NBA Rumors: Former Lakers HC Frank Vogel to Interview for Suns Job Amid 76ers Buzz
Former Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel will interview with the Phoenix Suns for their head coaching vacancy on Friday, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix.
Vogel interviewed with the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, per John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Additionally on Tuesday, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported that Vogel was one of five finalists for the Suns in their search to replace Monty Williams, joining former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, former Sixers, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, Sacramento Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez and Suns assistant Kevin Young.
As for the Sixers, multiple reports have indicated that they've identified a list of candidates that includes Vogel, Williams, Nurse, former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer, former Suns, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni and Sixers assistant Sam Cassell.
The 49-year-old Vogel has compiled a 431-389 record in his coaching career, leading his team to the playoffs seven times across 11 seasons and a championship with the Lakers in the 2019-20 bubble playoffs.
But he was axed following the Lakers' inability to make the postseason in the 2021-22 season. The issues in L.A. ran deeper than coaching—the Lakers didn't surround LeBron James and Anthony Davis with much shooting, trading for Russell Westbrook proved to be a disastrous decision, and the two stars struggled to stay on the court due to injuries.
Vogel was scapegoated nonetheless, and after taking a year away from coaching, he has now popped up in several prominent coaching searches.
Both the Suns and Sixers are enticing, high-profile jobs. The Suns have arguably the most talented starting lineup in the NBA, highlighted by Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. Few teams boast anything close to that level of firepower.
The Sixers, meanwhile, have defending MVP Joel Embiid and the exciting and young Tyrese Maxey on the perimeter.
There are question marks about the future of James Harden, and the team's inability to get past the second round of the playoffs in the Embiid era continues to haunt the organization, but the duo of Embiid and Maxey alone is enough to make the Sixers a strong destination for coaches.
