Frank Vogel is on the move again, and this time the landing spot is Golden State.
The former Suns head coach is headed to the Warriors as a lead assistant under Steve Kerr, a move that fits the profile of a coach who has done his best work with veteran talent. Vogel’s run in Phoenix never really clicked, but his résumé still carries weight in the right setting. He was the head coach when the Los Angeles Lakers won the championship in the bubble, and he also had some success with the Indiana Pacers.
For Golden State, the hire looks like more than just a staff addition. Vogel gives the Warriors a potential bridge for whatever comes next if Kerr eventually moves on.
He also looks like the kind of steady presence who could step into a difficult situation if the franchise ever has to navigate life after Kerr, and possibly after Stephen Curry and Draymond Green as well. He’s the sort of coach who can handle a veteran roster, and he’s unlikely to be a target for another team anytime soon, which makes him a useful fit for the Warriors right now.
There’s even a bit of irony in the move. While Vogel was in charge in Phoenix, the Suns brought in Kevin Young as his lead assistant, a setup many viewed as insurance in case the Vogel hire went sideways.
That’s exactly how it played out, but Young’s stock has risen since then after he moved to BYU. He was even linked earlier this offseason to the Chicago Bulls’ top job before that opening went to Tiago Splitter.
The Suns angle matters here, too. With rebuilding teams like the Utah Jazz starting to pass them in the pecking order, Golden State adding Vogel could end up being part of a larger shift over the next 12-18 months. The Warriors also appear increasingly likely to miss out on LeBron James, and if that franchise does slide into a rebuild, Vogel’s time with the Orlando Magic suggests he isn’t the right coach for that kind of job either.
So the move raises as many questions as it answers. Vogel has a clear lane with a contender. The bigger mystery is why Golden State felt the need to bring him in now.
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