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Dan Majerle and Elston Turner were bypassed for the interim head coaching job on Sunday. (AP File Photo)
The Phoenix Suns found their interim head coach in Lindsey Hunter Sunday, but in the process may have ruffled the feathers of two assistant coaches.

When news came down Friday that Alvin Gentry and the organization had agreed to mutually part ways, both Dan Majerle and lead assistant Elston Turner quickly became obvious choices to fill in for the remainder of the 2012-13 season.

Majerle, who played eight of his 14 NBA seasons with the Suns, had his jersey retired by the organization in 2003 and has been an assistant coach since July 2008.

Turner was an NBA assistant for 14 years with the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers before coming to the Valley in 2011. He also played eight seasons in the league with the Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets.

While both have plenty of playing and coaching experience, Lance Blanks and Co. opted to go with an unproven candidate in Hunter, primarily because of his background in player development. The result, however, has created a sense of unknown regarding the state of the team's coaching staff heading into Wednesday's game with the Kings.

"Everyone was offered to stay," Blanks said when asked about the future of Majerle and Turner with the team. "Lindsey will be meeting with the staff this afternoon and organizing things.

"We do expect that he'll have veteran support either on or behind the bench with him."

Neither Majerle or Turner were present for the Suns practice Sunday, and when reached for comment Turner told Arizona Sports 620's Craig Grialou that he was weighing all of his options.

Dave Dulberg, Web Content Editor - ArizonaSports.com

7 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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  • Abuse
    MagicMann wrote...
    Just keeps getting worse
    Are the Suns the worse team in pro sports? (Or is it the Cards?)
  • Abuse
    Sillysoft wrote...
    FO Has To Go
    I understand Suns are in rebuild mode, but this is ridiculous. Babby and Blanks just hiring their buddies and have no clue where this team needs to go. Seriously they dont have a direction to go for this team, heck they let Gentry go not even having a plan. Sarver please sell this team to a owner who actually cares and knows about basketball. People talk crap about Cuben but that guy is a great owner.
  • Abuse
    Jim R. wrote...
    Dan was the man
    Makes me sick how he was treated.
  • Abuse
    red7037 wrote...
    Grew up a Suns Fan
    This is so sad, a true suns legend, I even remember buying Majerle bars back in the day...My dad was die hard, we used to watch every game together, even in the days back in the Coliseum. Although not often, the suns have been bad before (I remember back to Kidd's final years here) and I still watched. NOT THIS YEAR! This is the first year I can honestly say I have lost interest in the team. The front office and the OWNER (Who should be shot) have completely destroyed one of the greatest basketball franchises over the past 40 years. It kills me to even say such a thing.
  • Abuse
    mesa mad man wrote...
    Majerle
    I love Dan and everything he has meant to the suns. But honestly - if he was given the interim tag would it be for his coaching ability at all or just because he was a great player for us? Is that a reason to promote someone?
  • Abuse
    ollieburger wrote...
    Suns management
    Sell the team, this is to be fun.Even if your rebuilding ,but this is not .This is more cheap.Get Blabbie out of here!You dont need to be in the NBA ,if your going to be cheap.Sell to someone who cares
  • Abuse
    Patrick Peterson's Talent wrote...
    @ mesa mad man
    It's about respect. I'm not saying one way or another if Dan was qualified for the job, but to hire a guy that has been with the team for 7 months and never had a head coaching gig EVER in his career, is pathetic. Turner has 14 years as a head coach, and they skipped over both of them. This organization, the owner, the GM(s) - everything about Suns basketball - is a complete joke now. I'm with you red7037 - I've been loyal through it all, but I'm questioning it now. Not because they aren't winning, but because I don't think ownership gives a crap about their fans.
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