Porter to be named Suns coach

Jun 7, 2008 - 7:07 PM BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) -- The Phoenix Suns are expected to name Terry Porter as their new coach, ESPN.com reported Saturday.

According to the report, Suns general manager Steve Kerr called Porter on Saturday morning to offer him the job, and Porter accepted.

Porter had worked as the top assistant to Flip Saunders with the Detroit Pistons the past two seasons. Saunders was fired Tuesday, days after Detroit lost in the Eastern Conference finals for a third straight season.

In Phoenix, Porter would replace Mike D'Antoni, who resigned in May to become coach of the New York Knicks.

The finalists for the Phoenix job reportedly were Porter, San Antonio assistant Mike Budenholzer, Houston Rockets assistant Elston Turner and Utah Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin.

All four had second interviews, but multiple reports had Kerr leaning toward hiring Porter, whom he played with for two years in San Antonio.

Porter, 45, who coached the Milwaukee Bucks from 2003-05, inherits a talented team which has underachieved in the playoffs. Phoenix, which averaged 58 wins under D'Antoni the last four seasons, lost in the first round of the playoffs this season to San Antonio.

Despite his 71-93 record with the Bucks, Porter looks to be a good fit in the desert.

Porter's first team in Milwaukee in 2003 finished fourth in the NBA in scoring. Phoenix is perennially one of the league's highest-scoring teams, although their identity did change a bit after the club acquired center Shaquille O'Neal in February.

And while the Suns' commitment to defense is constantly questioned, Porter was known as solid defender during his playing days. He also worked for one of the league's top defensive teams in Detroit.