The Phoenix Suns have yet to decide on the future of coach Frank Vogel with the franchise as they enter evaluation mode, team owner Mat Ishbia told NBA reporters, via Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic.
The Suns’ season came to a disappointing end with a first-round playoff sweep vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves — leading to speculation that Vogel may be out after just one season.
“Not one discussion about my GM (James Jones), my coach (Vogel), players, are we re-signing, are we trying to get, what free agents,” Ishbia said at the season-ending press conference. “Just haven’t had the conversation, honestly. I think Frank Vogel did a lot of great things. I think James Jones does a lot of great things. I think (CEO) Josh Bartelstein does. I think our players do, I think I’ve done some great things, but we’re going to evaluate everything.”
Phoenix traded for Bradley Beal before the season, giving the Suns a new Big Three of Beal, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker — but no starting-caliber point guard to set up the offense. Before that, Vogel was hired to replace the fired Monty Williams as coach.
But it’s safe to say Year One after all the changes were a flop.
“Everyone is accountable,” Ishbia said. “I’m accountable to you guys, the players are accountable to the coach, the coach is accountable to the GM, the GM is accountable to the CEO or me or however you want to think about it. We’re going to evaluate everything. Look at every person.”
NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN said earlier in the week that the Suns were thinking about firing Vogel.
“(There’s) increasing belief around the league that Frank Vogel’s job is in peril if he loses (in the first round),” Wojnarowski said on ESPN. “When you have this kind of payroll, these kinds of expectations, you’ve got to not only show more in the first round, you’ve got to get out of the first round.”
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