New Suns majority owner Mat Ishbia believes the Kevin Durant blockbuster deal wasn’t risky at all, he told Chris Mannis of Sports Illustrated.
Ishbia made a big splash and acquired of one of the league’s biggest stars right after being approved by the league’s owners to take control of the franchise.
“I don’t look at it like a risk at all. I know what the vision is,” he said. “I’m going to own this team for 50 years, so like zero [risk]. I don’t need to come in and win in the first year. But at the same time, there’s nothing in my life that I don’t want to win at. We’re going to try to win everything we do.”
The fact that Durant is in the first season of a four-year extension played into the decision to make the deal with the Nets. The Suns gave up Cameron Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder and several first-rounders in the deal, which turned into a four-team swap.
“It wasn’t a tough decision. We really didn’t want to give up some of the guys, because we love those guys,” Ishbia said. “They were winners and we didn’t want to give them up. But at the end of the day the right decision was, what do we do to maximize our team for today and for the next three to four years? This is going to be what the Phoenix Suns are about.”
Ishbia touched on a number of topics with Mannix:
- Potential luxury tax penalties didn’t factor into the decision to make the trade. Ishbia is also unfazed by any future tax issues: “The financial piece was five seconds. They know I’m ready. That doesn’t bother me.”
- Ishbia won’t meddle with GM James Jones and head coach Monty Williams in their jobs: “James will pick the best player. And that’s his job. I’m not calling Monty Williams to ask him why we played someone. That’s not my thing. I’ll watch the game like a fan and cheer the team on. That’s what my job is to do, is to be the biggest supporter, to give Monty Williams all the support he needs, to give James Jones all the support they need, to give the players all the support they need.”
- Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert was the only owner who abstained from approving him as Phoenix’s owner. Gilbert and Ishbia both own major mortgage companies based in Michigan, but Ishbia says there’s no bad blood between them. “If I saw Dan today, we’d shake hands and say hello. We’re normal people. But we’re not giving each other advice and being friendly in the business side. I have no negativity towards him. He’s probably not one of the first owners I’ll call for advice on ticket sales or sponsorships, but I’m friendly to everybody. But I’m fine talking with him.”
Two things:
It is a huge risk when you’re acquiring a player with a significant injury history, and a precedent of forcing his way out of a team. He’s trying to say the right things, but it’s just hot air.
Secondly, in case any fans start to think their team owner cares about the sport of basketball, or them as fans, remember that Dan Gilbert refused to approve an ownership change because they both do business, in a random city, in an irrelevant industry. These teams are for making money and petty, egotistical dealings – that’s it.
You said everything right then you giving up a player like Mikal Bridges that has star potential all over him. His game has the possibility to develop like a Kawhi Leonard. But here’s the kicker Mikal Bridges is the NBA iron man. He don’t miss no games to injury.
Some may think I’m talking crazy because of the numbers but we all have to remember Kevin Durant got two championships and two Finals MVP from jumping on a 73-9 team.
Kawhi Leonard got two championships and two Finals MVP by really earning his. He beat a LeBron James led team and a Kevin Durant and Steph Curry led team.
Mikal Bridges has a chance to be great like a Kawhi Leonard with good health. So it’s a major risk.
We haven’t even mentioned the draft picks!!!!
You’re right about the first thing, but the Dan Gilbert thing is being very misreported. Dan Gilbert abstained (not refused), because that is legally the right thing to do. When you have an unrelated business relationship to someone, which Gilbert does, a vote in either direction could be considered a conflict of interest. Gilbert is legally responsible not only to the NBA, but to the stakeholders of his other business.
It is very common for executives in business meetings to abstain from votes involving related businesses or local competitors.
To be clear I dont even like the guy, and I haven’t forgotten some of the questionable things he said in the past.
I wish the Suns well but saying it’s not a risk is just denying reality. It’s fine to acknowledge it’s a risk worth taking. Because I think it is good for the game when franchises make bold moves to go for it. But not a risk? I’ve got some potential ice to sell him.
Financially speaking it’s not a risk because Durant will infringe for 4 years.
After that everything is negotiable
This guy is a walking contradiction.
Suns probably win a Championship. Mikal Bridges & Cam Johnson aren’t going to provide the scoring level Durant will. If there is no title then I guess many will disagree with the trade.
This guy already seems like a total clown.
What are Isiah Thomas’s thoughts on the Durant trade?
Let me rephrase that for him: there’s plenty of risk involved in this trade, because even though you’re acquiring one of the best players of this generation, you’re acquiring him in his mid 30s and you gave up some good players and unprotected picks that could become really valuable in the future since their current core is getting older.
There’s plenty of risk, he’s just willing to accept that risk. Big difference.
If wins a championship then it’s a great trade. If he doesn’t, it’s not. He has three shots including this year. Players will always be available.