Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott have emerged as the two finalists for the Phoenix Suns’ head coaching job. Both candidates will meet with Mat Ishbia, Josh Bartelstein and Brian Gregory later this week. Devin Booker has also been involved in the search process over the past week.
The Suns are searching for a replacement for Mike Budenholzer, who was fired at the end of the season. The Suns will have their fourth head coach in four seasons since Ishbia assumed ownership of the team.
Both Bryant and Ott are currently assistant coaches with the Cleveland Cavaliers under Kenny Atkinson. Bryant was an assistant coach for the Utah Jazz from 2012 until 2020 before joining the New York Knicks in 2020. Ott previously was an assistant coach wit the Atlanta Hawks under Mike Budenohlzer before joining Atkinson with the Brooklyn Nets. Ott also was an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers under Darvin Ham. Ott was a video coordinator under Tom Izzo at Michigan State from 2008 until 2013.
The Utah Jazz are hiring Austin Ainge as president of basketball operations. Ainge has worked for the Boston Celtics for the last 14 years.
Ainge’s father, Danny, is currently the CEO of basketball operations for the Jazz. Justin Zanik has had a large role running the team’s day-to-day operations as the team’s general manager.
Part of Ainge’s role with Boston has been to lead the team’s college and international scouting departments. Ainge is often credited with the Celtics ability to draft impact players late in the first round, as well as bringing in talent from overseas.
The Jazz have the fifth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. They’ve been in a rebuilding mode for the last three seasons, after trading Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves respectively.
It’s still unknown if Giannis Antetokounmpo will ask for a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks. If he does, the Toronto Raptors might be one team that has interest in acquiring the superstar big man.
Antetokounmpo and the Raptors reportedly have mutual interest in each other. Toronto has the tradable salaries to put into a deal, while also retaining enough talent to be a contender after acquiring Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo and Raptors president Masai Ujiri also have a longstanding relationship with each other. In addition, Toronto owns all of their own draft picks moving forward. That could allow them put several picks, plus pick swaps, into a trade for Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo, who is represented by Alex Saratsis and Jeff Austin, cannot become a free agent until 2027. Antetokounmpo finished third in MVP voting this season after averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists.
