Suns Name Jay Triano As Interim Coach After Firing Earl Watson, Send Eric Bledsoe Home

Hours after firing head coach Earl Watson on Sunday, the Phoenix Suns announced the promotion of Jay Triano to interim head coach.

Suns new head coach news

Triano, 59, was an associate head coach under Watson and went 87-142 in two-plus seasons (2008-11) as the Toronto Raptors’ head coach.  He also coached Canada’s national team.

Watson’s firing — which comes after the Suns began this season 0-3 — is the second-fastest termination of a coach in NBA history. In 1971, the Buffalo Braves fired Dolph Schayes after just one game in charge.

The Suns next host the Sacramento Kings on Monday night. According to ESPN, Triano could coach Phoenix for the remainder of the regular season. Watson — a 38-year-old former Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz point guard — started as a Suns assistant coach in 2015 and became head coach in 2016 after signing a three-year deal with the team. He was also an assistant for the minor-league team Austin Spurs from 2014-2015.

Phoenix fired three assistant coaches along with Watson, including  Nate Bjorkgren, Mehmet Okur and Jason Fraser.  Tyrone Corbin, who was a head coach with Sacramento and Utah, will serve as Triano’s top assistant.

“Thank you to my Suns family, the Phoenix community and everyone who has supported me through this journey,” Watson said to ESPN. “Life has unpredictable pivots that I embrace humbly and with great purpose.”

General manager Ryan McDonough and Watson held a tense relationship during their time working together, according to several league sources.

The Suns also sent home 27-year-old guard Eric Bledsoe early Monday after shoot-around. Bledsoe — who had been with the Suns since 2013 — is a former Kentucky star who was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers as the 18th overall pick in 2010.

Bledsoe will thus not play against the Kings on Monday. The guard tweeted “I Don’t wanna be here” around the time of Watson’s firing. General manager Ryan McDonough is reportedly speaking with several teams to negotiate a trade for Bledsoe.

Per ESPN, Bledsoe requested a trade during a preseason meeting with owner Robert Sarver and McDonough. Bledsoe is reportedly upset with the direction of the team.

The Suns’ opening night 124-76 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers was the biggest blowout loss in franchise history.

Bledsoe is averaging 15.7 points and three assists per game for Phoenix this season. He boasts career averages of 13.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.

PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 18: Eric Bledsoe #2 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the first half of the NBA game ao at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 18, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona.