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Suns plan to hire Mike Budenholzer as coach: Sources

The Phoenix Suns plan to hire Milwaukee Bucks champion Mike Budenholzer as their coach on a deal anticipated to method eight figures per 12 months, league sources stated Friday.

Lead assistant coach David Fizdale is anticipated to transition to a brand new entrance workplace position for the Suns, these sources stated.

The Phoenix Suns plan to hire Bucks champion Mike Budenholzer as their head coach on deal anticipated to method eight figures per 12 months, league sources inform @TheAthletic @Stadium. The Holbrook, Ariz., native will probably be tasked with optimizing Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal. pic.twitter.com/eWFMedRNA2

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 10, 2024

The information comes a day after Phoenix fired coach Frank Vogel following a season marred by struggles with well being and consistency. The crew’s marketing campaign ended on April 28 with a first-round sweep to the Minnesota Timberwolves after the Suns went 49-33 within the common season.

Budenholzer shortly emerged as the main candidate to change Vogel. He led the Bucks to the 2021 NBA championship and the crew gained the division title in all 5 of his seasons in Milwaukee.

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With Phoenix, Budenholzer — a Holbrook, Ariz., native — will probably be tasked with optimizing the star trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Under Vogel, locker room frustration mounted in his single season as accidents hindered the large three and an absence of bench depth damage the Suns within the postseason.

Effectively using Booker, Durant and Beal stays a precedence for Phoenix, as the crew has $150 million locked into the trio subsequent season.