The Official 2025 Offseason Thread Part 2

[BobbieL]

Jordan Ott by himself has all the attributes and experience to be considered a good hire as a HC.

He was interviewed and was a serious candidate for HC last year (Charlotte Hornets).

He has worked on a daily basis with Evan Mobley this past season. Big leap for him, DPOY.

Everyone around the league talks great things about him and they think that has a brilliant basketball mind

It's unfair to him to despise him just because Gregory and Ishbia decide to give him the job. The Michigan connection obviously is a plus factor for him but that's not his fault. The guy has everything to be a successful HC in the league by his own merits.

The same things I would have said about most of the candidates. We tried the other route hiring two veteran HCs with pedigree and championships and we failed so I understand to try a different route and hire a young first time HC.

I don't mind hiring a first time HC - and I think this should be the job for a young HC to grow into the role. It was more the fact that it seemed like he was getting the job based on ONE qualification he had. So the GM has MSU ties, now the new HC.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

Vassell, Barnes & #2 - Call it a day.

Spurs will go more win now and they are solid with Castle Fox. Add KD and healthy wemby. Thats a deep team

Castle
Fox
Sochan
Durant
Wemby

While I'd love to get the 2nd pick, there's just mo way the Spurs would give up the #2 -(Harper) for KD at 37 yrs old and on an expiring deal. At best we should be able to pull something along the lines of the 14th pick, the ATL 27' 1st and another future 1st with some combo of Vassell/ Barnes/ Sochan.

I wouldn't want Johnson at all, as he's a mediocre overpaid offensive version of O'neale but with no defense or real outside shooting. But Barnes could get us an additional 20 million in cap space and I'd immediately trade Vassell elsewhere for another player and picks.

[Slim Charless]

From Shams article:

The Suns will work with All-Star forward Kevin Durant and his business partner, Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman, on his next landing spot. He is expected to have a robust market of approximately four to six seriously interested teams this offseason, sources said.

Four to six seriously interested teams is nice.

Thanks for posting
Would be nice to have a bit of a bidding war, I am not expecting anything great grand and glorious but maybe a B+ instead of a B.

Granted, I still don't trust Ishbia.

Just gotta wait till the Giannis smoke clears. Once he gets moved and OKC wins the title, the pressure will be on HOU/SAS with Denver and Minny also getting into it. Will not be surprised if Miami and NYK both get into as well since the East is so weak and can be taken by almost anyone.

[Calvin Klein]

I seriously cannot believe that after a decade of horrible teams and failure we finally had a good team to root for with young likeable players and this **** moron shows up and takes it all away in an instant. **** him.

[BobbieL]

I seriously cannot believe that after a decade of horrible teams and failure we finally had a good team to root for with young likeable players and this **** moron shows up and takes it all away in an instant. **** him.

Exactly right! And it was instantaneous.

I thought they were a good group to watch. And progressively has got less fun to watch

Those Dragan Bender and Chriss teams weren't this bad to watch. Not the win-loss record - just the chemisty and likeability

[schnakenpopanz]

From Kellen Olson

Arizona Sports can confirm this is the case, as Ishbia sent a letter to members of the basketball operations staff on Wednesday regarding the changes coming, per a source with the team.

“Let me start with the most important point – the Phoenix Suns will do things very differently than most other NBA franchises,” Ishbia writes in the letter after stating he wants to be direct with staff on creating a culture of accountability.

“I will be extremely active in the decisions and management of this organization, on and off the floor,” he goes on to write. “While I won’t be reviewing film, designing offenses, or running the draft room, I will be deeply involved in ensuring that basketball operations, like every other area of our organization, is performing at the highest level.

“I’m aware that this approach is different from most other NBA franchises. I’m not the conventional NBA owner and I don’t want to be. I’ve tried running the typical NBA owner playbook – hiring the experts, signing the checks, and getting out of the way – and none of us were happy with the outcome. Making the playoffs two out of three years, and only winning one playoff series, is not good enough for this franchise and this community.”



lol yikes

what an ****!

[TeamTragic]

Maybe a hot take but I understand this perspective from Matt. He paid 180M in luxury tax and we got a horrible product on the court.

Every coach has been collecting a paycheck with no intention in helping build a winning franchise.

Whatever this team has been doing is not working and change is definitely needed.

[sasquatchBob]

Maybe a hot take but I understand this perspective from Matt. He paid 180M in luxury tax and we got a horrible product on the court.

