The Phoenix Suns simply cannot get out of their own way.
After another disappointing year in the Arizona desert, the Suns fired Mike Budenholzer on Monday after just one season. Given the constraints of a top-heavy (and mediocre) Phoenix roster, it feels unfair to make Budenholzer the scapegoat for an operation that was probably never going to work.
Nevertheless, I’m certain that Budenholzer doesn’t feel all that bad about losing his job. Why? Because the Suns still owe him $40 million over four years on an original five-year contract signed last offseason. The kicker here is that the Suns now actually owe three different coaches money because owner Mat Ishbia couldn’t stay committed to them after long-term deals.
In effect, Phoenix is paying these three men to NOT coach the team:
- Monty Williams
- Frank Vogel
- Mike Budenholzer
Even funnier, the Suns will essentially be paying four different coaches some money whenever they hire their new sideline leader. If Ishbia was trying to build a consistent contender in the West, he truly couldn’t be doing worse.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Mike Budenholzer’s Suns firing means Phoenix is paying 3 coaches to stay away
The Phoenix Suns simply cannot get out of their own way.
After another disappointing year in the Arizona desert, the Suns fired Mike Budenholzer on Monday after just one season. Given the constraints of a top-heavy (and mediocre) Phoenix roster, it feels unfair to make Budenholzer the scapegoat for an operation that was probably never going to work.
Nevertheless, I’m certain that Budenholzer doesn’t feel all that bad about losing his job. Why? Because the Suns still owe him $40 million over four years on an original five-year contract signed last offseason. The kicker here is that the Suns now actually owe three different coaches money because owner Mat Ishbia couldn’t stay committed to them after long-term deals.
In effect, Phoenix is paying these three men to NOT coach the team:
- Monty Williams
- Frank Vogel
- Mike Budenholzer
Even funnier, the Suns will essentially be paying four different coaches some money whenever they hire their new sideline leader. If Ishbia was trying to build a consistent contender in the West, he truly couldn’t be doing worse.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Mike Budenholzer’s Suns firing means Phoenix is paying 3 coaches to stay away
