According to a report by well-known NBA reporter Shams Charania, the Phoenix Suns have reached an agreement with Mike Budenholzer, who will become the Suns' new head coach, on a five-year contract worth more than $50 million.
Prior to that, the Suns signed Frank Vogel as head coach last offseason and offered him a five-year contract worth $31 million. However, Vogel led the Suns to a 49-33 regular season record this season, but was swept out of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs and subsequently fired by the Suns.
With the addition of Mike Budenholzer, the Suns are looking to turn the tide and make the team more competitive. Budenholzer is a seasoned coach who has served as head coach with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks, and in 2015 he led the Hawks to the best record in the East, winning the NBA Coach of the Year honor.
Budenholzer's arrival is undoubtedly an important upgrade for the Suns. His coaching experience and tactical philosophy are expected to bring new energy and change to the Suns. Under his leadership, the Suns are expected to return to competition in the coming seasons, bringing more wins and exciting games to fans.
Notably, even though Frank Vogel was fired after only one season with the Suns, he still received full pay under his original five-year contract. This means that Vogel will receive five years of total compensation despite only one year in charge, which has caused some concern and discussion in the league.