Mike Budenholzer's Top Potential NBA Landing Spots After Suns Firing

The Phoenix Suns fired head coach Mike Budenholzer on Monday after just one season on the job, though it didn't come as a huge surprise—the team finished the year a disappointing 36-46, underachieving despite the presence of stars like Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

So, Budenholzer becomes one of the bigger names on the coaching market heading into the 2025 offseason. But where are some potential landing spots for him after a rough year in Phoenix?

New Orleans Pelicans

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The New Orleans Pelicans fired basketball operations chief David Griffin on Monday, and while head coach Willie Green remains intact for now, it's very possible that Griffin's replacement will want to bring aboard his own head coach.

It's also possible that Green and the Suns could end up being a match. Coach swap, anyone?

The Pelicans were beset by injuries this season, but there is plenty to like about how they are positioned going into the future. Alongside a likely top-five pick at this year's NBA draft, the Pelicans have the talented but oft-injured Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones and young players like Yves Missi and Jordan Hawkins.

There are building blocks in place, in other words, if New Orleans can stay healthy. If Green is fired, Budenholzer would make sense as a candidate.

Denver Nuggets

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While interim head coach David Adelman will be the frontrunner for the job if the Nuggets go on a postseason run after the shocking firing of Mike Malone, Budenholzer would make sense as an experience option and former champion himself.

If the Nuggets decide that Adelman isn't up for the task—or a different franchise lures him away—keep an eye on Budenholzer for this post.

Memphis Grizzlies

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The Grizzlies, like the Nuggets, fired their former head coach late in the season, Taylor Jenkins, leaving them with a major vacancy come the offseason.

Budenholzer will likely be a potential candidate, though interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo will have the inside track if he can lead the Grizzlies on a deep run.