Sources – Suns finalize 5-year deal to hire Frank Vogel

The Phoenix Suns and Frank Vogel are finalizing a five-year contract to make him the franchise’s next coach, sources told ESPN on Friday.

The Suns offered Vogel the job Friday morning and are set to strike a long-term deal that will give him the chance to coach All-NBA stars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, sources said.

Vogel came from a group of finalists that included former Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers and Suns assistant Kevin Young, sources said. Vogel comes with a 2020 NBA championship as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and a history of building elite defenses.

The Suns were in talks with Nick Nurse among a group of finalists before finally landing Vogel, another championship coach. The nurse accepted the job from the Sixers this week. Mat Ishbia, Managing Director James Jones and CEO Josh Bartelstein were among the directors who worked through the process to secure Vogel.

The team searched for a successor to Monty Williams, who was fired following Phoenix’s loss in the Western Conference semifinals to eventual conference champion Denver Nuggets. Williams was hired earlier this week as the Detroit Pistons’ new head coach.

Phoenix has been giving Young, who was Williams’ top assist, a lot of attention and the team is hoping Young can stay on Vogel’s team, sources said. Young also has several options elsewhere in the NBA.

This will be Vogel’s fourth time as head coach, following stints with the Lakers, Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers. Before winning a title in LA, Vogel led the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Semifinals twice. Vogel had the NBA’s top-rated defense three times in his career — twice with Indiana and once with the Lakers, according to ESPN Stats & Information data.