The Suns are embracing a new identity, writes Gerald Bourguet for Go PHNX.
With Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant gone and Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams, Khaman Maluach, and Rasheer Fleming in, the team has pivoted towards a younger, more athletic team construction around the recently extended Devin Booker.
The Suns now enter into a phase they will find unprecedented in the brief tenure of Mat Ishbia‘s ownership: one of patience. However, Bourguet writes that Ishbia’s own words make the concept of following through on a more long-term team build a question mark.
“When I make a mistake or things don’t go well, I change fast,” Ishbia said during exit interviews “We make quick moves, and I’m not afraid to do that… Patience isn’t gonna be my strongest suit, okay? We’re gonna try to compete and win, and we’re gonna get better.”
However, Ishbia did give reason to hope.
“I’m very patient if I think we’re on the right path and plan,” Ishbia said. “So, say it again, I expect us to win more games next year. But let’s just say we lost more games next year, but it was aligned, the vision and the tone that I’m gonna set, and we’re on a path, then we’re gonna go that way.”
We have more from the Pacific division:
- Kevon Looney‘s departure from the Warriors was facilitated in part by his lack of playing time, especially in the playoffs, writes Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area. “It was anybody but me it seemed like at this point. It wasn’t no one moment,” he explained. “Even this year, probably the playoffs. We going up against Steven Adams. This is what I do. They’re not really giving me the chance to really let me do what I do.” Looney added that after 10 seasons in Golden State, he didn’t feel like he should still have to prove himself or his worth. “When you prove yourself the first four, five years, all right, cool. But after 10 years of it, it’s like, all right. You either trust me or you don’t.” He added that he knows the coaching decisions from Steve Kerr weren’t personal, but he still felt that he drew the short end of the stick in Kerr’s quest to win.
- After the rumored Kings sign-and-trade of Malik Monk to bring in Dennis Schroder never took place, Monk is ready to do what’s needed to win, writes Will Zimmerle for SI.com. The Kings now have Schroder and Zach LaVine as their presumed starting backcourt, and despite Monk expressing a desire to be a starter in the league in the past, he’s reportedly willing to go to the bench if that’s what coach Doug Christie needs. “Malik has told Doug Christie I will do whatever you need, even if that includes coming off the bench,” Matt George of ABC10 said on a recent ESPN radio show. “I don’t think he’s going to pout or throw a fit about it.” Monk was runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year in 2023/24, but split time as a starter last year and put up career-highs in points and assists at 17.2 and 5.6, respectively.
- The Clippers‘ first-round pick, Yanic Konan Niederhauser, showed different skills in each of his first three Summer League games, writes Broderick Turner of the LA Times. While the defense is his primary selling point, he was able to show some of the offensive package that intrigued the Clippers enough to select him with the no. 30 pick in the 2025 draft. “That’s the guard skills I was talking about,” Niederhauser said about a high-energy dunk he was able to throw down over a defender on a fast break. Those guard skills come from when he was a 6’5″ 16-year-old, before the growth spurt that shot him up to 6’11” and cemented his future as a center. “For a guy that’s his age, he’s still learning and growing into his frame that he hasn’t really had his whole life,” said general manager Trent Redden. “We just haven’t had a guy that size at that position in a backup role that’s young that we can feed into and give to our developmental staff.” Niederhauser enters a developmental situation where he can learn from two high-level defensive bigs in Brook Lopez and Ivica Zubac.
Looney lol. Dude, you have no game.
I’ll start by saying he was essential to many playoff wins and a couple of championships. Huge. Did the dirty work the rebounding and he’s still a pretty good offensive rebounder today. Excellent defense didn’t need the ball. Didn’t need to score. Self sacrifice all the way, and all the rest of it. Amazing teammate above and beyond any rational requirement, you would have as the perfect teammate. No doubt !!
But dude, you have no basketball game at all. What is it that you really do. Box out Steven Adams? Set a nice screen? Dude anyone can do that on a minimum contract.
Warrior would’ve given you a minimum contract to do it again for five more years. Pelicans stepped up and good for you. Happy for you. Excellent.
But There’s no three-point shot. There’s no throwing the ball down to you in the trenches and getting a bucket. There’s no mid range jumper on the other five man or four man lays off you to help. There’s nothing.
Bogut was the same way, but he could protect the rim. Looney doesn’t protect the rim. Bogut was the same offensively but he had great vision and an excellent passer.
Anyway, Kerr didn’t throw you out there because you provide negative 0 to the 10th power on offense aside from seven or eight taps to teammates or perhaps five actual offensive rebounds per game.
That and some nice screens lol. That’s not $8 million or a year in San Francisco. It’s not even $8 million a year in New Orleans but hey they offered it you gotta take it.
Good luck and maybe even retire your number in Chase center, that’s how important you were.
But now? You kind of suck, so goodbye. It’s just how it goes. Dubs can’t keep playing you at 50 years old. There has to be a time when it’s sayonara. That time is now. Thanks for everything.
He did everything nobody else wanted to do. What exactly do you think that is. Warriors fans are so freakin clueless. They don’t even understand their own success. If you don’t get that DEFENSE is half the game in basketball. Then why are you even on this board.
WTF!! What the hell are you talking about? You obviously didn’t read what Gary wrote. Everyone else in the world, with the exception of you, knows that Looney has slowed down. He is not the defensive player he was a few years ago. The Warriors have been struggling offensively. Why can’t you acknowledge that? The Warriors can’t afford Loon. Why are you being so dumb.
This may be the most unhinged comment-rant I’ve seen in the 10 years I’ve been on the site and using the app.
I had to remember my Disqus password to post this, just for posterity.
Truly…wow. Kudos.
Looney got 8 mill from Pelicans. Warriors were never going to pay anything close to that. Looney is a 4. Who played out of position for 90% of his career.
He can play small ball 5. He is not a Center. He will show you that in NO. They need smart vets. They are paying his for depth and mentoring.
Konan is a nice big prospect for Clippers. I think eventually they can move Zubac. Which should bring back good value. Don’t care about LA teams. I rather see Clippers do better than Lakers. Ballmer is one of best owners around.