Latest news with #JohnGambadoro
Newsweek
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Suns Cut List of Head Coach Candidates to Four
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Phoenix Suns are currently looking for their fourth head coach in as many seasons under team majority owner Mat Ishbia, sources inform John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix. Gambadoro initially reported that Miami Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn and Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coaches Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott had all made the cut. Not accurate. It is down to four. Chris Quinn, Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott I can confirm through various sources are in the Final Four. — John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) May 27, 2025 Later, Gambadoro revealed that Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Sean Sweeney is slated to interview for the gig on Weds., which when correlated with Gambadoro's previous reporting suggests that Sweeney is the fourth contender. Hearing Dallas assistant Sean Sweeney is heading to Phoenix to interview in person for the head coaching job tomorrow. — John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) May 27, 2025 Multiple sources inform Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, however, that Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori is also still a candidate. Rankin lists three names that overlap with Gambadoro's reporting: Quinn, Ott and Sweeney. More Phoenix Suns News: Kevin Durant May Have Fueled Trade Rumors With Latest Comments Phoenix initially had been looking at between 15 and 20 contenders for the job. This past weekend, the club concluded Zoom interviews with a group of nine finalists, according to Gambadoro. Second round of interviews for Suns head coaching job just finished up - most still on zoom. In next day or two finalists will be told and in person meetings scheduled. — John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) May 25, 2025 The Suns have undergone many a transformation since billionaire mortgage lender Ishbia purchased a 57 percent controlling stake in the franchise — and the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury — mostly from disgraced former owner Robert Sarver in Feb. 2023. When Ishbia purchased the club, it had recently acquired 15-time All-Star power forward Kevin Durant, pairing him with 12-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul and four-time All-Star shooting guard Devin Booker, plus athletic center Deandre Ayton, in an effort to return to the NBA Finals following a disappointing second round upset the previous season. PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 16: Owner Mat Ishbia of the Phoenix Suns answers questions from the media during a press conference introducing Kevin Durant at Footprint Center on February 16, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 16: Owner Mat Ishbia of the Phoenix Suns answers questions from the media during a press conference introducing Kevin Durant at Footprint Center on February 16, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo byInstead, Phoenix was ousted in the second round once again, this time by the eventual champion Denver Nuggets. The Suns fired 2022 Coach of the Year Monty Williams that summer, replacing him with Frank Vogel — who had just won a title with the Los Angeles Lakers two years prior. Paul and Ayton were traded away in the offseason, and the Suns made a questionable trade for pricey, oft-hurt former All-Star guard Bradley Beal. This reconfigured Suns club under Vogel was solid, but didn't quite set the world on fire as all three stars dealt with health issues. Vogel, a defense-first coach, was seen as an awkward fit with the team's offense-first stars. More Phoenix Suns News: Suns Make Dramatic Front Office Change Following Disappointing 2024-25 Season Phoenix went 49-33 in 2023-24 and finished with the Western Conference's No. 6 seed, but got destroyed in a four-game first round playoff sweep by the West Finals-bound Minnesota Timberwolves that spring. Ishbia subsequently canned Vogel in the offseason, bringing in 2019 Coach of the Year and 2021 champion ex-Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer for 2024-25. This past regular season was an unmitigated disaster. Despite Durant and Booker being relatively healthy, the Suns had absolutely no on-court chemistry together. Phoenix went 36-46 and missed the postseason entirely. Budenholzer was given the boot. All these finalists are unproven as head coaches, but are well-respected as longtime assistants. What Phoenix wants to do with the contracts of Durant and Beal going forward remains to be seen, but it's quite possible the Suns roster will look very different by the time this new coach actually starts overseeing regular season games. More Phoenix Suns News: Suns Reportedly Have Huge Roster Priority This Offseason Suns' Kevin Durant Reportedly Eyeing Trade to Western Conference Squad For more NBA news and rumors, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
