Cavs' Jordan Ott Reportedly Hired as Suns HC Amid Kevin Durant Trade Rumors

For the third time in the last three years, the Phoenix Suns will have someone new leading their roster.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Suns hired Jordan Ott as their next head coach on Wednesday. Ott will be hoping to fare better than his predecessors Mike Budenholzer and Frank Vogel, both of whom were fired after just one year on the job.

Charania noted Suns star Devin Booker was involved in the search an "stamped Ott as his top choice" for the job.

Ott spent the 2024-25 season as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers under Kenny Atkinson, who was named NBA Coach of the Year after the team's 64-18 finish. He previously was an assistant for the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, and he started his coaching career as a video coordinator for the Atlanta Hawks.

The hiring comes after the Suns promoted vice president Brian Gregory to general manager earlier this offseason and moved former GM James Jones to senior adviser. Per ESPN's Shams Charania, Gregory had "worked closely with Suns officials in the front office over the past two years." He will now be tasked with leading Phoenix back to prominence alongside Ott.

The Suns are coming off a disappointing 36-46 finish to the 2024-25 season, placing 11th in the Western Conference and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Budenholzer reportedly lost control of the locker room and clashed with star players Booker and Kevin Durant, the latter of whom is expected to be traded this offseason.

Phoenix is committed to building around Booker, who is eligible for a two-year, $149.8 million contract extension this summer. With the expected departure of Durant, the team will have to find the right pieces to surround Booker as it tries to work its way back to playoff contention.

Ott won't have an easy job, but the Suns are surely hopeful that he will turn around the franchise's fortune next season and beyond.