The Suns sudden coaching search is moving forward with the speed of a freight train. After news broke in the dead of night Monday that Phoenix was moving on from Igor Kokoskov, the Suns are now prepped to go get a replacement, seemingly sooner rather than later. ESPN reported Tuesday that the 76ers have granted permission to the Suns to interview their “top target,” assistant Monty Williams. That interview will likely happen some time during the second round of the playoffs, coincidentally the same time the Suns met with Kokoskov last year. After the initial round of reports Monday night that the Suns were interested in Williams and Portland assistant David Vanterpool (among others), this latest news tells us two things: Williams has at least some level of interest in the Suns’ job, at least enough to meet with Robert Sarver, James Jones and Co. The Suns likely had the beginnings of this plan in place when they decided to fire Kokoskov, in part explaining why the move came weeks after the season and so suddenly late at night. It also could speak to not only the level of influence SVP Jeff Bower already holds but the impact of his connections and respectability around the NBA. Many have already made the connection that Bower and Williams worked together during the end of Chris Paul’s run in New Orleans, but it was Bower who gave Williams his very first head-coaching opportunity in the league. If that still holds weight for Williams, it could play a huge part in his decision. Bower also was not the one to ultimately fire Williams — that was Dell Demps. The two may have maintained a relationship all these years and could bring New Orleans to the Valley. As the search continues, keep in mind Portland is also expected to make the second round, meaning Vanterpool will have to receive special permission to interview during the team’s postseason run. He is likely the Suns’ second priority for now. Stay tuned to Bright Side for further coaching news.<doc-sep>Sixers assistant coach Monty Williams has been a HOT name with regards to coaching vacancies around the league — almost every team who needs a new head honcho on the sidelines is considering Williams. The latest organization to be interested in Monty is the Phoenix Suns, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN: The Sixers have granted permission to the Suns to meet with assistant coach Monty Williams about coaching job, league source tells ESPN. -@wojespn Woj followed up that tweet with another just minutes later, reporting that Monty tops the list of candidates for Phoenix. This season has been Williams’ first as a member of Brett Brown’s coaching staff. However, Williams had head coaching experience well before he came to Philadelphia, coaching the New Orleans Pelicans from 2010 to 2015. It seems his reputation precedes him throughout the NBA. At this point, things are trending toward near certainty that Monty Williams will not be with the Sixers by this upcoming offseason.<doc-sep>Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Monty Williams is reportedly a candidate for the Suns’ newly vacant head coaching position, and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that the Sixers have granted Phoenix permission to interview Williams. Wojnarowski followed up to say that Williams is in fact the Suns’ top candidate in their search to replace Igor Kokoskov, who was fired on Monday night. Wojnarowski reported Monday night that the Suns’ desire to hire Williams was part of the timing of Kokoskov’s firing. The Los Angeles Lakers, who fired head coach Luke Walton at the conclusion of their season, are also said to be in on Williams and will give him a second interview. If Williams is presented with job offers from both teams, he’d be forced to choose between two organizations trying to stabilize themselves after suffering turmoil in recent times. The Suns infamously have had instability in both their on-court product and with their basketball operations department, leading to a 19-63 finish this past season. Kokoskov, a first-year head coach, was tasked with coaching a Suns team that just had the No. 1 overall pick and no starting caliber point guard. The team also canned its GM, Ryan McDonough, nine days prior to the start of the regular season. The Lakers, meanwhile, were in headlines after Magic Johnson suddenly resigned as the team’s president of basketball operations on April 9. LeBron James missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004-05, a poor start in his first season with Los Angeles. Then, Walton was fired, and has most recently been accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit by former television host Kelli Tennant. Stadium’s Shams Charania reported that the Suns would also be interested in Portland assistant David Vanterpool. Follow @mattjlayman<doc-sep>The Los Angeles Lakers have had a busy week of interviewing coaching candidates, with Jason Kidd dropping by the office on Monday to meet with general manager Rob Pelinka and Kurt Rambis for hours, Miami Heat assistant Juwan Howard having his first interview on Tuesday and the team set for a second meeting with Tyronn Lue on Wednesday. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss will reportedly be present for the follow-up interview with Lue, and is also set to head to the team’s second interview with Philadelphia 76ers assistant Monty Williams, which we now know will take place on Thursday, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Williams was reportedly the “top candidate” for the Lakers’ vacant head coaching job, and him making it to the second round of interviews means he likely hasn’t done anything to change that. Meeting with ownership, in that case, should be seen as a meaningful step because it would theoretically allow the Lakers to move on Williams more quickly than if Buss didn’t have any familiarity with him. And if the Lakers decide Williams is their guy, they may have to move quickly, because Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that Williams is the “top target” for the Phoenix Suns, who fired head coach Igor Kokoskov in large part because they reportedly want to be able to compete with the Lakers for Williams. The Lakers may decide after this second interview that they aren’t that desperate to hire Williams, who also may want to wait to see if the Philadelphia 76ers fire head coach Brett Brown. If Williams decides to wait, the Lakers may be able to remain slow and methodical as they survey the field, but if Williams wants to get a deal done quickly and Pelinka, Rambis, Buss and Co. want him, they may have to be ready to move fast so that the Suns aren’t able to get their first ever meaningful win over the Lakers. For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. You can follow Harrison on Twitter at @hmfaigen.<doc-sep>
Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) The Suns – callously, but understandably – fired Igor Kokoskov after his very first season as an NBA head coach. Monty Williams emerged quickly as a target. In fact, he’s at the front of the line. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN: Monty Williams is Phoenix's top target in coaching search, league sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/A5L3OFoe6K — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 23, 2019 The Sixers have granted permission to the Suns to meet with assistant coach Monty Williams about coaching job, league source tells ESPN. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 23, 2019 Shams Charania of The Athletic: First two coaches whom the Phoenix Suns will request permission to interview for head coach opening: Philadelphia assistant Monty Williams and Portland assistant David Vanterpool, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 23, 2019 Consider this yet another signal the Lakers will hire Tyronn Lue. Williams and Lue are reportedly the Lakers’ main candidates. But why would Williams pick the Suns and all their problems over the Lakers and… um, all their problems? At least the Lakers have LeBron James and the Los Angeles market. Maybe Phoenix appeals to Williams even though it wouldn’t to most candidates. Maybe the Suns are making a bold (delusional?) move to lure Williams, even if he’s truly still under consideration with the Lakers. But it’s tough to believe they’d convey such strong public interest without believing they’ll get Williams. And it’s hard to believe they’ll get Williams unless the Lakers pass first. Williams deserves to coach in the league again. He did a good, though not great, job with the Pelicans. He got fired from New Orleans, stepped away from coaching when his wife died and then joined the 76ers’ staff. This would be a solid hire by the Suns if they can pull it off. They should also talk to other candidates like Trail Blazers assistant David Vanterpool. Nothing is assured with Williams, and a wide search can only help.