The Search is over. Terry Porter to coach the Suns

After interviewing almost every available NBA assistant, broadcasters and former Suns, GM Steve Kerr signed the first guy he auditioned for the job.

The long wait was becoming a bit nerve wrecking and the fact that the GM was actually working out prospects for the Draft without an Head Coach in place was a bit disturbing.

As you all know by now, Terry Porter will replace Mike D’Antoni as the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns. He’s expected to sign a 3-year deal and could be introduced early next week.

Terry had an outstanding playing career that lasted 17 season and was one of the best guard in the league while playing with the great Blazers team of the late 80’s early 90’s. He’s always been known as a great competitor but a classy guy on and off the court.

His coaching experience is a bit limited, even if it was the longest among the possible candidates. Porter coached the Milwaukee Bucks for two seasons (2003-05 withe a record of 71-93 .433) and was currently an assistant with the Detroit Pistons.He made the Playoffs in his first year with the Bucks and he helped develop rookie PG T.J. Ford into an NBA player.

Porter is the man Steve Kerr wanted from the beginning. They played together with the Spurs for a few seasons at the end of their playing careers. He’s Steve’s choice 100 percent and I am sure during the last few weeks they discussed the Suns agenda, an agenda that I believe could look more or less like that:

1. Play Defense. It won’t be easy, but at least trying could help.
2. Develop a point guard one that could back up Nash and eventually take over in a couple of years.
3. Stay competitive while rebuilding, that’s the tough part…as it’s never been done in the NBA.

I think the 3-year deal is the key as Porter should be allowed to work with a long-term perspective of guiding the Suns transition from an aging but still very talented and competitive team to a new younger version. In a couple of years Steve Nash will be a full-time film producer or an amateur soccer player, Shaq will be a full-time Super Cop and STAT will still trying to become the Man in the Locker Room.

Kerr and Porter will now have a few weeks to evaluate the situation and get ready for the draft. It’ll be the first real test for the new coach. So, Welcome to the Valley, Coach Porter.

Go Suns !

Phoenix probe lands on Mars

According to CNN "Diesel-powered" Phoenix probe landed on Mars a few hours ago.

According to other unconfirmed sources, should any form of life be found on the planet, Steve Kerr will likely interview it for the head coach position with the Suns.

Suns.com reported earlier in the week that the Suns have begun an extensive search for the new head coach as more than a dozen candidate could be interviewed for the job.

Good luck, Captain Steve

Go Suns !

It looks so 80's

Update on the Suns coaching carousel. So far GM Steve Kerr has interviewed or planning to do so very soon:

Mark Jackson, Terry Porter, Elston Turner, Tyrone Corbin (looking good in a the Suns photo) and Paul Silas

Is Steve Kerr trying to put on an 80’s all star game?

With Del Negro and Kerr himself we could field a pretty good team.

Go Suns !

Searching for the Perfect New Suns Coach

Amid all the talks about possible candidates for the Suns head coach position (see the great short list compiled by Greg Esposito on AZ Sports Hub) I find it difficult to find a candidate I really like to coach the Suns next season.

The key is understanding what’s inside Steve Kerr mind:

Whether `tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of REBUILDING NOW or to take arms against a sea of troubles and GIVE THIS TEAM ONE MORE SHOT AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

In the former case the Suns need a teacher, a coach who can evaluate and develop talent, trade away all the big salaries and start rebuilding around Stoudemire; in the latter Suns need a manager and a leader one that can ask a bunch of aging offensive minded players to play defense and deal with the huge pressure of having to win it now. Avery Johnson would be a good fit I think.

I think it would make sense to start a rebuilding process now but I am not sure I’d enjoy it. It’ll mean at least two, maybe three, years of losing basketball and that IF you do a good job. As it happened in the past it’s possible that you choose a coach to start the process, grow talent and after a couple of losing season his successor will be the one getting the fame and the glory. Teachers often fail in this crazy NBA.

Ideally the Suns could follow the Blazers route to glory and avoid a Bulls like collapse of the post MJ era. Paul Silas could make it work.

I don’t know.

Go Suns !