The Phoenix Suns have acted fast by naming Frank Vogel their new head coach. He ended up beating out Doc Rivers and Suns assistant coach Kevin Young for the job. Vogel last coached in the 2021-22 season before being fired by the Lakers. League sources call Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy a name to watch for on Frank Vogel’s staff with Phoenix. 

Not only has Handy been named someone to watch, but Jon Pastorek and Dru Anthrop are potentially in the mix as well. All three of them worked under Frank Vogel when he was the head coach of the Lakers. Handy is the top name to watch on this list according to league reports.

He’s been with the Lakers as an assistant coach for the last four seasons. Before that, he was a member of Ty Lue’s coaching staff with the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s now Vogel’s duty to fill out the bench with assistant coaches and other staff. Vogel may turn to a familiar face in Handy or one of his other assistants still with the team.

Phil Handy, development coach/assistant Jon Pastorek and video coordinator Dru Anthrop all were retained after Vogel’s dismissal and are obviously names to watch as Vogel assembles his staff. https://t.co/hsBfkkrSJJ

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) June 2, 2023

Frank Vogel could look to add a few of the Lakers’ assistant head coaches to his staff in Phoenix

Handy may not be one of the top assistants on the Lakers’ coaching staff, but he is a voice that is well-respected in the locker room. He helps the team get the most out of their superstar players and also develops young talent. Players like Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves have spoken highly of Handy to the media.

Hachimura came over at the trade deadline and he credited Handy multiple times for helping him elevate his game in the postseason. Additionally, Handy worked with Reaves during his rookie year and helped him have a strong sophomore season with the Lakers.

There’s no question why Handy is a top name to look out for on Frank Vogel’s coaching staff with the Suns. Handy has said in the past that he has aspirations to be a head coach someday. Being a top assistant of Vogel’s coaching staff with the Suns could be a step in that direction.

Following their loss in the Conference Semi-Finals, the Phoenix Suns fired head coach Monty Williams after four seasons. Williams was quickly hired by the Pistons and earned himself a massive new contract. Today, it’s been reported that the Suns have hired Frank Vogel as their next head coach. His latest stint as head coach came in the 2021-22 season with the Lakers. 

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Vogel’s and the Suns are finalizing a five-year, $31 million contract. Vogel has been the head coach of the Lakers, Pacers, Magic, and now the Phoenix Suns. It was well known that Vogel was one of the finalists for the position. He did enough for the Suns to trust his coaching their franchise going forward.

The 49-year-old will be taking over a Suns team that has championship expectations. Phoenix had new owners take over during the season and they’ve been extremely aggressive. In a matter of months they’ve traded for Kevin Durant, fired Monty Williams, and hired Frank Vogel as their next head coach.

The Suns and Frank Vogel are finalizing a five-year, $31 million contract to make the 2020 championship coach the new head man in Phoenix, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. https://t.co/nXRD0NcODS

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 2, 2023

Frank Vogel is the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns after signing a five-year, $31 million contract

Before he became a head coach, Vogel spent eight seasons as an assistant coach in the NBA. His first chance to run a team 2010-11 with the Indiana Pacers. He spent six seasons with the Pacers before he became the Orlando Magics’ head coach in 2016-17.

After that, he spent three seasons with the Lakers, winning an NBA title in his first year as head coach. Now, he has the task of managing a Suns team that has yet to live up to their expectations. The Suns have fallen short in the playoffs over the last few postseasons.

Most notably the 2021 NBA Finals vs the Milwaukee Bucks. Phoenix had a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals and they lost the next four games in a row and the championship. They now bring in Vogel to lead a team that has a ton of pressure and expectations to live up to.

On Friday, Philadelphia 76ers forward Danuel House Jr. picked up his $4.3 million player option for the 2023-24 season. The seven-year veteran had until June 21 to exercise his 2023-24 option. This is part of the two-year, $8.4 million contract he signed with the team last July.

In the 2022-23 season, House Jr. made $4.105 million. His $4,310,250 cap figure for the 2023-24 season consumes about 2.23% of the 76ers’ salary cap. At the moment, the forward is the eighth highest-paid Sixer. Joel Embiid, the 2022-23 MVP winner, has a cap hit of $46.9 million.

Upon further review of a few NBA betting sites, the Denver Nuggets are the favorites to win the 2023 NBA Finals. Check out which sportsbooks are giving Nikola Jokic the best odds to win Finals MVP.

Philadelphia 76ers G/F Danuel House has picked up his $4.3M player option for the 2023-2024 season, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 2, 2023

Danuel House Jr. turns 30 next Wednesday. In 56 appearances with the 76ers this past regular season, the Texas A&M product averaged 4.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 14.4 minutes per game. The 6-foot-6 forward shot a career-best 47.2% from the floor and 33.6% beyond the arc.

In Philadelphia’s 136-131 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Apr. 7, the former Houston Rockets wing scored a season-high 22 points in 37 minutes off the bench. Along with notching three boards, three assists, and one steal, he shot 6-of-11 (54.5%) from the field and 9-of-10 (90%) at the foul line.

76ers forward Danuel House Jr. picked up his $4.3 million player option for the 2023-24 season

For other advanced statistics, House Jr. recorded a player efficiency rating of 9.4, a true shooting percentage of 60%, and a usage percentage of 13.8%. His 120.3 points per 100 shot attempts ranked in the 73rd percentile for wings, according to Cleaning the Glass.

“He knows his role in this league,” James Harden said of House Jr., after the 76ers’ 116-115 overtime win against the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“Obviously, he can make a shot, but he’s really good at finishing. He’s a really good defender. A guy that can do multiple things fits anywhere on any team and I’m happy that he’s on our team.”

DO YO THING https://t.co/9HOWejvGOB

— DanuelKHouseJr (@DanuelHouseJr) June 2, 2023

While with the Rockets in the 2019-20 season, House Jr. averaged career highs of 10.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 30.4 minutes per game. He also shot 42.7% from the floor and 36.3% from downtown.

Additionally, in Houston’s 117-108 win against the Miami Heat on Nov. 27, 2019, House Jr. scored a career-high 23 points in 34 minutes played. The forward shot 7-of-11 (63.6%) from the field and drained four 3-pointers.

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