Mike Budenholzer. Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports

Suns targeting former NBA champion for head-coaching vacancy

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 5/9/24

The Phoenix Suns appear likely to target experience after firing coach Frank Vogel on Thursday, judging by one note on a big-name potential replacement.

Former Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer is expected to be a “prominent part” of the Suns’ coaching search, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Budenholzer has been unemployed since the Bucks let him go at the end of last season.

ESPN Sources: The Phoenix Suns dismissed coach Frank Vogel. The Suns — who won 49 regular-season games with league’s third-highest payroll and tax — were swept in opening-round series to Timberwolves. Mike Budenholzer will be prominent part of search. pic.twitter.com/SDTRkXxkrG

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 9, 2024

If the Suns want Budenholzer, they will have competition. He is rumored to be a top target of the Los Angeles Lakers as well. And with both teams in similar situations, it makes sense that their respective candidate pools might wind up being quite similar.

Budenholzer is one of the only coaches available with a championship pedigree, having led the Bucks to the title in 2021. He is likely to be in an enviable position and may have the pick of the top available jobs, and two teams that would probably be willing to offer him a lot of money to become their head coach.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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