Suns Fire Frank Vogel, JJ Redick Will Not Be Candidate

The Phoenix Suns have fired Frank Vogel as head coach after one season. The Suns went 49-33 in the regular season but were swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs.

“As we said at the press conference on May 1, team leadership including myself, Josh Bartelstein, and ownership would be looking across basketball operations to determine what changes needed to be made,” Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager James Jones said. “After a thoughtful review of the season, we concluded that we needed a different head coach for our team. We appreciate Frank’s hard work and commitment.

“We are here to win a championship and last season was way below our expectations. We will continue to evaluate our operation and make the necessary changes to reach our championship-caliber goals. We all take accountability, and it’s my job, along with Josh and ownership, to build a championship team.”

The Suns enter the offseason with $209 million in salary, the biggest payroll of any NBA team, and face a projected luxury tax penalty of $116 million.

According to NBA insider John Gambadoro, JJ Redick will not be a candidate to replace Vogel. 

JJ Reddick will not be a candidate.

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) May 9, 2024

According to NBA reporters Shams Charania and Doug Haller of The Athletic, Kevin Durant never felt comfortable with his role in the Suns’ offense this season.

KD averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 2023-24. 

“Meanwhile, Durant, among the best scorers in NBA history, was not always happy with how he was used,” Charania and Haller wrote. “Sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic that Durant never felt comfortable with his role in Phoenix’s offense alongside Booker and Beal this season. Those sources said Durant had persistent issues with the offense, feeling that he was being relegated to the corner far too often and not having the proper designs to play to his strengths as the offense was built around pick-and-rolls.”

Durant will make $49.9 million next season and $53.3 million in 2025-26.