Jeff Hornacek and Team Phoenix

Maybe not as a head coach, but as an assistant.

He used to live in my neighborhood. When I was a bag-boy at the supermarket one morning, I bumped into him while mopping the floor. Literally—I backed into the guy. The Suns had been eliminated from the playoffs by, I think, Portland. If memory serves, he had a really good series against Utah that year.

Hornacek was one smart player, especially in Utah with Stockton/Malone. I don’t know about him straight up as a head coach, but he does check a few other boxes, and I’m sure he’d be strict as far as workouts and practices are concerned, as well as having a defensive mindset. The lack of experience worries me….

I liked Horney as a player and of course his face wipe move might help Shaq’s FT’s….

but on the other hand, I don’t see him connecting w/ Amare at all and gaining his respect. Or Shaq for that matter.

“I played 14 years in the league, and it wasn’t because of athletic ability,” Hornacek said. “It’s from knowing the game.”

Two of my most un-favorite Suns trades were the Paul Silas for Charlie Scott, and Hornacek + filler for Barkley. I hated to see either of them go. We were roped into the Silas trade by Red Auerbach’s cleverness and our lust for Charlie Scott, and JC felt we had to have Barkley. I still don’t think we should have done the Barkley trade.