The Phoenix Suns acted quickly by naming Frank Vogel their new head coach. He ends up beating Doc Rivers and Suns assistant Coevin Young for the position. Vogel’s last coaching session was in the 2021-22 season before the Lakers fired him. League sources have called Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy a name to watch on Frank Vogel’s staff with Phoenix.
Not only has Handy been named someone to watch, but Jon Pastorek and Dru Anthrop are also likely to be in the mix. All three of them worked under Frank Fogel when he was the head coach of the Lakers. Handy is the top name to watch on this list as per league reports.
He has been with the Lakers as an assistant coach for the past four seasons. Prior to that, he was a member of Tai Lo’s coaching staff with the Cleveland Cavaliers. It is now Vogel’s duty to fill the bench with assistant coaches and other personnel. Vogel might turn out to be a familiar face in Handy or one of his other lieutenants is still with the team.
Phil Handy, development coach/assistant John Pastorek, and video coordinator Drew Anthrop were all retained after Vogel’s firing and are clearly names to watch as Vogel assembles his roster. https://t.co/hsBfkkrSJJ
– Dan Wiki (@DanWoikeSports) June 2, 2023
Frank Vogel could look into adding a few more Lakers assistant coaches to his team in Phoenix
Handy may not be one of the top assistants on the Lakers’ coaching staff, but he’s a well-respected voice in the locker room. He helps the team get the most out of its superstar players and also develops young talent. Players like Rui Hachimura and Austin Reeves have talked about Handy to the media.
Hachimura came in at the trade deadline and credited Handy several times for helping him raise his game in the postseason. Additionally, Handy worked with Reaves during his junior year and helped him have a solid sophomore season with the Lakers.
There is no doubt that Handy is a great name to look out for on Frank Vogel’s coaching staff with the Suns. Handy has said in the past that he aspires to be a head coach one day. Being a head coaching assistant for Fogle with the Suns could be a step in that direction.