The Phoenix Suns announced Friday they have hired Monty Williams as their new head coach. Williams' contract with Phoenix is a five-year agreement, reports The Athletic's Shams Charania, citing league sources. The 47-year-old will replace Igor Kokoskov, who was fired after posting a Western Conference-worst 19-63 record during his lone season leading the Suns. Williams will be the 20th head coach in franchise history. Currently an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers, he will remain with the Sixers until the conclusion of their playoff run, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN‏. Williams has ties to Phoenix's front office, having coached general manager James Jones during the 2007-08 season as an assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers. Jeff Bower, the Suns' new senior vice president of basketball operations, also hired him as the New Orleans Pelicans' head coach in 2010. Williams went 173-221 across five seasons in the Big Easy, leading the club to two playoff appearances. "I am thrilled to welcome Monty Williams to the Suns family as our next head coach," Jones said in a statement. "Monty brings a wealth of NBA experience, both as a coach and former player, in addition to being a high-character individual who will infuse basketball wisdom and life lessons into our locker room. "Monty is well respected for his coaching pedigree, leadership, and commitment to the community, all of which make him the ideal person to lead our team moving forward." Williams was also reportedly a top candidate for the Los Angeles Lakers' head coaching vacancy.<doc-sep>Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver has developed a reputation for having a very hands-on approach to running the NBA franchise he purchased in 2004. The phrase "hands-on approach" is often used as a nice way to describe him as a meddling owner who gets involved in team decisions he probably should stay out of. The once proud Phoenix NBA franchise hasn't been to the postseason since the 2009-10 season. The Suns have also had six different head coaches since the 2012-13 season. ... And they've had just one winning season since 2009-10. The question is: Does the hiring of James Jones as general manager and Monty Williams as head coach demonstrate Sarver has learned his lesson? That's been a big discussion since the team announced Williams' hire last week. Jones discussed the dynamic of working with Sarver on ESPN's "The Jump" this week. "I'd say Robert is passionate," he said. "He's been extremely successful in every walk of life, but when it comes to basketball and the Phoenix Suns he is extremely passionate. He's been present and he's been supportive, but more importantly he's grown and he understands that he needs a team of leaders around him that will allow him to have comfort knowing that the organization comes first and that is what myself and Monty, that is what our conversations have been about ... "It was a choice for me to come here because I really believed in what Robert believed that the franchise was primed for success." Jones, who spent the regular season as the interim general manager, had the interim tag removed as the Suns' offseason began. He elaborated on his relationship with Sarver on ESPN. "It's been great for me," he said. "Robert challenges us. He challenges me everyday to come in there and be creative and find solutions. For some that is an uncomfortable space, but I think my experience as a player where you are constantly under scrutiny, constantly under pressure to perform, it has primed me and it has prepared me to thrive in this environment." James said he sees big changes in culture coming to the Suns organization. "We're excited across the organization, especially in the city of Phoenix," he said on "The Jump." "We talk about adding Monty Williams, who is a phenomenal human being, a tremendous coach. He gives us confidence, he gives the players confidence that it will be different. We've had our struggles in the past, but we've been focused forward. Since Robert has entrusted me with the responsibility with changing the culture, charting the course for the franchise, I think we've made a lot of progress in a short amount of time." NBA insider Shams Charania, of The Athletic and Stadium, detailed the circumstances surrounding the hire in a video after the Suns announced the hiring of Williams last week. He said the turning point in the hiring process came when Sarver admitted to Williams that he was going to change. Williams also had interest from the Los Angeles Lakers. "The turning point throughout this whole process was when Williams sat down with Suns General Manager James Jones and Owner Robert Sarver," Charania said. "I'm told Sarver started to admit some of the past mistakes of his franchise, what has ailed this franchise from really having stability over the last several years and really started to give a reason as to why he is going to believe in Jones and Williams moving on and in the future. "This was refreshing for Williams to hear. Once he heard that, Williams became more sure in a commitment to the Suns and the sides were able to get a deal done." ESPN Insider Adrian Wojnarowski also weighed in on the possibility of change in the Suns' front office. "But what has scared everybody about the Phoenix job: Owner Robert Sarver. He interferes in basketball decisions. He has involved himself in decisions that frankly he doesn't have the expertise to make decisions on, but what Robert Sarver has told Monty Williams he is going to do is partner with him, is support him, is to let Monty Williams coach this team, let his staff try to develop these younger players and that he has promised to stay out of the way and allow a coach to do that. "Monty Williams will be the fifth coach in five years and everyone else was told the same thing by Robert Sarver. It is going to have to change for Monty Williams to have any chance of success there. "The Suns aren't that far off from being competitive again, but it always goes back to the same person. Robert Sarver. Is he going to allow that to happen?" The Republic's Kent Somers shared his thoughts on Sarver's role in Phoenix after Williams' hire was announced. He said he'd believe the owner has changed when he sees it. "Williams had to have some assurances to take this job. It’s probably why his contract is for five years, two years longer than those of his three predecessors — Jeff Hornacek, Earl Watson and Igor Kokoskov. If Sarver limits his involvement to signing checks and cheering, Williams, Jones and (Jeff) Bower have a chance resurrect what once was one of the NBA’s best franchises. ... There is a core of young talent in place, and it will be supplemented by yet another high draft pick, maybe power forward Zion Williamson or point guard Ja Morant. That core of young players, a veteran coach with connections and a new training and practice facility might reinstall the Suns as an attractive team for free agents. There are a lot of ifs, buts, maybes and probablys in the above paragraphs. That’s because Sarver hasn’t displayed the willingness to either hire good coaches and talent evaluators and/or allow them to do their jobs." How much each NBA team is worth<doc-sep>
Monty Williams has plenty of experience in the NBA, both as a player and a coach. The Phoenix Suns announced on Friday that they have hired Monty Williams to be their next head coach. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Williams has agreed to a five-year deal with the franchise. The Suns have agreed to terms with Monty Williams to become the 20th head coach in franchise history! pic.twitter.com/Wm7tU8agIX - Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 3, 2019 The 24th pick in the 1994 NBA Draft, Williams played for the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers during his 10-year career. He's since been an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers, as well as an associate head coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder and head coach of the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans. Williams is currently an assistant coach on the 76ers. He will stay with the team until the end of Philadelphia's playoff run, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports. "I am thrilled to welcome Monty Williams to the Suns family as our next head coach," Suns general manager James Jones said. "Monty brings a wealth of NBA experience, both as a coach and former player, in addition to being a high-character individual who will infuse basketball wisdom and life lessons into our locker room. "Monty is well respected for his coaching pedigree, leadership and commitment to the community, all of which make him the ideal person to lead our team moving forward." The Suns won only 19 games in the 2018-19 season, but they are built around a talented young core of Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. Phoenix also has a 14.0 percent chance of winning the NBA Draft Lottery, the same odds as the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers.