New Owner - Mat Ishbia

Mainstreet

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Except that Jones wanted him too. Just not at the price of everything.

We don't know that James Jones didn't want KD at the price of everything.

What we do know is that the trade was approved by Mat Ishbia when he became the Suns owner.

IMO, it's more likely Robert Sarver wouldn't approve the trade and rightly so.
 

AzStevenCal

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We don't know that James Jones didn't want KD at the price of everything.

What we do know is that the trade was approved by Mat Ishbia when he became the Suns owner.

IMO, it's more likely Robert Sarver wouldn't approve the trade and rightly so.
Actually, do we? I try to say Ish rather than Mat because I'm not sure how much is him and how much is his brother. As for the KD trade, I'm pretty sure Mat signed off on it but I am still convinced it was his friendship with IT that really made the call.
 

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Actually, do we? I try to say Ish rather than Mat because I'm not sure how much is him and how much is his brother. As for the KD trade, I'm pretty sure Mat signed off on it but I am still convinced it was his friendship with IT that really made the call.

What I'm saying, we do not know that James Jones wouldn't have made the same trade for KD trade earlier in the season if Robert Sarver had approved it.

We don't know all the details, but I'm not absolving the Suns GM of his responsibility in the trade. That's his job.
 
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AzStevenCal

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What I'm saying, we do not know that James Jones wouldn't have made the same for KD trade earlier in the season if Robert Sarver had approved it.

We don't know all the details, but I'm not absolving the Suns GM of his responsibility in the trade. That's his job.
I agree. I argued similarly when our GM signed off on that horrible trade to Seattle. I know Sarver told him to cut costs but he rolled over and made a horrible trade that hurt us in the postseason and for years to come.

I don't think JJ would have given up anywhere near what we eventually gave up for KD but it happened on his watch, it's on him. But I still maintain that firing him alone won't solve our problems, divorcing this front office from IT is even more important.
 

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I agree. I argued similarly when our GM signed off on that horrible trade to Seattle. I know Sarver told him to cut costs but he rolled over and made a horrible trade that hurt us in the postseason and for years to come.

I don't think JJ would have given up anywhere near what we eventually gave up for KD but it happened on his watch, it's on him. But I still maintain that firing him alone won't solve our problems, divorcing this front office from IT is even more important.

I think we can agree, the Suns problems run deep and James Jones is one of them.
 

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That means nothing and still doesn't fit with the quote. The quote is from an unnamed source, so I find it's accuracy dubious at best.
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Yeah it’s obvious Bourget is being used as a mouthpiece. Woj and both reported the Suns weren’t wiling to give up everything until Ishbia pushed it through.
 

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Yeah it’s obvious Bourget is being used as a mouthpiece. Woj and both reported the Suns weren’t wiling to give up everything until Ishbia pushed it through.

I think the question is who represents the "Suns". Is it JJ or Ish? I don't find it hard to believe that Sarver wouldn't sign off on KD coming here. Jones could have been willing but without approval from owneeship, his approval means little to nothing. Once an owner who didn't watch the bottom line like Sarver took over, the deal happens. Was it Ishbia or JJ? Perhaps both of them.

I believe Sarver kept JJ from making the deal. He was "suspended" at the time so he couldn't have participated in KD's arrival in any way. The financial implications were greater as well. Throw in how Mikal was reportedly a favorite of Sarver and I think there's enough evidence that Bobby Banker wouldn't approve what Ish did.
 

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I often wondered if JJ was the one who actually made the trade, not Ishbia. Think about it. Before Ishbia came in, they had that weird place JJ was in where he could steward the team, but decisions had to go through Sarver's buddy to be OK'd. Really, for a trade that big, JJ had to wait for Ishbia to be on board. If JJ thought the price was too steep, I'm sure he would have voiced that opinion. Sure Ishbia gave the final OK. We don't know how that offer was presented to Ishbia, nor the opinions JJ had of the twins and them being put in the trade. I think not enough blame goes to JJ on that trade, and too much to Ishbia. Put your self in Ishbia's shoes. An NBA GM is telling you to make the trade, or at least giving you the pros and cons to weigh the trade. I'm sure Ishbia asked JJ, "Would you make this trade?" Why wouldn't he ask JJ's opinion? I'm just guessing like everyone else, but my gut felling is JJ wasn't exactly talking Ishbia out of getting KD.
 
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