Every coach has been collecting a paycheck with no intention in helping build a winning franchise.

Whatever this team has been doing is not working and change is definitely needed.

Its definitely a hot take, because he was THE person that created this reality

[schnakenpopanz]

Maybe a hot take but I understand this perspective from Matt. He paid 180M in luxury tax and we got a horrible product on the court.

Every coach has been collecting a paycheck with no intention in helping build a winning franchise.

Whatever this team has been doing is not working and change is definitely needed.

It takes a genius coming into the league, making these bold moves, talking **** like "there are 26 gms" who like to trade places...
it is not like he is a humble, laid back, making moves in silence type of rich man.

he is the kind of person you would despise as your boss.

[BobbieL]

Maybe a hot take but I understand this perspective from Matt. He paid 180M in luxury tax and we got a horrible product on the court.

Every coach has been collecting a paycheck with no intention in helping build a winning franchise.

Whatever this team has been doing is not working and change is definitely needed.

Its definitely a hot take, because he was THE person that created this reality

Right - he causes the havoc

James Jones had a bunch of months to make that trade and he didn't. There was a reason Jones wasn't giving what the Nets wanted
Ishbia was like "bleep it" and he did it. And the team has been on the decline ever since. Now maybe if he hadn't traded for Beal and did better moving Ayton. But the fact remains, it started with an overpay for Kevin Durant

[Djedefre]

Is he really trying to sell this crap? Like he really moved out of the way in order for professionals to do their job? Is there a single soul on this planet buying that? Everyone and their dog knew he made all the moves since the takeover. He's just progressed to a point where he openly hires no-names as his yes-men and puppets to every crucial spot in the organization. He's not only going to be suns GM and president of bball operations, but also the coach, physio, barista...

[BobbieL]

Maybe a hot take but I understand this perspective from Matt. He paid 180M in luxury tax and we got a horrible product on the court.

Every coach has been collecting a paycheck with no intention in helping build a winning franchise.

Whatever this team has been doing is not working and change is definitely needed.

It takes a genius coming into the league, making these bold moves, talking **** like "there are 26 gms" who like to trade places...
it is not like he is a humble, laid back, making moves in silence type of rich man.

he is the kind of person you would despise as your boss.

If he had done nothing and let Jones and Williams just continue - they probably are in a better position. Hard lesson for owners to learn.

[JDJ26]

Well after Ishbia's statement I'm done.

The team is cooked.

[SkyBill40]

So, in short, we're about to be in an even worse situation than before.

F*cking BRILLIANT.

How did this happen to us? Why do the NBA God despise us so?

Sent from my SM-F936U using RealGM mobile app

[Mulhollanddrive]

We had 1 good year in 15 years

Not doing that again

Always believed theres no such thing as free money it always buys something and Ishbias gone I invested 200m so now I get to become martial law

[Sunsdeuce]

From Kellen Olson

Arizona Sports can confirm this is the case, as Ishbia sent a letter to members of the basketball operations staff on Wednesday regarding the changes coming, per a source with the team.

“Let me start with the most important point – the Phoenix Suns will do things very differently than most other NBA franchises,” Ishbia writes in the letter after stating he wants to be direct with staff on creating a culture of accountability.

“I will be extremely active in the decisions and management of this organization, on and off the floor,” he goes on to write. “While I won’t be reviewing film, designing offenses, or running the draft room, I will be deeply involved in ensuring that basketball operations, like every other area of our organization, is performing at the highest level.

“I’m aware that this approach is different from most other NBA franchises. I’m not the conventional NBA owner and I don’t want to be. I’ve tried running the typical NBA owner playbook – hiring the experts, signing the checks, and getting out of the way – and none of us were happy with the outcome. Making the playoffs two out of three years, and only winning one playoff series, is not good enough for this franchise and this community.”



lol yikes

This is the worst possible culture you can build as a leader. I guarantee everyone on this board has worked for a micromanager and it ALWAYS creates a toxic culture. Let’s call a duck a duck. Ishbia is a narcissist a$$hole and a toxic human being!

“direct with staff on creating a culture of accountability”. Dude has no self accountability and is blaming everyone for his failures but himself (sounds familiar with the orange overweight felon in office right now). AND ISHBIA is the sole reason for the failure of this franchise since he came on board. Totally disgraceful to blame staff for his moronic decisions and actions.

“I’ve tried running the typical NBA owner playbook”…..LMAO no you haven’t Ishbia! That’s called lying to yourself, your employees and the community.

