There was a lot of optimism surrounding the Phoenix Suns coming into the 2023-24 NBA season. After acquiring Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets ahead of the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline, they pulled off another blockbuster during the offseason.
All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal was acquired from the Washington Wizards, giving the Suns a dynamic offensive trio to build their roster around. Unfortunately, things did not pan out as well as they had hoped.
During the regular season, Phoenix was one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA. That disappointment reached a new level during the 2024 NBA Playoffs as they were swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Mat Ishbia & Phoenix Suns Update
There are now a lot of questions about what direction the team could go in. They have zero assets to upgrade the roster with in terms of draft capital, as that has been used on deals over the last few years.
NBA Rumors are already swirling about Devin Booker potentially looking to depart with the New York Knicks as his preferred landing spot. There are going to be some major changes, but it is fair to wonder if the Suns have the personnel in place to handle them.
That is because their own, Mat Ishbia, has already garnered a reputation for meddling too much in the team’s affairs. According to NBA insider Sam Amico of Hoops Wire, Ishbia’s running of the franchise has been compared to a cartoon.
“It’s like looney tunes around here,” the Suns source told Hoops Wire. “It’s felt unstable since (Ishbia) arrived. He’s a good guy and everything, I think, but he’s just very involved. Too involved. I know he played (college basketball at Michigan State), but I’d venture to say he has no idea what he’s doing when it comes to basketball. Yet he’s making a lot of the big decisions.”
That is certainly not a glowing review of Ishbia and isn’t going to ease the concerns of fans heading into the 2024 NBA Offseason. Their window of contention may already be closed, which could lead to selling off one of their big pieces and retooling around whatever is left.
How quickly the landscape of franchises in the NBA can change. Not even a year ago the Suns had to feel great about their chances to compete, now they could be in a position to have to blow it up and reload.
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