HoopsHype.com Rumors

Paul Coro: Gentry: "I still think I'm a good coach. I'm at fault, not totally. There were other factors but I'm ultimately responsible as the coach." Twitter @paulcoro

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Alvin Gentry 

Paul Coro: Gentry's statement didn't mention Babby or Blanks. “I have the utmost respect for Robert (Sarver) and what he’s done with the organization." Twitter @paulcoro

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Alvin Gentry 

It has to say a lot about the Suns organization that Nash said it was a good thing for Gentry he was let go ... "Obviously, I'm sad for Alvin (Gentry), but in some ways maybe this is a good thing for him," Lakers guard Steve Nash said after practice Friday. Nash was coached the last four years by Gentry, reaching the Western Conference Finals together against Los Angeles in 2010. "He's a great coach, a really good coach and any club would be lucky to have him as a coach, that's for sure. He'll land on his feet for sure because he can really do a good job." Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Coaching, Alvin Gentry 

Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni, who had Gentry as an assistant on his staff when D'Antoni was the head coach in Phoenix, was saddened by the news. "Very surprised," D'Antoni said. "He’s a good coach. Now, a coach getting fired is not news. You hate it for a friend and you hate it that a guy does a great job and it definitely wasn’t the coaching’s (fault) that they were losing. So, it’s too bad. But that’s our business and you go on. I hate it for him." Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Alvin Gentry 

Adrian Wojnarowski: After firing of Alvin Gentry today, top candidates to become Suns interim coach: assistants Elston Turner and Lindsey Hunter, sources say. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Alvin Gentry, Elston Turner, Lindsey Hunter 

Chris Mannix: Suns officially announce that Alvin Gentry is out as head coach Twitter @ChrisMannixSI

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Alvin Gentry 

Jude LaCava: Alvin Gentry is out as head coach of the Suns Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Alvin Gentry 

John Gambadoro: Alvin Gentry and the Suns have agreed to part ways. Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Alvin Gentry 

John Gambadoro: Owner Robert Sarver and President of Basketball operations Lon Babby met with Gentry this morning Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Lon Babby, Robert Sarver, Alvin Gentry 

John Gambadoro: Suns brass wants team to go younger and work on development and didn't think Gentrys skill set fit that model Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Alvin Gentry 

The Suns have parted ways with coach Alvin Gentry after the team posted its worst record for the first half of a season in 25 years. An interim coach was not immediately known, although lead assistant coach Elston Turner would be the next in line and has been a finalist for other league head coaching jobs. The Suns lost at home Thursday night to Milwaukee for the first time in 26 years to fall to 13-28, the franchise’s worst midpoint record since the 1987-88 team went 13-28 coming out of the drug scandal. Gentry, Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver and President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby had a late-night meeting but Gentry was not let go at that time. A decision was made Friday morning. Sarver told USA Today on Dec. 11 that Gentry would be the Suns coach for the entire season. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Alvin Gentry 

So how do the Suns sell the approach to their fans? "I think you've got to do it (by) saying that obviously this season isn't going the way we anticipated, and now we're in a situation where we've got to start looking to the future," Gentry said. "And if we're looking to the future, we've got to play young guys and get them in a situation where we figure out exactly what we have for the future, and see if they can show improvement for the next 30 games or whatever it ends up being that we decide to do this." Gentry said it would only happen after consultation with club President Lon Babby, General Manager Lance Blanks and owner Robert Sarver. "It's something we'll discuss," he said. "We'll sit down and try to decide what's best and understand that there are maybe more important things than the win-loss record at this point." Gentry said the Suns aren't there yet. "I would say we're probably moving in that direction or getting real close because obviously we're struggling to win games," he added. "And if you're going to do that, you've got to try to get something positive out of it. That (developing players) is one of the things you can do." USA Today Sports

Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, Trade, Alvin Gentry 

What does Michael Beasley have to do to be a good NBA player? Alvin Gentry: It’s all a process with him. There are just a lot of things — some on-court stuff, some off-court stuff. He’s had a great attitude. It’s just one of those situations where he has to continue to work at it, to continue to explore what does he have to do to be successful — not just on the court, but off the court. He’ll continue to work at it. He’s had a great attitude. Grantland

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley, Alvin Gentry 

I think that would surprise fans, only because of the clichés about him. Alvin Gentry: See, if you don’t know him, you would say that. But he’s had a great attitude. And I have to take some of the blame for everything with him. I put a label on him before he even got here — that he was going to be our go-to guy, a guy that’s going to do this and do that. And that’s unfair to him — [saying that] without going through training camp and understanding what he might be for our team. So a bit of all this has to be my responsibility. It was predetermined what he was gonna be before we even hit camp. Grantland

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley, Alvin Gentry 

D'Antoni often claims to coach defense despite his reputation as an offense-only coach. So it wasn't surprising to hear him defend his teachings after one of his former players, New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire, criticized him. "It's mind-boggling. I mean, come on," D'Antoni said. "He threw Frank Johnson, myself, Alvin Gentry and actually Mike Woodson… was he saving the good stuff? Because he coached him eight months and he was the defensive coach. It doesn't make any sense." Los Angeles Times

New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Amare Stoudemire, Mike Woodson, Coaching, Alvin Gentry, Frank Johnson 

Paul Coro: Since when do you get a T for yelling "Foul!"? Rodney Mott gave Gentry a tech for it & then tossed him for walking him down w/"You saw it!" Twitter @paulcoro

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Alvin Gentry 

In Phoenix, though my radar goes up when an owner gives his coach a vote of confidence, I seriously doubt Robert Sarver would pay two coaches when his team is drifting toward another lottery. I don't believe it's Alvin Gentry's fault, but I don't expect him to be back next season. I expect him to be on Mike D'Antoni's bench in LA. To me, it's only a question of how widespread the housecleaning will be. CBSSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Robert Sarver, Alvin Gentry 

Owner Robert Sarver has stated that Alvin Gentry will finish the last season on his contract as coach, and you know this isn't the usual kiss-of-death-before-the-firing stuff because Sarver isn't going to pay two head coaches for another trip to the lottery. League sources continue to believe the Suns are headed for a major reset. It's only a matter of when and how widespread. CBSSports.com

Phoenix Suns, Trade, Robert Sarver, Alvin Gentry 

Pressure's rising in Phoenix and Toronto. Who do you think winds up being the fall guy in those two situations gone bad? KB: As for Toronto, the clock is ticking on Bryan Colangelo. And now that Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon are both hurt, the Raptors can't hit the reset button with a trade. In Phoenix, though my radar goes up when an owner gives his coach a vote of confidence, I seriously doubt Robert Sarver would pay two coaches when his team is drifting toward another lottery. I don't believe it's Alvin Gentry's fault, but I don't expect him to be back next season. I expect him to be on Mike D'Antoni's bench in LA. To me, it's only a question of how widespread the housecleaning will be. CBSSports.com

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Robert Sarver, Alvin Gentry 

Suns owner Robert Sarver told USA TODAY Sports on Monday that Gentry is safe through the end of this season. "(Gentry) is not an issue for us this year," Sarver said by phone. "We're not looking to make a (coaching) change." Asked repeatedly if he was saying Gentry would be the coach at season's end, Sarver said "yes." USA Today

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Robert Sarver, Alvin Gentry