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 during 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 this spring. “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, as Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area relays. “It was anybody but me it seemed like at this point. It wasn’t no one moment,” he explained during an appearance on the Warriors Plus/Minus podcast. “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 Schröder never took place, Monk is ready to do what’s needed to win, writes Will Zimmerle for SI.com. The Kings now have Schröder 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 (17.2) and assists (5.6) per game.
- 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 defense is his primary selling point, he was able to display 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 of 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.
Steve Kerr is the biggest obstacle to a Warriors title, and there’s not a lot anyone can defend his really poor level of coaching since 2023 over. He has not put in any work at all, anyone can beat GSW because Kerr is always trying to shoehorn in rotations of all-shooting guards who are under 6’6″ that give up unlimited points on defense. That story about how the Hamptons 5 barely practiced is a thing Kerr made normal, but players need practice, especially developing ones like Kuminga. Can’t have half days every single day and expect to be good at your job. If Looney has a career year this year, then we all know who stood in his way this whole time: Kerr.
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.
@giants74 Did you hear that New Orleans just gave Looney a $16 million contract. That means he got a raise. He’s only 28.
Obviously everyone doesn’t think Looney is slowing down. That’s because he is still a great defender and rebounder. You are right that the Warriors are looking for offense from their centers.
He went from earning $7.5 million to earning $8 million.
Draymond Green also slowed down A LOT but he is still getting paid
Knick AL, I think I mentioned those things. You comment without comprehension of what you’re commenting on.
You cry about what he can’t do. Which is what we all have known since the beginning. When a player gives you what he has. You don’t disrespect his game. He is a oart of the sucess. You let him move on and thank him.
Agreed Al.
But Looney is showing a little bitterness and I’m explaining to the masses in a 17 page email why the Warriors are not the place for him anymore.
New Orleans is and they’re paying for it. That’s all.
It’s not crying. You always use the word crying. Who’s crying? Davey cries but most of the rest of us Dubs fans do not.
We’re just talking Ball. We give kudos to players often, but we’ll call them out if they have unrealistic statements or expectations.
But again I get it. Nobody likes being rejected. The Warriors said no thanks to Looney so he’s gonna throw a dagger on the way out. He gave his life to the Warriors. No problem he’s entitled to throw a dagger. It’s all good Raise his jersey to the rafters one day I’m OK with that. He deserves it.
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.
tourniquette, yeah it was long. But Looney deserves his recognition from a fan who’s watched him for 10 years.
He deserves to be recognized for the things he did and no one else is willing to do. I recognize those things.
I don’t think you’ll read what I wrote anywhere else. I’ll tell you that. The man is underappreciated that’s for sure.
And hey, another thing. If you’ve been around here, you would know dub fans get unchanged once in a while. I’m definitely guilty a few times a year.
Ya know Gary, this story is getting poorly reported. Loon went from near draft bust to Finals hero. He was also really close to the coach that died. So, he had a lot of emotions wrapped up in changing teams. But, if you read the interview, he understood why he lost playing time. He said Kerr was usually right.
Yes, Giants74, great point. arc89 mentioned that last week and we wrote about it. That will definitely affect you in a massive way to lose someone so close to you as they pass away. Absolutely massive impact.
But as mentioned above, the kudos due to Kevon Looney are many and well deserved. It’s just that the thing is now anything more than the minimum salary, the Warriors can’t do it. Not for someone who has no offensive game.
When the warriors picked him he was already injured so they took a chance that he would be a good player. If he never got injured he would have been a top pick. Loon was a basketball legend in his state. He was like a magic a big man that could do anything.
> But, if you read the interview, he understood why he lost
> playing time. He said Kerr was usually right.
Giants74, why the need to apologize for Kerr? The entire reason why this story has gotten attention is because Looney DID NOT say that Kerr was right. The media expected routine pleasantries from Looney, but got something else. Listen to the interview. There’s some anger and frustration.
Looney disagreed with the way Kerr treated him for the last 2 years, saying that Kerr didn’t “trust him”, and that the W’s would have been better if he had played more. Hardly unusual.
Maybe Kerr was right, and Looney didn’t deserve to play more. But why do we have to play make-believe that the majesty of Steve Kerr makes him above criticism.
Gary
Boxing out, screen setting etc etc is important and not everyone or alot can do that. I’ll use Adams as an example, Adams is one of the best screen setters today. Reggie Miller and countless others relied on screens. Doing the dirty work is important and someone has to do it.
