The Phoenix Suns are going into the 2016 offseason under a new regime after they removed the interim tag from Earl Watson and made him their permanent head coach. The Suns have a nice young group of players with some veterans sprinkled in who can contribute but a major key for Phoenix is keeping these players together at the same time.
While on-court issues for Phoenix have revolved around health, behind-the-scenes they appear to be making changes to their front office and support staff. Former President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby has completely removed himself from the team and a handful of staff members have also been let go.
Following from Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic.
Lon Babby took a step back from Suns basketball operations last summer and now will step all the way out.
Babby is ending his association with the Suns at the end of this week. He had spent the past season as a part-time senior adviser after having a five-year run as Suns president of basketball operations.
“I’m very appreciative for the opportunity to come to Phoenix, be part of a wonderful community and see and learn a lot of things that have been very gratifying,” Babby said. “I look forward to staying involved here in the community and being more involved with my family. I turned 65 in February and consider myself a full-fledged snowbird.”
And more from Coro.
Suns assistant coaches Corey Gaines and Bob Hill were informed Wednesday that their expiring contracts will not be renewed. Player development assistant Irving Roland and assistant video coordinator Ross Geiger also will not return to the Suns staff for Earl Watson’s first full season as head coach. All of the staff’s contracts will expire June 30 but the others will be renewed.
Assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren is the only assistant coach who will be retained from last season’s original staff other than Watson. Bjorkgren, a former D-League head coach, and Watson were in their first seasons with the Suns. Player development assistants Jason Fraser and Chris Darnell and video coordinator Bret Burchard, who took on an expanded bench role, also will return.
