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Adrian Wojnarowski, Senior NBA Insider
The Phoenix Suns and Frank Vogel have signed a five-year deal with him as the franchise’s next coach, a source told ESPN on Friday.
The Suns offered Vogel the job on Friday morning and are nearing completion of a long-term contract that will give him the opportunity to coach All-NBA stars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, sources said.
Vogel advanced from a group of finalists that included former Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers and Suns assistant Kevin Young, sources said. Vogel has a history of building an elite defense to win the 2020 NBA championship as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Suns held talks with Nick Nurse in a group of finalists before finally reaching talks with another championship coach, Mr. Vogel. Nurse took a job with the Sixers this week. Matt Ishbier, general manager James Jones, and CEO Josh Bartelstein are among the representatives engaged in the process to secure Vogel.
The team has been seeking a successor to Monty Williams, who was sacked after Phoenix lost to the eventual conference champions Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals. Williams was appointed as the Detroit Pistons’ new head coach earlier this week.
Phoenix is strongly considering Young, who was Williams’ top assistant, and the team expects Young to remain on Vogel’s staff, sources said. Young has some options elsewhere in the NBA.
It will be Vogel’s fourth appointment as head coach after stints with the Lakers, Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers. Vogel led the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Semifinals twice before winning the title in LA. According to ESPN Stats & Information data, Vogel has the NBA’s top defense three times in his career (twice with Indiana and once with the Lakers).