Phoenix: Porter fired, Gentry new head-coach

[cordobes]

by Paul Coro

Alvin Gentry will take over Monday as the Suns' interim head coach with first-year coach Terry Porter being fired by then, multiple team sources confirmed Sunday.

Porter is being replaced by his lead assistant coach after the Suns went through a 6-10 stretch that put them at 28-23 before the All-Star break. In June, Porter had signed with Phoenix for a three-year contract, which sources said Sunday was guaranteed through the third season in contrast to previous reports. His annual salary was in the $2 million range.

Gentry, 54, joined the Suns as an assistant at the outset of the franchise's turnaround upon Steve Nash's arrival in 2004. He was the only coaching staff holder from the Mike D'Antoni staff and is expect to return the Suns' to their previous season's style, a change that had been underway since December.

This will be Gentry's third stint as an interim head coach and his fourth turn as a head coach in the NBA, where he has coached for 20 years. Gentry also was a midseason replacement for Kevin Loughery in Miami and Doug Collins in Detroit. Including Gentry's work as the Los Angeles Clippers' coach, he had an overall record of 177-226 but was coaching far less talented teams than this Suns one that is currently a ninth-place disappointment in the Western Conference.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2009/02/15/20090215spt-sunsporter.html

It's finally done. A necessary step, I guess. What's the next one? Amare to Cleveland, Chicago, Portland or Detroit?

[the_Bird]

Wow, coaches usually get at least a full season before they're 86'ed.  Trying to figure out if Phoenix is smart for recognizing they messed up with their hire and aren't waiting to fix it, or another sign that Kerr is floundering, looking for direction.  My gut tells me the latter.

Wouldn't you see how Amare does with a new coach before trading him?  You're not going anywhere this season anyway; he's not going to lose trade value between now and June (especially since everyone KNOWS they really want to move him).

[Andy Jick]

the suns are turning into a joke.  way to go, steve kerr...you should be so proud!

[Who]

I would have liked to have seen the Suns hire Paul Silas for the rest of the season. I think he'd be a good coach for that team.

[biggs]

I have a feeling that Amare will end up in Detroit.  I can just picture Rasheed on Phoenix for some reason.

Having a PF that can shoot the trey will mesh well with Shaq's dominance in the paint and Rasheeds contract is expiring, so PHO can rebuild next year if it doesn't work out. (much like the Iverson deal for detroit)

Why for Detroit?

They are rebuilding around Stuckey, and until know it would seem that they would let Sheed and AI expire to use some $ on free agents, but you have to think Amare might just be their best option to get a young player for Stuckey. 

[RebusRankin]

Kerr should have stuck to broadcasting.

[cornbreadsmart]

i'm digging it just a bit cuz i remember him criticizing ainge and the c's moves as a broadcaster, almost chuckling. way to go steve!

[cordobes]

Is anyone else watching their game? 118 points in scored in the first 3 quarters. I guess they have those legs fresh...

Plus, Zach Randolph punched Amundson in the face. Very entertaining game.