman Maluach through the NBA Draft - but it is fellow center Mark Williams who is sure to be happy by this development. The 23-year-old having first played under Clifford when he got to the league, and who is yet to play for the Suns having arrived soon after Maluach.
It can never hurt to have a familiar face in new surroundings, and the title for Clifford is the right one as well. He unfortunately has had some health issues in recent seasons that had forced him to scale back his involvement with the Hornets, eventually leaving his head coach post altogether in favor of a move to the front office.
It will be similar in Phoenix, where he can be of help both to Williams as he settles in, but also Ott as well. It was interesting to note that David Fizdale wasn't named on Ott's coaching staff, despite being on the bench alongside both Vogel and Budenholzer. Not only that, but Fizdale seemingly got deeper into the head coach search of the Suns himself thanks in part to his relationship with Booker.
Moving on from him in favor of a fresh start makes sense, but so too does having a real veteran to offer advice when called upon while not actually being on the bench every night and travelling with the team. It was a move nobody saw coming, but it is going to benefit everybody from Ott to Williams, and that can only be a good thing for the Suns heading into next season.