Honestly Gary, Looney would be a PF in any other era so yea that’s the problem is Steve Kerr obsessed with small ball.
6’7 Wes Unseld is considered the best or 2nd best screen setter in NBA history, could Wes block shots…. nope but did all the little things. Not saying they are close
Kerr just needs to embrace a veteran C starter. Just 25 minutes a game is needed. Vuecuc, Capela or Adams would be perfect
This gave me a good laugh lol. Love Loon but yeah, his value on the court diminished greatly. Every year you’d read about his outside shot but never really see it in games.
it is sad to see him go but his lack of a vertical leap and no shot was just rough to see as he got older. Great screener and he’d eat up boards but was chicken dinner facing any mobile players last few years.
That’s what happens when you play out of position. Have you looked at Dra lately. When your 3s and 4s play out of position. The wear and tear ir twice as fast. Since the Warriors fans don’t even get what that means. You can’t even thank the guy. This is why all teams have bigs. This is why god builds 7 footers.
@ GaryRSW
I hereby rebut some of the inaccuracy shown in your comment:
1. Looney is 28 years old.
2. This past season, he posted career highs per 100 possessions in points, rebounds, and steals (excluding his rookie season where he played in only 5 games).
3. He had a best on the team def rtg of 108 in both the reg and playoffs (for comparison, Draymond was at 109 and 111), and led the team with 76 games played.
4. Bogut avgd 1.7 apg in 2015 and 1.6 in 2016 playing 23 and 21 min/gm. Looney avgd 1.6 apg this season in his paltry 15.0 min/gm.
5. Despite not shooting many threes, he shot 40% from three this season.
He’s always kind of sucked, but as shown by his per 100 numbers, his game has actually improved as he hit his prime. IMO, he had reason to call out Kerr for not playing him vs the Rockets.
Good comment NBA is OK. All of those are obviously legitimate, fact based points, and cannot be contested. Good research and backup for your assertions.
Well done as usual.
I only have one challenge and that’s #1, Looney is 28 years old.
The guy looked 40 six years ago.
I do like #5.. 40% from three.
Maybe if he’s on a team without Curry they’ll ask him to shoot it more often? Seems like the skill is there?
When a guy loses yrs from playing out of position for your team. You don’t tradh him. You thank him and let him move on. He has the respect to criticize anything he wants. All Warriors fans do here. Is look for someone or something to blame. 80% of you do it all the time.
Who is not thanking Looney for what he did in a Warriors uniform? The Warriors have needs that he can’t fulfill.
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.
The proper term for Looney in New Orleans is “brate”.
Maybe to you. I only know him by his game. He is a young vet. Who overachieved in his career. I can tell you and I know. That’s why Joe signed him. He will help him change the culture there.
If you knew more about basketball, you would understand why you call him ‘brate’.
Ishbia thought NBA ownership was the same as working with his tribe in the carnivorous home loan industry. He didn’t realize that it wasn’t the same despite the same tribal competitors.
Writing off Kuminga was bad enough. He can’t play with Butler and Draymond? Then make him their backup! Or, better, put a little thought into how to use three of your four most talented players together.
Now he’s made two good players want to run. Dubs couldn’t offer Loon as much but it sounds like he would’ve stayed if he felt valued.
Troll. Have you noticed there is no market for Kuminga. Why are you paying money to be a troll?
There’s no market for any of the RFAs because no one has cap space
Ok Sparky. Let’s start from the top. The Warriors need scoring.
Looney was never a scorer. His skills have diminished. $8 million is an overpay.
Kuminga is already a backup. Utah and the Nets could pay him the money he wants. The Kings offer in a sign and trade was pretty laughable. JK is to inconsistent for the money he wants. The Warriors have been working with him. He just hasn’t learned.
Kuminga is not a free agent, so he can’t have a free agent market. Kuminga is an RFA which is free agency just in name, not in reality. GS own Kuminga, and everybody knows it.
The teams didn’t prepare cap space to give Kuminga, Giddey and others offer sheets because everybody knew it would be pointless. Teams who they are with will just match.
Even if Mathurin, Ivey, Kessler, Christian Braun don’t sign rookie extensions for whatever reasons, no team will be going into next summer thinking ‘we can get him’, because it’s not realistic.
No team has ever signed a RFA to a good contract that wasn’t matched.
And Kuminga doesn’t have a sign&trade market because GS is setting the price, and also because it’s massively difficult to pull it off. Most of the league can’t sign&trade anyway, without moving guys on the roster, paying 3rd teams 2-round draft capital etc. But the summer is not over yet, so things can change.