Zero respect for that human turd Ishbia. He’s the example you show your kids not to grow up to be like.

[Jesus_H_Macy]

This franchise is comedy dude

It would be better if it was funny. The next Danny McBride show should be based on the Suns.

I’m guessing this coming season will find me watching even less Suns basketball and I didn’t think it could get any worse than last year where I watched, maybe, four games from start to finish. I am very prepared to be completely underwhelmed by their next series of moves. Durant for a couple of chew toys would be apropos, but we don’t have any dogs to chew them.

Man I watched the first 20 or so games last year... Was very excited and hopeful about our start. Then someone (Book? Durant?) got injured and we sputtered for a while. Then whoever it was came back and we still sucked. And I knew it was over then. I thought watching the Suns in 23-24 was rough but last season's team was just disgusting to watch. So uninspired and disjointed. Watched maybe 3 games the rest of last season here and there and I regretted it every time I did. Kept wanting to go back, I'd watch a game, and it was just so gross. Why watch.

I hope this season won't be like that but I'm not optimistic at all. If Book is the PG again I think you can just write it off right there. As much as I love the Suns I refuse to waste my time watching their games next season if it ends up being like this past season was.

[King4Day]

Crazy how our last 2 owners have ruined the franchise in completely different ways. Both had title contenders, and both did completely different things to ruin them so quickly

[Jesus_H_Macy]

From Kellen Olson

Arizona Sports can confirm this is the case, as Ishbia sent a letter to members of the basketball operations staff on Wednesday regarding the changes coming, per a source with the team.

“Let me start with the most important point – the Phoenix Suns will do things very differently than most other NBA franchises,” Ishbia writes in the letter after stating he wants to be direct with staff on creating a culture of accountability.

“I will be extremely active in the decisions and management of this organization, on and off the floor,” he goes on to write. “While I won’t be reviewing film, designing offenses, or running the draft room, I will be deeply involved in ensuring that basketball operations, like every other area of our organization, is performing at the highest level.

“I’m aware that this approach is different from most other NBA franchises. I’m not the conventional NBA owner and I don’t want to be. I’ve tried running the typical NBA owner playbook – hiring the experts, signing the checks, and getting out of the way – and none of us were happy with the outcome. Making the playoffs two out of three years, and only winning one playoff series, is not good enough for this franchise and this community.”



lol yikes

Gross. Dude inherited Jones and let him run wild (I still don't believe Ishbia was behind the Durant trade - I think Jones wanted to do it, Sarver wouldn't let him, and when Ishbia came along he let Jones do what he wanted) and got embarrassed, so now he's on tilt.

It isn't inherently bad for him to be involved... But what other NBA franchise has this model and has success? Something about it doesn't work. Maybe on the business side of things, but not on the basketball side. Basketball side is not a corporation. Mfker thinks he's smarter than the other 29 owners, but of course he does. They all think that way.

We better nail this Durant trade and better not surrender assets just to get rid of Beal. If we don't get a real starting PG I'm out on next season. Booker is not a PG. It's not fair to the fans or to him to waste him as a PG. Just say no to Point Book.

[garrick]

From Kellen Olson

Arizona Sports can confirm this is the case, as Ishbia sent a letter to members of the basketball operations staff on Wednesday regarding the changes coming, per a source with the team.

“Let me start with the most important point – the Phoenix Suns will do things very differently than most other NBA franchises,” Ishbia writes in the letter after stating he wants to be direct with staff on creating a culture of accountability.

“I will be extremely active in the decisions and management of this organization, on and off the floor,” he goes on to write. “While I won’t be reviewing film, designing offenses, or running the draft room, I will be deeply involved in ensuring that basketball operations, like every other area of our organization, is performing at the highest level.

“I’m aware that this approach is different from most other NBA franchises. I’m not the conventional NBA owner and I don’t want to be. I’ve tried running the typical NBA owner playbook – hiring the experts, signing the checks, and getting out of the way – and none of us were happy with the outcome. Making the playoffs two out of three years, and only winning one playoff series, is not good enough for this franchise and this community.”



lol yikes

what an ****!

So who made those terrible basketball decisions that led to this outcome I wonder?

I bet it was Ishbia that did the KD trade but subsequent trades were done by either JJ or Josh Bartlestein and he's blaming them for the result but now we will see how much of a genius Mat is when he by his own admission is responsible for most of the basketball operations going forward.