Sources: Suns name Jay Triano interim coach after Earl Watson fired

— -- After the firing of coach Earl Watson on Sunday, the Phoenix Suns promoted Jay Triano to interim head coach, league sources told ESPN.

Triano, who served as associate head coach under Watson, was 87-142 in two-plus seasons (2008-11) as the Toronto Raptors head coach. Triano was also the national team coach of Canada.

The Suns play the Sacramento Kings on Monday night in Phoenix. There is an expectation that Triano will coach the Suns for the rest of the regular season, league sources said.

General manager Ryan McDonough and Watson were often at odds in their short partnership, league sources told ESPN. Owner Robert Sarver was a significant part of the decision to replace Watson so early in the season, league sources said.

The Suns are one of the NBA's youngest teams, mired in a long rebuild, and they could be the worst team in the league this season.

Watson leaves with a 33-85 record as coach. Watson replaced former Suns coach Jeff Hornacek as interim coach in 2016 and eventually was promoted to head coach for the start of the 2016-17 season. The Suns went 24-58 last season.

Watson had little coaching experience when he was made the Suns coach, with just a season in the NBA Development League and another on the Suns bench. He was a 13-year NBA veteran.

Around the time of Watson's firing, Suns guard Eric Bledsoe tweeted, "I Don't wanna be here."

The Suns lost 130-88 on Saturday night to the Los Angeles Clippers, dropping to 0-3 on the season. The franchise's opening night loss to Portland -- 124-76 -- was the biggest blowout loss in Suns history.

Phoenix has discussed Bledsoe in several trades scenarios in the past year, but hasn't found a deal, league sources said. Bledsoe, 27, is averaging 15.7 points and three assists for the Suns this season.