5 players to know for the Arizona Cardinals' first-round pick at No. 16 overall
5 players to know for the Arizona Cardinals' first-round pick at No. 16 overall John Gambadoro gives Cardinals fans the names to know for the team's first-round selection at No. 16 overall. It has been a tradition the day before the NFL draft for years here in the Phoenix area. Arizona Sports 98.7 FM host and reporter John Gambadoro gives Arizona Cardinals five names to know for the team's first-round pick in the draft. He gives five names of which the team will make their pick, and it has been quite accurate. From predicting Hasson Reddick, Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins in the first round and even second-round picks like Budda Baker and Christian Kirk, the "Gambo 5" is always worth paying attention to. He released his "Gambo 5" on Wednesday, the eve of the 2025 NFL draft. Here is what there is to know. Which players were eliminated from consideration Gambadoro ruled out the following players because of their positions. He doesn't believe that the Cardinals will target receiver or cornerback in the first round. Texas WR Matthew Golden Missouri WR Luther Burden III Notre Dame CB Banjamin Morrison Michigan CB Will Johnson Texas CB Jahdae Barron Eliminated for No. 16 A couple of pass rushers were the last cuts, although they could end up being targets if the Cardinals trade back from the 16th pick. Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr. Texas A&M EDGE Shemar Stewart The 'Gambo 5' names to know Gambadoro actually gives us six names — his five plus an honorable mention wild card. Alabama G Tyler Booker Ohio State OT Josh Simmons Texas OT Kelvin Banks Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams (Honorable mention) Oregon DT Derrick Harmon Based on what has been coming out in final mock drafts with some guys who are dialed in around the league, Banks and Williams probably will be off the board, already selected before the 16th pick. That would leave Booker, Simmons and Nolen. Booker fills the most immediate need, as he would be able to slide into the starting right guard spot from Day 1. Simmons could perhaps do that as well and would then be the right tackle of the future. He has a knee injury that he is recovering from, but the latest intel suggests that teams aren't too concerned. Nolen would add to an already deep defensive line room. The same would go for Harmon. Both Harmon and Nolen are incredible talents. They are all names to know. The actual NFL draft begins Thursday at 5 p.m. Arizona time. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
28-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
6 free agents the Cardinals want to re-sign
6 free agents the Cardinals want to re-sign We know the Cardinals want to re-sign some of their own free agents. These are six players they are focused on. NFL free agency will begin with March 10 when teams can officially negotiate with players whose contracts expire on March 12, the start of the new year. Until then, teams have exclusive negotiating rights with those players set to hit the open market. Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort recently said that he wants to re-sign several of their own free agents, noting the depth they provided and how some ended up starting. While we can guess who some of those players might be, Arizona Sports' John Gambadoro reported six players the team is focused on bringing back. Who are they? OLB Baron Browning The Cardinals gave up their sixth-round pick to acquire him last year midseason, so naturally they will want him back. He had two sacks in the final four games, after he had worked into the playing rotation. OL Evan Brown Brown was the Cardinals' starting left guard last season, playing every game. He was steady. After playing for three teams in three seasons, he probably would like to stay put. OL Kelvin Beachum Beachum ended up being incredibly valuable with the injuries to both Jonah Williams and Paris Johnson. He started nine games at right tackle, one as a tackle eligible and the final two games at left tackle. With Williams entering the offseason injured, Beachum would be a safe player to bring back. DL L.J. Collier Collier would be returning for at least a third season. The former first-round pick was very disruptive in the second half of the season. He played only part of one game in 2023 before losing the rest of his season to a torn biceps. He had a career-high 3.5 sacks in 2024. DL Roy Lopez Lopez started all 16 games he played last season and has been a solid contributor in the middle of the defensive line. LB Krys Barnes Barnes gives the Cardinals a player who can start and who can also play on special teams. He has been someone to fill in for injured starters the last two seasons and play fairly effectively. If Kyzir White departs as a free agent, Barnes could move into a starting role. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
