The deal that had to be done. Is done.
The Suns players left virtually no wiggle room at the end of the season with all the team's stars calling for the return of Alvin Gentry. GM Steve Kerr never expressed any doubts either as he surely learned his lesson about who's team this really is.
The biggest test for Gentry will be his ability to maximize the potential of Amare Stoudemire. Amare had this to say about Gentry at the end of the season.
"...Alvin, a guy who is definitely a players coach. A guy you can talk to..That's the type of conversation you want to have with your coach. Alvin's that guy.
You want a coach that you can really hug and hold and high five and really have fun with. That makes it fun play. You can high five and hug your team mates. You don't want to have fear of your coach. You want to be respectable with him but you also want to be a friend with him."
Coach Gentry is definitely a personable and likable guy but he's also got an old school streak in him. I look forward to seeing if he can use this balance to motivate Amare with hugs and high fives but also get on his ass when it's deserved.
How Amare performs for his fourth coach in his seven year career will be the key not only to the Suns season but perhaps the next 4 to 6 years for the franchise.
The agreement was reached Saturday morning is a two-year contract with an option for a third based on team performance. The contract is rumored to be for 3.7 million and should be signed early next week.
According to Sports 620 KTAR, Genty---who participated in a Special Olympics Arizona basketball clinic at US Airways Center Saturday---said he was excited the deal got done and had "no desire to leave".
"I didn't know if I would ever have another opportunity," said Gentry who expects to retain his entire coaching staff. Gentry also said he will represent the Suns at the NBA Draft Lottery on May 19th.