Suns might consider these nine coaching candidates to replace Earl Watson

Suns might consider these nine coaching candidates to replace Earl Watson.

All 30 NBA coaches escaped the 2016-17 season with their jobs, marking the the first time zero coaches had been fired over an entire season since 1970-71. That won’t be happening again this season.
The Suns decided to fire head coach Earl Watson only three games into their 2017-18 campaign, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Associate head coach Jay Triano will likely be the interim coach following Watson’s departure.
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Watson’s firing Sunday came a little more than an hour after Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe sent out a cryptic tweet, saying, “I don’t wanna be here.” It’s unclear whether Bledsoe’s tweet was in response to the decision on Watson, the team’s brutal start, a combination of both or something else entirely. Whatever the case may be, it’s clear Phoenix has some serious problems.
The Suns dropped the first three games of the regular season by a combined 92 points, including the most lopsided season-opening loss in NBA history, a 124-76 defeat at the hands of the Trail Blazers. Those numbers only added to Watson’s less-than-stellar record.
What’s next for the Suns? General manager Ryan McDonough has to find a replacement for Watson. Here are a few candidates who might appear on his list . . .
Nash averaged 14.4 points and 9.4 assists per game over 10 seasons with the Suns, winning back-to-back MVPs in 2005 and 2006. He currently serves as a player development consultant with the Warriors, and he has quickly made strong connections with Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry. Nash is light on coaching experience (OK, very light), but he has instant credibility from his playing days and has been around a championship organization. Don’t be surprised if his name pops up.
The former Suns shooting guard affectionately known as “Thunder Dan” has enjoyed early success as the head coach at Grand Canyon University in the Western Athletic Conference. Majerle took GCU as a Division II program and has treated the Antelopes like a top-25 team. GCU finished 27-7 in 2015-16 and 22-9 in 2016-17 under Majerle. He could attempt to develop the Suns like a college team (the roster features six players under the age of 22) and bring them back to relevance.
Following nearly a decade as a player, Griffin has served as an assistant coach in Milwaukee, Chicago, Orlando and currently Oklahoma City. He has a habit of building relationships with those around him. He’s a guy who has made an impact at every stop but doesn’t need to take credit for individual or team success. Griffin is also a defensive-minded coach, having spent time under Tom Thibodeau with the Bulls, and that’s absolutely something the Suns need to improve.
It never hurts to sit close to Gregg Popovich. Udoka has been an assistant with the Spurs since 2012 and has championship experience after capturing a ring in 2014 with the franchise. Not only does Udoka know his way around the hardwood, but he also has experience in negotiations. He became the closer for the Spurs in the summer of 2015 when he made a final pitch to free agent LaMarcus Aldridge, ultimately pushing Aldridge to sign with San Antonio.

No lack of experience here. Williams was an assistant coach under Nate McMillan with the Trail Blazers from 2005-10 before becoming the head coach in New Orleans. He finished 173-221 overall with the Hornets/Pelicans, making two playoff appearances, including a first-round exit in 2015 to the eventual champion Warriors. Williams then joined the Thunder staff but left the bench in the middle of the season after the tragic death of his wife, Ingrid.
Williams was reportedly offered the Illinois job in March, but he passed because he wants to return to the NBA. This door just opened.
It might be a long shot considering Miller’s winning ways as head coach of the Wildcats (and the full support of Arizona’s leaders amid an NCAA scandal), but why not take a chance? Miller has produced everywhere he has gone so far, with Elite Eight appearance
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