Kofi Inkoom
Earlier this week, NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN hinted that many people in the league are starting to think that Frank Vogel might be in danger of losing his job as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns.
According to Duane Ranking of the Arizona Republic, it seems like a decision about what will happen to Frank Vogel’s position as head coach of the Phoenix Suns will be made soon.
Even though Suns owner Mat Ishbia didn’t give Vogel any clear support during the press event at Footprint Center, he did say that fans or the media shouldn’t speculate about Vogel or any other team members until they’ve had face-to-face discussions.
“We’re going to evaluate everything,” Ishbia informed reporters. “… Everything is on the table to evaluate. We have just not started it.”
Vogel, who joined last June, still has four years left on his $31MM contract, making a coaching transition an expensive move.
Despite Vogel’s assertion over the weekend that he has “full confidence“ from Ishbia, the Suns’ disappointing performance during their sweep by Minnesota might have shifted Ishbia’s viewpoint.
General manager James Jones recognized the difficulties Vogel faced in blending the talents of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal in their first full season together.
“I thought Frank did a great job given the circumstances,” Jones remarked. “I thought the staff did a great job. I thought the players did a really good job, just not good enough to reach our goals.”
Nevertheless, Ishbia remains optimistic about the franchise’s future trajectory, believing it’s on course for success despite the playoff setback. He sympathized with the disappointment felt by Suns’ fans, noting, “I feel like the narrative around [here is] the house is burning, it’s incorrect.”
Ishbia pointed out the team’s future draft picks and expressed confidence in the roster’s stability, stressing the continuity provided by the contracted starting five.
Despite facing the largest salary in the NBA for next season and a significant tax penalty, Ishbia highlighted the positives, including the continuity of the starting lineup.
He acknowledged injuries and the adjustment period for players as significant obstacles but deemed them “extremely fixable.“
Ishbia defended the trades for Durant and Beal, asserting their worthiness despite the cost.
“It was never, ‘We’re going to win a championship this year or we got to blow it up,'” Ishbia asserted. “Championship or bust, this isn’t bust. We’re in a great position. We’re going to be in a great position next year.”