Four NBA teams are searching for a new head coach. Who will attract the best talent and who will be left yearning?

The NBA coaching carousel is spinning in a most unusual direction this time around.

Chaos on the coaching front got off to early start with several contenders bidding farewell to their tenured bosses in the late stages of the regular season. That leaves interim bosses partaking in upper portions of the bracket, which will only keep the questions flowing amidst the playoff drama. Even some of the fringe vacancies outside of the playoff picture's frame offer sterling intrigue and should cause a stir on the road ahead. 

Some vacancies are more valuable than others, but which ones reign supreme? BIL ranks the Association's primary job openings below, ready for updates if and when the time is right ...

(Vacancies as of 4/22/25)

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4. Phoenix Suns 

Out: Mike Budenholzer (1 season, 36-46)

The Suns missed every form of postseason in an era where one has to almost try to miss the NBA post-season, will have no representative at the draft lottery, have offered no form of patience or stability but firing three coaches in three years, are trapped in the restrictive second salary apron after an all-or-nothing approach yielded the latter. The Suns also potentially face a lengthy rebuild once they let one or more of their expensive franchise faces move on. 

Other than that, Mr. Ishbia, how was the play?

Owner Mat Ishbia has had no issues spending for either the Suns or Mercury but luring some poor soul into taking the head coaching job may be his toughest sell yet. The Suns' roster won't be fully depleted—Kevin Durant seems likely to move but there'd be at least something of a foundation to work with if Devin Booker stays—but the sputtering Suns would probably be better off starting over as much as they can as they embark on a new era with youngsters like Ryan Dunn getting a larger spotlight. That's probably not going to attract cream of the crop coaching candidates, but that's the least of the Suns' worries at this point on the franchise timeline.

3. Sacramento Kings

Out: Mike Brown (3 seasons, 107-88)/Doug Christie (interim)

Not too long ago, the Kings job would've topped a list like this but a lot has changed in California's capital over the last three years—and not in a good way.

Sacramento management has often steered clear of seismic transactions and it might tighten its belt after some recent steps into that luxurious world: after wheeling and dealing with the Bulls over the offseason and at the trade deadline, the Kings owe DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine over $140 million over the next two seasons.

There's nothing wrong with that on paper, but it could handcuff both Brown's successor at the helm, as well as new general manager Scott Perry. While the Kings may still have the comfort of Domantas Sabonis, the early exit and shifts in management has reportedly raised a few questions in the franchise face's mind (though he stated publicly that he would like to stay in Sactown). Phoenix's situation, of course, proves that things could always be worse, but it's hard to be envious of the Kings' throne after a change of pace via coach ousting yielded only a Play-In Tournament loss.

2. Memphis Grizzlies

Out: Taylor Jenkins (6 seasons, 250-214)/Tuomas Lisalo (interim)

Our last two candidates are set up well enough to be a de facto 1 and 1A. Memphis gets the runner-up spot if only because it'd hardly be surprising to see them grant full-time duties to Lisalo and the fact that it is still seeking a championships despite recent strong showings.

The Grizzlies appeared to be high on the Finnish legend even before the shocking firing of Jenkins, hiring him as associate boss after ditching tenured assistants like Blake Ahearn, Scoonie Penn, Vitaly Potapenko, and Sonia Raman. Whether that preseason faith is enough to render a mediocre finish to the season and nightmarish start to the playoffs remains to be seen but the Grizzlies still have a reasonably swanky set-up no matter who takes over. 

Barring any further health issues, the Grizzlies carry a solid foundation in Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant, who have led a core capable of accomplishing great things. There might be a free agent or two to worry about (i.e. Luke Kennard, Vince Jackson) but having a name they'll trust could help ensure that another late-season collapse doesn't happen again. Rookie clay has also produced masterpieces, as few, if any, draft classes have been as effective as Zach Edey and Rookie of the Year finalist Jaylen Wells. Such a situation ensures some high-profile candidates will check in, even if Memphis is in a smaller market by NBA standards.

1. Denver Nuggets

Out: Michael Malone (10 seasons, 471-327)/David Adelman (interim)

It's not every day that "oversee perennial MVP winner" shows up in the job description section of the NBA job board but that's just one of the aftershocks of Malone's jaw-dropping firing.

Unless Nikola Jokic is truly put off by the direction of the franchise, Denver is a dream job: their transactional maneuverability is relatively moot considering that this core has proven it can win a championship and that's perhaps the finest compliment one can offer. The presence of Jokic is self-explanatory while fellow 2023 Larry O'Brien Trophy hoisters Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray have each been secured on four-year extensions. Whether that's enough to topple the West's new (apparent) Oklahoma City overlords remains to be seen, a golden opportunity could await in the upcoming second round and it's certainly hard to argue with the bejeweled yields to date. 

Everything about the Nuggets as currently constructed screams "a coach away" from championship glory—making the ousting of Malone even more perplexing. What's done is done, however, and the future remains bright for the Nuggets, who will no doubt have their share of suitors once their ongoing playoff run ends. 

Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags