Suns Off Season Changes for 2025: Trades, Buyouts, GM, Coaches, etc.

[Mainstreet]

If he's like us, he's already gone through his anger phase. You can't stay angry forever. At some point, you have to pull your britches up and get to work.

If Ishbia has already gone through the anger stage, it doesn't speak well for him. I thought he was a fighter and would come out swinging.

If I'm reading the press conferences correctly, it looks like James Jones will be back.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Ishbia is giving a ranting interview right now 98.7.

Do tell…

 

[Mainstreet]

Here is a podcast on Arizona Sports with Burns and Gambo.

Exclusive interview: Mat Ishbia talks Phoenix Suns’ disappointing season

Exclusive interview: Mat Ishbia talks Phoenix Suns’ disappointing seasonSubscribe to the Arizona Sports daily newsletter: https://bit.ly/3QWcj1xRead articles...

www.youtube.com

 

[Covert Rain]

I didn't think he was ranting. Rambling maybe. He talks so damn fast. He doesn't take a breathe. He said some interesting things. He indicated there was much more to letting Bud go. Sounds like yet again there was a communication issues. What is interesting is unprompted he brought up communicating with assistants was important. Interesting. He also said maybe he should have fired Bud sooner.

It also sounds like this roster is getting purged for sure. He talked about improving the front office, scouts, getting a coach who communicates that doesn't mean going after a championship coach. The most disappointing part is it sure sounds like James Jones isn't going anywhere. He said he wasn't as harsh on the front office as people Monday morning quarterbacking.

Another thing he said is he doesn't evaluate players to decide if they fit the identity if they are tough enough etc. He said that's what the staff does and he doesn't do that as an owner.

He basically called Beal's NTC "over hyped". He said if someone is not the type of player that fits they won't be here.

 

[Hoop Head]

Gambo seemed sure the Suns win more next year than this year. I think he knows of a deal that will go down because it didn't seem like an optimism so much as he has some insight on a better built team. Maybe I'm reading that wrong but it's my view. He stated it more matter of factly than anything.

 

[GatorAZ]

Gambo seemed sure the Suns win more next year than this year. I think he knows of a deal that will go down because it didn't seem like an optimism so much as he has some insight on a better built team. Maybe I'm reading that wrong but it's my view. He stated it more matter of factly than anything.

He’s been going full on mouthpiece lately.

 

[Raindog]

If Ishbia has already gone through the anger stage, it doesn't speak well for him. I thought he was a fighter and would come out swinging.

If I'm reading the press conferences correctly, it looks like James Jones will be back.

Bringing the same FO back pretty much guarantees this will continue to be a shitshow.

 

[Raindog]

Gambo seemed sure the Suns win more next year than this year. I think he knows of a deal that will go down because it didn't seem like an optimism so much as he has some insight on a better built team. Maybe I'm reading that wrong but it's my view. He stated it more matter of factly than anything.

So 37 wins?

 

[Hoop Head]

So 37 wins?

I wouldn't make that bet at this point. He seemed confident enough that he made a bet with his cohost though. Bragging rights and dinner. Not sure how often he does that but it surprised me.

I haven't listened to Gambo in years. I don't recall his cohosts name from when I last listened semi-regularly and it seemed like he was serious now but he may have become a bit more friendly with his co-host now and this is something they to regularly but he was a bit more argumentative when I last listened.

 

[Carolinacacti]

So 37 wins?

If they can get bigger with a Booker trade and Beal, Durant stay healthy. They could win 40

 

[GatorAZ]

We’re not scoring enough points without KD. We’re also likely losing Tyus and Grayson who were positive offensive players by every metric despite their defensive faults. It’s not like we’re turning into some some defensive Stallworth that will bridge the offensive gap. There’s no fix in our current situation that makes us a playoff team. Not to mention the franchise anchor that is Brad Beal.

 

[AzStevenCal]

We’re not scoring enough points without KD. We’re also likely losing Tyus and Grayson who were positive offensive players by every metric despite their defensive faults. It’s not like we’re turning into some some defensive Stallworth that will bridge the offensive gap. There’s no fix in our current situation that makes us a playoff team. Not to mention the franchise anchor that is Brad Beal.

If there is it would probably require a lot of good fortune. If our new coaching staff includes better communication with strong defensive leanings and if the KD trade can net us a legit starter level big man (something a little better than Richards and Bol Bol) and if a healthy Booker returns to form and moves full-time to the 2 spot and if Beal gets fully healthy and accepts a backup role and if Dunn and Oso show solid improvement in their sophomore season and if we hang onto the rest of our role players or improve upon them I could see us rivaling this year's results which might make us a play-in team or better.

 

[Phrazbit]

I didn't think he was ranting. Rambling maybe. He talks so damn fast. He doesn't take a breathe. He said some interesting things. He indicated there was much more to letting Bud go. Sounds like yet again there was a communication issues. What is interesting is unprompted he brought up communicating with assistants was important. Interesting. He also said maybe he should have fired Bud sooner.

It also sounds like this roster is getting purged for sure. He talked about improving the front office, scouts, getting a coach who communicates that doesn't mean going after a championship coach. The most disappointing part is it sure sounds like James Jones isn't going anywhere. He said he wasn't as harsh on the front office as people Monday morning quarterbacking.

Another thing he said is he doesn't evaluate players to decide if they fit the identity if they are tough enough etc. He said that's what the staff does and he doesn't do that as an owner.

He basically called Beal's NTC "over hyped". He said if someone is not the type of player that fits they won't be here.

I think we're splitting hairs here, was it ranting or rambling? I dunno, he gave a lot of long winded, misdirecting answers that never went anywhere and it happened over and over.

He does talk fast, he doesn't seem to breathe, none of this inspires confidence.

I don't doubt that Ishbia wants, more than anything, for the Suns to win, but at the same time he comes off as manic. Listening to him talk, I don't think he has even the slightest idea of what it takes to create a winning team. Even after all this failure, he is still talking near term nonsense that has absolutely no chance of success.

 

[1982baskets]

You can't really win with Booker as your best player. Which is what we are in at the moment. Durant is on decline and has become a one way player that can give you great scoring but not enough to carry you. Beal is just a horrendous contract.

Best thing to do in this situation is move Booker for some longterm assets and youth. Same with Durant. I'm sure there are teams out there who would give you a young starter + picks for Book. For KD, we could get some FRPs.

You keep Beal and the 30 win team. We'd not be losing top 5 picks, but with the draft picks influx from KD/Booker deals and the development of some players, we would be in a solid spot 2 years from now.

No way do I see Matt having the sense to do this, but this is what we need. We need to give up on the next year or two, to position ourselves in free agency and to be able to make moves in 2026/2027.

 

[Phrazbit]

Do tell…

I listened to, part of it, live, while driving.

This link is frozen for me, maybe it works for others. https://arizonasports.com/podcast_player/?a=065cd889-bb27-4572-affe-2ba4b39c147f&n=Burns+&+Gambo+Show&i=1820.

But Mainstreets link to the entire show does seem to work. The interview begins about 3 hours and 53 minutes into the show.

Exclusive interview: Mat Ishbia talks Phoenix Suns’ disappointing season

Exclusive interview: Mat Ishbia talks Phoenix Suns’ disappointing seasonSubscribe to the Arizona Sports daily newsletter: https://bit.ly/3QWcj1xRead articles...

www.youtube.com

Absolutely awful interview, ranting, manic, nothing here inspires confidence. I don't think he even remotely understands how bad the situation is, which makes it impossible for him to navigate.

He REALLY wants to win, far more than Sarver or the Bidwills or a host of owners across sports, but his ambition seems to be a major part of his undoing. All of it is near term thinking, when talking about their mistakes he deflects with "the media liked those moves, it is all hindsight!" But the media loves headlines, and even then, there were voices of decension (about 20% of this forum haaaaated the Durant trade as soon as it happened), and even the positive reactions to the moves emphasized that the Suns were "all in", and that this was an entirely near term endevour. None of that seems to have sunk in for him.

 

[leclerc]

Another thing he said is he doesn't evaluate players to decide if they fit the identity if they are tough enough etc. He said that's what the staff does and he doesn't do that as an owner.

He basically called Beal's NTC "over hyped". He said if someone is not the type of player that fits they won't be here.

And that's why James Jones must go. Because we don't get a rounded team with the types that fit (his vision).

We
Must
Get
Stronger
Better
Fitter
More productive

 

[leclerc]

I am positive about last years draft picks though. Do we have any this year? Pick #48-50?

Maybe this time around we try to develop Dunn and Oso instead of shipping them out to get rid of unwanted players?

 

[taz02]

If there is it would probably require a lot of good fortune. If our new coaching staff includes better communication with strong defensive leanings and if the KD trade can net us a legit starter level big man (something a little better than Richards and Bol Bol) and if a healthy Booker returns to form and moves full-time to the 2 spot and if Beal gets fully healthy and accepts a backup role and if Dunn and Oso show solid improvement in their sophomore season and if we hang onto the rest of our role players or improve upon them I could see us rivaling this year's results which might make us a play-in team or better

I agree but we'll need a big significantly better than Richards /Bol. We need to replace KD's 27ppg 6rpg.

The KD experiment is dead, and he must go but he was our best player and guys who avg 27 a game are hard to come by.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I agree but we'll need a big significantly better than Richards /Bol. We need to replace KD's 27ppg 6rpg.

The KD experiment is dead, and he must go but he was our best player and guys who avg 27 a game are hard to come by.

I'd love a player significantly better than Richards, not sure if we can get one even in a KD trade. But if everything I mentioned happened such as Devin returning to form and our young players showing solid improvement I think we'd make up a lot of what we lose with Durant gone. The problem is, we have so little room for error and need a fair amount of good fortune just to be a borderline postseason team.

 

[BirdGangThing]

seeing nash's name as a possible coach with folks saying kd will be gone so it'll be ok lol idk

 

[Covert Rain]

I think we're splitting hairs here, was it ranting or rambling? I dunno, he gave a lot of long winded, misdirecting answers that never went anywhere and it happened over and over.

He does talk fast, he doesn't seem to breathe, none of this inspires confidence.

I don't doubt that Ishbia wants, more than anything, for the Suns to win, but at the same time he comes off as manic. Listening to him talk, I don't think he has even the slightest idea of what it takes to create a winning team. Even after all this failure, he is still talking near term nonsense that has absolutely no chance of success.

I didn't think his interview was as bad as your making it out to be but like you said we might be splitting hairs. Compared to some of the previous pressers (which were awful) I think he said the right things. For example, he specifically called out it's the staffs job to put together and evaluate talent. He said that wasn't his job as owner. If he really believes that it's absolutely the right idea (assuming you have a competent FO).

Listening to him talk though? It is exhausting. Just the speed at which he talks.

For me, that's what keeping Booker means. He said it. Retool around Book for short term success. That to me me more than anything he said worries me about the future of the franchise.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I didn't think his interview was as bad as your making it out to be but like you said we might be splitting hairs. Compared to some of the previous pressers (which were awful) I think he said the right things. For example, he specifically called out it's the staffs job to put together and evaluate talent. He said that wasn't his job as owner. If he really believes that it's absolutely the right idea (assuming you have a competent FO).

Listening to him talk though? It is exhausting. Just the speed at which he talks.

For me, that's what keeping Booker means. He said it. Retool around Book for short term success. That to me me more than anything he said worries me about the future of the franchise.

My biggest fear is that he pulls some kind of lame KD for Bridges and trash move with the Knicks, thinking he’ll be placating the fans while actually dooming us to 30-40 wins every year, just scratching to get in the play-in, while wasting Booker’s prime and value, leaving us with nothing to show for 5 years from now when Booker’s bloated deal is up and he’s considerably past his prime.

 

[Covert Rain]

My biggest fear is that he pulls some kind of lame KD for Bridges and trash move with the Knicks, thinking he’ll be placating the fans while actually dooming us to 30-40 wins every year, just scratching to get in the play-in, while wasting Booker’s prime and value, leaving us with nothing to show for 5 years from now when Booker’s bloated deal is up and he’s considerably past his prime.

Sounds like you can Book it. We will absolutely be wasting Book's prime value as long as Book wants to be here it sounds like. The only hope is that Book doesn't want to waste the rest of his career scratching at the playoffs and changes his mind. Even then, once he DEMANDS a trade the entire league will know it. You won't get as much for him then either.

 

[Proximo]

Gambo seemed sure the Suns win more next year than this year. I think he knows of a deal that will go down because it didn't seem like an optimism so much as he has some insight on a better built team. Maybe I'm reading that wrong but it's my view. He stated it more matter of factly than anything.

Why would anyone be confident of this right now?

All we can do is sign low level free agents and make trades. I do get it seems it would be hard to find a worse coach then Bud, but if our total star power is going to likely be Book - we have already seen that story and those teams won very few games.

 

[Proximo]

My biggest fear is that he pulls some kind of lame KD for Bridges and trash move with the Knicks, thinking he’ll be placating the fans while actually dooming us to 30-40 wins every year, just scratching to get in the play-in, while wasting Booker’s prime and value, leaving us with nothing to show for 5 years from now when Booker’s bloated deal is up and he’s considerably past his prime.

We are going to be stuck at 30-40 wins no matter what we get for KD because nobody is going to break the bank for a 37 year old looking for a huge extension.

If I am honest if we get Mikal back for me that probably is enough to make me continue to watch, so I actually think I would prefer that deal.