The Phoenix Suns have just had hopes of any playoff success diminish after falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-116 and being swept 4-0 in the first round.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Knowing how deep of a hole they dug themselves into following the first three games, Phoenix presented a valiant effort as they led before it dissipated in the fourth quarter. Devin Booker scored 49 while Kevin Durant added 33 as the two tried to keep their team alive in the postseason. As the third guy the Suns rely upon in the “Big Three,” Bradley Beal fouled out of the game and only had nine points.
While some of the blame could be placed on the chemistry between Booker, Durant and Beal, the team’s makeup as a whole by general manager James Jones – whose job is reportedly safe, there is one figure that will get the brunt of the blame as to why this team underachieved as much as it did: head coach Frank Vogel.
How We Got Here
After firing Monty Williams last year, Suns owner Mat Ishbia and the front office searched for a new voice for the team after being knocked out of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets.
Finishing the process, Vogel was originally hired on June 6, 2023, and signed a five-year, $31 million contract with Phoenix.
The Suns would then make a groundbreaking trade, sending 10 draft picks, Chris Paul and other pieces to the Washington Wizards for Bradley Beal, Jordan Goodwin and Isaiah Todd. Both Todd and Goodwin were not on the team during this year’s playoffs.
Building a “Big Three” consisting of Booker, Beal and Durant while Vogel took the reigns, the expectations of Phoenix going into this season shot through the roof. Having those three and others like Grayson Allen, Eric Gordon and Royce O’Neale at his disposal, Vogel was set up with a “superteam” on paper that could have inflicted damage not just in the Western Conference, but the entire NBA.
With the hype surrounding the Suns, even Ishbia himself had high standards for his team going into this season.
“I think we’ve got the best team in the league, but obviously we’ve got to play it out, ” Ishbia said on Oct. 2.
Here are the full opening remarks from #Suns owner Mat Ishbia https://t.co/lHkNqxg9Ar pic.twitter.com/D4eU0NvO3G
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) October 2, 2023
When the Suns did “play it out,” reality set in real quick that this team wasn’t going to be the powerhouse many thought they would be. Multiple players battled through injuries, fourth-quarter collapses, turnovers, consistency, etc. Nothing seemed to click.
Phoenix would end up going 49-33 and were just able to scrape into the sixth seed on the final day of the regular season. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 125-106 on April 14 to evade from the play-in tournament.
Just flirting with a play-in berth was not in the realm of imagination for how Phoenix would end up finishing. Having three perennial stars and a coach with a championship pedigree (Vogel won the 2020 NBA Title with the Los Angeles Lakers), the standards were far beyond squeaking into the playoffs.
And we are here Sunday night, seeing the Suns swept in the playoffs and into the offseason by the Timberwolves with uncertainty looming in all aspects of the organization’s future.
Losing The Locker Room
As things didn’t go according to plan, Vogel and the players’ frustration levels visibly increased and increased, causing a sense that there might be issues inside the locker room as well.
From arguments on the bench to the players giving less effort than their coach wants, the relationship clearly soured beyond repair.
Via The Athletic NBA insiders Shams Charania and Doug Haller, they both collaborated on an article and shared that there was an incident where the players and Vogel disconnected severely.
“Frank Vogel entered the home locker room at Footprint Center and lit into his team,” the article explained. “After his Phoenix Suns had fallen into a 35-4 hole en route to a loss to the LA Clippers on April 9, the head coach yelled so much that his voice could be heard outside the locker room. There was only one problem.
“On this night, Suns players weren’t buying it. The outburst seemed forced and out of character in their eyes. It continued at the next day’s shootaround in Los Angeles, Vogel tearing into the Suns before that night’s road win over the Clippers. Vogel’s eruption left players rolling their eyes, sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic. One player even told The Athletic he had to keep from laughing.”
Adding insult to injury, Beal was seen grazing Vogel’s hand as he checked out during Game 4. Both Beal and Vogel had heated exchanges prior to Sunday and it seems as if it escalated even more.
Bradley Beal looked to brush Frank Vogel's hand away while heading to the bench 👀pic.twitter.com/EpFJomRKu9
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 29, 2024
Is Vogel On The Hot Seat?
Even though there are multiple issues as mentioned above, the easiest “fix” would be to fire the coach. The players are tied down to contracts, have no-trade clauses in those said contracts and it would be illogical to waive/release a notable player for nothing.
The coaching carousel has been revving up and after seeking a replacement last year, Charania and Haller have been told that the Suns may do so yet again.
“The buck stops at the head coach, and for the second offseason in a row, sources briefed on the situation told The Athletic that Phoenix will take a hard look at making a full coaching change or, at the very least, discuss adjustments to Vogel’s staff,” the article said.
Before Game 4, fellow Burn City Sports reporter Brendan Mau posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Vogel is confident he will return next season amid speculation over his future.
“I’ve got the full support of Mat Ishbia,” Vogel said.
#Suns coach Frank Vogel said he is "very" confident he will back for a second season
"I've got the full support of Mat Ishbia"
— Brendan Mau (@brendan_mau) April 28, 2024
Considering that Ishbia doesn’t hesitate when making moves around the Suns or Phoenix Mercury, though, his thoughts of Vogel may change after the sweep.
With Suns assistant Kevin Young set to be BYU’s head coach next season, one will wonder if there will even be suitable options if Phoenix does go toward the route of firing Vogel.
Rest assured, Vogel’s job security is up in the air and don’t be surprised if someone else is at the helm for the Phoenix Suns come next season.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
