If there was any truth about this Phoenix Suns team, it is that it did not live up to its expectations. With a revamped roster and a new coach in Mike Budenholzer, many thought they were heading in the right direction. However, that was not the case, as the Suns currently sit at 35-40 and are 11th in the Western Conference, with no sense of happiness surrounding them.
Compare that to last season, when the still-disappointing and injured Suns managed to string together 49 wins and finish sixth in the conference. The season ended in heartbreak with a first-round sweep by the Minnesota Timberwolves, but this season stings more. Even with all these new additions, the Suns have failed, and many are to blame. With the Suns, the coaching carousel has continued for three seasons. The question remains, will this be the fourth?
Will The Suns’ Head Coach Carousel Continue?
The Cons of Coach Bud
With the Suns having a disappointing season, finger-pointing has already begun on who to blame. Some will blame the front office. They believe the moves the team has made since the 2021 finals or after the Kevin Durant addition have not helped this team. Then some people point the finger at the coaching staff. We have seen the Suns use this as their usual scapegoat as the team has had three coaches over three seasons, with each having an excuse on why they did not fit. Some people blame the players and the productivity they give on the court.
All take a part in the blame, with some having a more significant impact than most. Since the Suns have gone through this process before, it is expected that Mike Budenholzer, the Suns’ head coach, will bear the brunt of this blame. However, there have been some key mistakes that may lead the Suns to explore the possibility of hiring another head coach.
With the previous head coach, Frank Vogel, being a defensive-minded coach and the Suns having three players who are primarily focused on offense, they felt the fit was not ideal. Since they wanted to fix that side of the ball, they went with Budenholzer. Even if Bud were a solid offensive coach, the defensive problems could be fixed. We have not seen that shine through this season, and ultimately, the failure of that is on coach Bud.
Rookie Rotations
The rotations that he has run for this team have been abysmal. For a head coach, that is not entirely his fault, as the Suns have had numerous injuries throughout the roster all season. The first change we saw him make was to remove Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic from the starting lineup. This was something that was needed to add as rookie Ryan Dunn presented the defensive pressure required for the team.
That being said, many wonder why Beal and not Tyus Jones were taken out of the lineup. Was it because they had promised Jones a starting job when they initially signed him? With Nurkic being taken out, this also allowed the other rookie, Oso Ighodaro, to showcase what he could bring in a limited role. How were they both rewarded for their outstanding play? Simply, by being benched and not seen in games for extended periods this season.
Attachment to Players?
There is also discussion about Mason Plumlee, the Suns’ backup big. He was prominently used in this Suns rotation before he received back-to-back ejections, which sparked the rookie momentum. Plumlee, though, was not the best big man to play with, yet still outshone Ighodaro. It was evident that Ighodaro was more talented and would benefit from the growth. Now, there were times when Plumlee made a positive impact, but more often, he had no effect, if any. The question remains unanswered as to why Plumlee was given such a substantial contract for his limited production.
Another player whose rotations to discuss are those of Tyus Jones. As mentioned earlier when the Suns decided to bench Beal and Nurkic, Jones still got to start in this rotation, and it took until the last twenty games for him to be removed for the betterment of the team. This was seen in the performance of two-way player Collin Gillespie. He has been a better fit than Jones in the starting lineup. Sadly, this is something fans recognized months ago, yet was only implemented recently.
Stunting Growth?
The last player that coach Budenholzer has hindered from developing is Bol Bol. The 7-foot-3 center has sadly been treated this way around the league without being able to find a home to make a clear impact. Suns fans hoped it would be in Phoenix following Bol’s re-signing with the team. Sadly, once again, we were faced with sporadic, if very little, Bol minutes. That was until Durant was out vs the Utah Jazz. This is where Bol made his impact as a scoring threat, despite the absence of Durant.
Bol was incredible throughout games, and then found himself in the starting lineup, even with Durant back. The Suns used this big lineup to compensate for defense with size, and that did not work out the best for them. Since the rookies have been run out, Bol has once again been slotted back into the starting spot at the beginning of the year, which is unfortunate.
Bol Bol over the last 4 games:
15 PTS – 4 REB – 2 BLK
18 PTS – 14 REB – 4 BLK
19 PTS – 7 REB – 4 BLK
12 PTS – 3 REB – 3 BLK pic.twitter.com/pQT0FyodCD— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 13, 2025
Bud’s Relationships?
Not only hasBudenholzer had some bad rotations and post-game answers, but also the relationships with the team. We all know he had a falling out with Nurkic, which led to him being benched, receiving a DNP, and ultimately being traded to Charlotte. There was also an article that dropped mid-game about his and coach Bud’s relationship, revealing that they had not spoken in months. Regardless of the side you are on, or if you believe in any truth to this, it was an inkling of distrust.
From Saturday night:
Jusuf Nurkic says he and Mike Budenholzer didn’t talk for 2 months, addresses Suns future (w/videos) #Suns https://t.co/qDbrSHf3Cc via @azcentral
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 26, 2025
Not to mention that star Devin Booker was surrounded by rumors involving coach Budenholzer. The rumors were about his leadership issues within the team. Booker has spoken out, saying that he and the coach remain on the same terms, but another hint at potential disaster.
The latest update on relationships shows that Suns owner Mat Ishbia and Mike Budenholzer are reportedly on good terms. Ishbia said this about Budenholzer in an interview with ESPN’s Tim McMahon, “I still believe in our team. I still believe in coach Budenholzer.”
The Last Word
The Suns have not lived up to expectations. Everyone is to blame, but it is still difficult to overlook certain aspects. Without these rotational issues, the Suns would be in a better spot. Not one that is tearing up the Western Conference, but one that has a solid outlook. One that can convince you it is not as bad as it seems. Sadly, we see the other side of the coin, a harsh reality. With the Suns in this position, drama will only intensify as we approach the end of the season. Only time will tell if the coaching carousel continues for the Suns this offseason.
Photo credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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