Chris Paul believes Hall of Famer and former NBA executive Isiah Thomas played a role in the Wizards’ unofficial blockbuster trade with the Suns. Paul repeatedly told Sopan Deb of the New York Times that Suns owner Mat Ishbia and Thomas “wanted to go in a different direction.”
Thomas is good friends with Ishbia but doesn’t have an official role with Phoenix.
Paul, mainly due to his salary, was included in the trade that sent Bradley Beal to the Suns. The Wizards are reportedly looking to involve a third team and re-route Paul to a contending club.
Paul said he learned of the trade via a text from his 14-year-old son while he was flying to New York, where he’s embarking on a promotional tour for his new book. Even though the Suns had been mulling their options regarding Paul and his partially guaranteed contract, the trade “surprised” him.
“I really haven’t had enough time to process it yet. Like seriously, because these things that happen affect more than just me,” said Paul, who had been in contact with Suns president of basketball operations James Jones the previous day.
Paul added, “Like I said, Mat and Isiah, they want to go in a different direction. But my time there has been amazing.”
Paul’s comments suggest that not only did Ishbia push to acquire Beal but that Thomas has a major influence on his thinking, with his voice counting more than anyone in the front office.
In early February, a report surfaced that Ishbia planned to hire Thomas for a prominent role in the front office. Thomas is on the board of directors of United Wholesale Mortgage, Ishbia’s company. However, the Suns soon shot down the rumor that Thomas would have an official role with the Suns.
Thomas hasn’t had an official front office position in the NBA since he was the Knicks’ president of basketball operations from 2003-08.
Which of these top5 drafted guards would you rather have on your team if you could have him for his entire pro career, Chris Paul, Anthony Edwards, Gary Payton, Scoot Henderson, Isiah Thomas, Russ Westbrook, Sidney Moncrief or Allen Iverson? Rank a top3 if possible…
Thomas, Payton, Moncrief/Iverson
1. Isiah Thomas- There’s a reason MJ hated him so much. He could never beat him until pretty much Isiah decided to retire.
2. Allen Iverson- He’s a pure scorer and had a knack for taking over a game.
3. Russ Westbrook- He’s a do everything kind of guy. Your PG doesn’t usually go after the rebounds but he does it with the best of them. He’s a stat sheet stuffer.
Nothing against the others. You asked for a top 3. Payton and Moncrief are both in the HOF. Westbrook has better numbers than both and Isiah. Him and Chris Paul should be in once they’re eligible.
I dig it. Tbh I could dig any combo of these guys as a top3… Zeke at #1 seems obv now but remember he didn’t win titles until the end of his prime & needed a beast of a frontcourt to do so
Thomas Paul Payton
Westbrook, Moncrief, Paul
Iverson, Isiah, and Payton. If you included John Stockton, I’ll replace Payton.
It’s odd that you’d include the two young players on a list with some all time greats and that you have to create your own talking points by making the list in the first place.
Give me Westbrook, Payton, and Iverson in that order.
To be clear, it’s Russell Westbrook and there’s not a close 2nd. I want him bringing it for my team 80 games a season for 15+ years. Asses in seats, numbers on the board. Unfortunately, his teammates left him for dust in OKC otherwise we’re talking about a dynasty and one of the greatest point guards of all time.
New age fan
Isiah Thomas can suck it.
Best one in awhile. I Thomas, Iverson, Westbrook, Payton, Sidney M, A Edwards, Chris Paul and Henderson
Switch Paul and Edwards
Ishbia seems like a tool.
Most nepo kid billionaires probably are but chasing these kinds of players, the spoilt kid interaction with Jokic and letting a vet like Chris go without communication is pretty sh*tty behaviour – not James Jones’ usual MO.
he wasn’t a billionaire until 2021 and when he finished college the company his father founded only had like 13 employees. They didn’t grow until he was there during the mortgage crisis. No doubt his family was well off but they were nowhere close to billionaires.
If the Suns think that it’s smart to have Isaiah make basketball decisions they will end up like the Knicks during his time there.
Isaiah isn’t as bad as it seems, the man is very intelligent and knows basketball… he should be congratulated for having a hand involved.
I believe this move puts the sun’s over the top
Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, is the father of Suns’ CEO Josh Bartelstein that is why Phoenix got Beal for peanuts! The NBA needs to look into tampering……
Or, and hear me out here,
THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS GAVE BEAL $50 MILLION ANNUALLY AND A NO TRADE CLAUSE
To get off of that terrible deal they had to trade Beal not only to wherever he wanted to go, but for a package that he approved of. News flash buddy but Beal wasn’t accepting a deal to any contender if it gutted his new team.
They didn’t have to trade him. They had him under contract for 4 more years.
They could have likely gotten more. At the end of the day, Washington dropped the ball by not dealing him sooner. However, your assertion They had to trade him, and had to trade him for a package he approves of is false.
The old regime in Washington signed him to thsr contract. This was the first move by the new regime there. They don’t want more money on the books. Full rebuild is happening. No trade clause screwed then
Besides the all-powerful no-trade clause, which all but guarantees Beal has leverage on where he wants to go …….. there is the factor of the new CBA, this 2nd tax apron, which a few more teams (top teams as expected) are projected to hit/breach by the next season.
More teams hitting the 2nd tax apron means further limitation on these teams to strike a deal with, which all but pressures the WIZARDS to make a Beal-certified deal (HEAT or SUNS) the soonest, meaning now.
One last thing, there is an absolute stink from that Beal contract …….. a max contract extension with a no-trade clause, for someone who could not even lift his team to a play-in spot.
Any new GM will clean house the soonest, moreso WIZARDS GM Winger who did something very similar back in 2019 ……. just a few months in as the CLIPPERS new GM, he immediately traded Blake Griffin to the PISTONS.
Credit to him as a GM who sees the writing on the wall fast.
Is Chris Paul Whining?
Well, looks like the Suns are doomed, they have Thomas helping make the decisions. Do you think he’ll take Beal out to Red Lobster once he gets to town?
Damn, I thought the same thing. As if folks haven’t learned what history has taught us.
CP3 is totally out of line. Totally uncalled for…. Suns gave him great contract couple yrs ago and they are giving him every opportunity to make more elsewhere….
I think it had more to do with shedding 160M in salary over 3 years. Both CP3 and Shamet can be expiring deals. Shamet is non-guaranteed next season. They could also use Shamet in a trade, his contract is very moveable.
Another brilliant deduction moving KD …..
Stick to non-comedy lol ……
Huh? Drinking early?
earlier*
Michigan Men. Wonder if there is an Ayton for Draymond deal in the works? Or if they flip KD for depth
I think isiah thomas need to stay in his lane and do his job and stay out of and stay out of everybody else
Isiah !!!!!!’ That explains it.
He’s F444ed up everything he’s touched in ball. After retiring …….
CP3 would have a point if he could still be young, healthy and play. BUT…
It was an excellent move by Washington. The new head office guys are gonna clean up that roster. Kuz and KP probably out the door after Chris Paul is dealt with
Kristaps first. Kuzma can walk. I would trade gafford as well. Contract is to much. Figure out Paul and start the tank