Report: Suns coaching search down to Cavs assistants Bryant, Ott

Cleveland Cavaliers assistants Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott are the finalists in the Phoenix Suns' head coaching search, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

The two will reportedly meet with Suns owner Mat Ishbia, CEO Josh Bartelstein, and new general manager Brian Gregory sometime this week. A final decision is expected soon after, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

Bryant and Ott both joined the Cavaliers in September as Kenny Atkinson filled out his staff ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. Bryant was named associate head coach after four seasons in the same role with the New York Knicks. Ott was an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers for two years after six with the Brooklyn Nets, four of which were under Atkinson.

With both supporting Atkinson on the Cavaliers' bench, Cleveland topped the Eastern Conference with a 64-18 record - the second-best regular-season finish in franchise history. The Cavs also boasted the league's best offensive rating at 121 points per 100 possessions, and their 111.8 defensive rating ranked eighth in the NBA. Atkinson was named Coach of the Year for the 2024-25 season.

Ott was a video coordinator from 2008-2013 under Tom Izzo at Michigan State, Ishbia's alma mater. Gregory, who was promoted to Suns GM in May, also spent time with the Spartans, working as an assistant to Izzo in two separate four-year stints. Bryant played three seasons at Utah from 2005-08 before joining the Jazz as a player development assistant in 2012.

Suns star Devin Booker, who was born in Michigan, has contributed to the team's search within the last 10 days, Charania reports.

Phoenix reportedly cast a wide net as it searched for a successor to Mike Budenholzer, whom they fired after just one season in which they went 36-46. Current Suns assistant David Fizdale and New Orleans Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego were reportedly among several other candidates for the opening.