At this point in time, given this roster, it is a step backwards.

Next year, when the Suns go title-less yet again, everyone will say, “Well, it’s a new coach in a new system. Give them some time.”

I always hated AJ as a player, but maybe he is the right guy …

At a minimum, he’s the only guy that I see that can still give the Suns a title shot in the next two years.

If it’s true, here’s an interesting point:

A friend said his first thought was of Sarver’s total apathy and dejected look during Game 3 (this person has 8th row seats across the court from Sarver and was there). Is Sarver pouting? Justifiably upset about the lack of urgency?

At a minimum, Kerr and Sarver made a good PR move by “trying” to get D’Antoni to stay, but now the spin will be that D’Antoni was too hard-headed.

He’ll be fun to watch in Chicago. For his sake, I hope he does not go to New York.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/05/04/20080504suns.html

AJ is a lock. Write it down. Vinnie del Negro wants him, too.

Get rid of Nellie for a defensive-minded guy, right? Suns need a defensive-minded guy?

The main problem with AJ is that Sarver would have to spend money on a translator, too.

Cuban snatched up Carlisle

mavs_to_hire_carlisle_109252.htm” target=”_blank”>http://www.nypost.com/seven/05032008/sports/knicks/sourcesmavs_to_hire_carlisle_109252.htm

I guess I was brash to give Coach D such a hard time. He has been a big part in making our beloved Suns the fun team they were. At the same time though this news does make me excited as to where the team will go next, but I have no idea whether or not with a new coach at the helm if we’ll be able to even be contenders again for a while.

If Coach D leaves then rebuilding will have truly begun in earnest. I wonder if we’ll even move some players as well in the future?

too much is made about d’antoni, wasn’t his brother supposed to help barbosa, looks like they forgot to work on layups.

For me, as long as they go back to more of a fastbreak offense (for Nash’s sake) they’ll be ok. It’s proven that Shaq is a viable outlet passer, so stop right there with the “can’t run a fast break with shaq on the team” thought. D’antoni didn’t give bench players a chance in hell, he ignores defense except when forced (by then it’s too late), and he is way too soft and avoids confrontation like I avoid amaerican idol. We need someone with a good focus on offense and defense, willing to use more players and doesn’t have a man-crush on nash (as much as I appreciate Nash and what he’s done for the nba and this team), and willing to run practices that work on things instead of are a joke.

Problem is, our best 2 options aren’t looking very good…unless someone here has other thoughts…I would’ve loved to see riley (but that’s remote…owner of heat…holding out hope), and carlisle is going to the mavs, it looks like the mavs are rushing to get him before the phx job becomes open.

Hey, I’m excited, people with serious talent – dj and tucker might actually play!! I agree it was good they played in the d league last yr, but this yr, they need to be playing or be traded for someone who is!

But, sadly, we need to trade 1 more person…sarver. I wouldn’t call him the cheap banker, but its clear to me, he cares more about his money and partners than winning…which I can understand…but I wish we had one of those billionaire owners who would rather win!
We can’t do it the other way….because our chemistry is a joke with Amare doing whatever he wants and saying whatever he wants…he’s our version of josh howard….stupid. Sorry Amare fans, but I’d trade Amare in a heartbeat for any number of guys.

If D’Antoni goes, the decision who to hire I beleive will determine Steve Kerr’s future in Phoenix. Sure Sarver will have some sort of say in this, but at the end of the day, it will rest on Kerr. Scary thought all in all, and wierd to think that Avery Johnson could come across to the Suns….

At this point, I tend to think that if Coach D goes, it is because of his stubbornness. It seems like Kerr is trying to work it out, but D’A is not buying it.

What is the opposition to Paul Silas as coach? Maybe Amare will listen to him.

Like I said at the time, I don’t think there was ever any chance of D’Antoni returning. SI.com posted that Jack McCallum article and didn’t even blink when the Suns came back with the assertion that it wasn’t true. I think this was all just both sides trying to give the appearance they were trying to work it out, when in reality, it had already been long since decided, maybe even months ago.

AJ – I don’t like it.
Silas – former Sun, possible Amare will respect him, but LBJ didn’t want him
Collins – knows players, some folks seem to hate him
Lute Olson – will satisfy ‘Cats Kerr and Sarver, is he too old?
Thibodeaux – Celts assistant, have to wait until Boston is done w/playoffs

I liked Kerr and thought he would be a good fit with the organization, but after this season, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t buy for a second that we were better off with Shaq this postseason than we would have been with Marion. And now D’Antoni is out?? I hope I’m wrong but I really doubt that we can seriously contend for a title next season if this is true.

I think calling Sarver cheap is the wrong label. He’s not cheap, and you can easily run an NBA franchise into the ground spending boatloads of money (Hello New York!). He is still fairly new to the NBA, and that, combined with his desire to fill the organization with his own people is what is costing the Suns right now. The Suns vaulted back into the title chase with a strategy that was hatched before he bought the team by Bryan Colangelo, and to the extent that Sarver has tried to make his own decisions, he has worked against his own interests. The most painful thing on that list Bill Simmons put together is all the draft picks that were given away—that’s really the best bet to acquire talent at below market prices, and where the Suns now really find themselves woefully thin. It’s rare that rookies and 2nd year players can find PT on a title contender, but having some developing young talent in the bench rotation or ready to step forward sure would make next year look a little better.

As for the coaching search, AJ appears to have been fired for pretty much the same reasons that D’Antoni will be moving on—he’s too stubborn to make adjustments, and he’s been outcoached by Hall of Famers (Byron Scott excepted, the Hornets were just better). Everything I’m reading about his handling of Kidd sounds like a very bad match for a Nash-led offense.

I’m as sad as everyone else at what appears to be the end of the 7-SOL era, but I was a Suns fan long before that. There’s no question that it has been quite a treat to watch my long-suffering favorite team become the darlings of the masses and flirt with the title, and maybe it’s just the fan in me, but I think the window is still open (just a bit) for the current roster. Either way, I’ll be here…

Reports are that he requested the permission to speak to other teams, so Kerr allowed them to contact him.

For whatever that’s worth

Come on people. Not a single rec for breaking this story last night before any of the major national sports outlets OR for posting the Suns response direct from the source?

Golly gee, what’s a blogger have to do to get some love around this joint…