With Portland poised to establish a G League team in time for the 2023/24 season, just one NBA club will enter this fall without an NBAGL affiliate of its own. The Suns previously controlled the Northern Arizona Suns, but sold that G League franchise in 2020 to the Pistons, who relocated and rebranded it as the Motor City Cruise.
While the sale of that G League team was viewed as a cost-cutting move under former Suns owner Robert Sarver, new owner Mat Ishbia has shown more of a willingness to spend since taking control of the franchise earlier this year. And in a conversation with Shlomo Sprung of Boardroom.TV, Ishbia made it clear that it’s just a matter of time until the Suns reestablish a G League presence.
“One hundred percent I will have a G League team,” Ishbia said. “We were trying to get it done for this upcoming season, but it looks like the timing of it will be for the following season. We’re doing that as soon as we can. I’m trying to get it ready for next season, I just don’t think it’s going to work with getting the location and everything set up. But we are 100% going to have a G League team here in Phoenix, and it’s going to be in the local community, not seven states away.”
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Whether or not Chris Paul is available to return for Game 3, the Suns will need more from several other players – starting with Kevin Durant – if they hope to come back from a 2-0 deficit against Denver in the Western Conference Semifinals, says Doug Haller of The Athletic.
- Given that he’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, there’s no guarantee Harrison Barnes will remain with the Kings in 2023/24 and beyond. However, the veteran forward expressed interest in sticking with the team, as Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee relays (via Twitter). “We’ve all been around and we know it’s a business … but to continue with this group, I think that would be a special thing,” Barnes said.
- Even though the Kings‘ first playoff appearance since 2006 ended with a first-round exit, the season should still be considered a success, writes Ryan Lillis of The Sacramento Bee. As Lillis outlines, the Kings had to deal with the threat of relocation in 2013, but a decade later, the organization’s future looks bright both on and off the court.
- Mirjam Swanson of The Southern California News Group praises the job Rob Pelinka did this season to turn the Lakers‘ ill-fitting roster into a group capable of legitimate contention, without giving up any unprotected first-round picks to do so.
Suns are a super team. Lakers are a better team than Suns
Suns have 3 super superstars
Lakers big 3 are better than Suns big 3
LeBron Davis Reaves > Durant Booker Paul
DLo = Ayton
Vanderbilt = Craig
Warriors are a super team of NBA champions
Curry Thompson Green > All NBA players
Your example, I guess
Kuminga Moody Poole > all other players
Levels
Not being considered the laughingstock of the NBA and seen in a positive light by peers and top media personalities is a win in itself.
Us Kings fans aren’t used to having nice things… excited to see what this off-season has in store for us.
Just know Kerr refused to play his best 5 players that are also the best 5 in the NBA as little time as possible, so if he plays them like a normal person this way next year, we will get the 65 win team this very (full strength) team has the talent to hit. GSW would have won 65+ this year had Kerr had a clue about rosters and instead went “no, I need my “connector guys” (no one knows what that means) so Ima play 2way players over Moody, Wiseman and Kuminga while the losses stacked up! This isnt going to work but im going to do it anyway!” Clown
Those losses stacked up 100% because Kerr put both 2-way guys off the street into the main rotation and was playing them in stretch crunch time. Just awful coaching. Anyway, the Kings were so lucky to win those first 2 games, which were lost because Kerr refused to play his kill lineup because he wants so badly to win with 3 guard lineups that simply get destroyed. Donte D isn’t a playoff guy either, doesn’t have it. Needs more Kuminga and Moody. Kings have no chance of beating Curry, ever. Not happening. Might as well keep rebuilding until he is retired.
Sounds like you should be coaching instead of Kerr. Relax, guy. Your team won.
How about getting a legitimate big man. Sabonis is a joke.
Lakers traded suffering bench guy Westbrook for virtual 3 young starters: DLo, Vanderbilt, Beasley
Lakers also dump the salary of Juan Toscano-Anderson, C Damian Jones and attached a future possible 2nd round pick.
Harrison Barnes got his ring now wants to hoard money as a background player on a mediocre team. Kings sure qualify – I cant respect that team at all, or Sabonis. What a group of cowards. They are barely a play-in team next season anyway.
Saltier than an anchovy. Jeebus, maybe chill with the terrible takes. Any team that can take the Warriors to 7 and requires a Steph 50-piece to take out is worthy of respect.
That was an easy GSW sweep that Kerr turned into that nailbiter. Sabonis is a loser, Fox is a loser, they choked when it mattered, they will never beat Steph Curry, all Kerr has to do is play Looney-Green-Wiggins-Thompson-Curry and its over – bye now
Sal-ty.
Newsflash — if you made it to the NBA you’re not a “loser” by any stretch.
If you rush to the internet after your team won a hard-fought series to call players on the other team “losers”, well, maybe check the reflection in that screen of yours…