Jeff Hornacek: Latest News, Rumors, Speculation on Suns Coach's Future
In 2014-15, the Phoenix Suns won nine fewer games than they did the previous season. The team is off to a 12-20 start this year, and Suns management may be thinking about a change at the top.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported Sunday that Phoenix is considering firing head coach Jeff Hornacek. The Suns have gone 99-97 in Hornacek's two-plus seasons on the sideline.
Continue for updates.
Suns Reportedly Dismiss Assistant Coaches
Sunday, Dec. 27
While Hornacek's future remains "unclear," the Suns have fired assistant coaches Mike Longabardi and Jerry Sichting, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
Walton Reportedly on Suns' Radar If Hornacek Is Fired
Sunday, Dec. 27
Bleacher Report's Howard Beck reported on a conversation he had with a source with "ties" to the Suns who believed Phoenix would "dump" Hornacek in the offseason and "chase" Golden State Warriors interim coach Luke Walton.
Although Beck did add a caveat regarding his report, "Of course, many teams with shaky coaching situations will be rumored as suitors for Luke Walton (hello, LAL). He's going to be popular."
Hornacek's Influence on Players Possibly Waning
Sunday, Dec. 27
"Fears growing within the organization that the team is no longer responding to Hornacek," per Stein.
Hornacek Reportedly Has Backup Plan If Fired
Sunday, Dec. 27
CBS Sports' Matt Moore reported the 52-year-old coach is already considering a future outside of Phoenix, "If Hornacek gets canned, my understanding is he’ll look to college, but pro teams should consider. I love what he’s done there. Weird team."
Suns Starring Down the Barrel of Lost Season with Hornacek
Even with a number of Western Conference teams stumbling, the Suns remain outside of a playoff spot. Entering Sunday, Phoenix owned the 11th-best record in the conference and was two games back of the eighth-seeded Utah Jazz.
The Suns may also be on the verge of dealing with a major injury to Eric Bledsoe. ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst reported Sunday that Phoenix's star guard has a left knee injury and could be out until after the All-Star break in February.
Bledsoe leads the Suns in points (20.4), assists (6.1) and steals (two) per game. If he is forced to miss more than a month, then the team's slide is unlikely to cease, which would further erode the allegedly worsening relationship between Hornacek and his players.
Phoenix attempted to sign LaMarcus Aldridge in the offseason but instead had to settle for Tyson Chandler. With the season seemingly spiraling out of control, it might be in the franchise's best interest to replace Hornacek.
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