Just a reminder, multiple teams were in trade talks with GS and wanted Kuminga to be included in packages. Despite him not having his rookie extension, which would be a big complication for his suitors.
Had Kuminga been a real free agent going into the summer, he would have signed for over 30m AAV the day free agency opened. Same for Giddey.
Golden State isn’t setting the price. It is determined by what teams offer Kuminga. If the King’s offer is any indication, they are not beating path to Kuminga.
@Giants74 Why not read what @Peter_Cantrope tried to explain to you. It is very clear and detailed. It will save you from repeating the same wrong things over and over so people don’t have to keep on correcting you
Restricted Free Agency means teams have the right to match. If the Nets offered Kuminga, the Warriors might not match. JK would become a Nets player. What part am I missing?
@Giants74 What part are you missing? How about all the basics. @Peter_Cantrone took the time to explain it to you but your still posting like you didnt read it.
Looney will always be a Warriors legend. He had many amazing memorable games. He signed a team friendly contract 3 yrs ago and left few millions on the table. Now, the team only wants to give him min when his value is much higher. He was right and has every right to feel slighted from his perspective. He was always selfless and underappreciated. We always took him for granted. I will always remember him fighting for clutch rebounds in our title runs and scoring double doubles. Good luck in New Orleans and I hope he will one day come back and finish his career at GS !!
Looney complaining about playing time is like me complaining about playing time. We are both about the same skill level (I’m terrible FYI)
Im with you. But I will say he was fairly decent at the pick and roll when he was on the receiving end of a pass.
He’d stumble to the basket and would often get a layup or when the defense came, he’d kick it out to Klay or another shooter.
Looney was good at his job. He deserves all the recognition that many of us have given in the comments here. A job well done.
But yes, he’s getting paid and he’s moving on, and I will stand and applaud for several minutes when he comes back to Chase in a pelican uniform. Absolutely 100%.
We all know Warriors can’t pay Looney. The new cap rules have changed the game. So why is it a constant here. That MOST Warriors fans all they do is complain or cry. The man has a better offer. Looney has earned the right to complain about his coach. What’s the problem. He is leaving anyway.
Fact is he should question what Kerr has done. Fact is he is a vet and deserves the PT in crucial gms. All good players would rather play than sit. It’s called being a gamer. A good teammate who wants to win. He deserves your praise and thanks. Not to be trashed on the way out. Real classy …..
First it was Wiseman who was blamed. Then it was Wiggins who was blamed. Now it’s Kuminga who is blamed. Warriors fans are all 12yr olds. Blaming the world for all their failures. You can’t get better. Or correct the mistakes. If you don’t accept blame for them first ……. You would think after Wiseman. You would have handled Kuminga better. Yet you let come to FA and blame it all on him. Warriors know the new rules better than the players do. So even that they use it against their FA. And the clueless Warriors fans all cry how Kuminga is doing it to them.
The next 2 yrs all depend. On how you handle his trade. It’s obvious he has to go …….
So everyone get ready. Once he gets traded we all read all the CRYING and COMPLAINING. Of how it was his fault that the trade didn’t work out.
The sun will shine, death, taxes, Warriors fans crying
Aristotle, this is what Looney said:
“I just know it’s never personal with Steve,” Looney said. “He’s going to do whatever is best to try to win. It ain’t just me. He’s done this to everybody. I might’ve been the one it was happening to the most because I was here the longest. I know it’s not personal. He just wants to win.
“You can’t be mad because the results showed that. It usually worked. You talk about sacrifice and win, he’s going to really test that sacrifice part.”
What does the last paragraph say?
Giants74,
We all agree that Looney doesn’t believe Kerr’s decisions were “personal”. Looney was clear on that. But that’s not what we’re talking about.
Looney doesn’t believe Kerr’s decisions about Looney’s role on the team were “correct”. As in, Looney believes Kerr’s decisions about his playing time and role were wrong.
The Suns wont win as long as Booker doesnt change his playstyle, 3s are worth more than 2. Is that simple.
There is a time and space for mid range shots, absolutely. But he takes them way too much. Lets see how will be the scapegoat now that Beal is gone…
Looney has been the most disrespected Warriors player during the Stephen Curry era. Not only he was a solid contributor for 2 championships (17 and 18), he was their THIRD BEST PLAYER in the 2022 championship.
Then 2 years later (2024 off season) they consider WAIVING him because they didnt want to give him like 5 million or something…And then this year he basically gets iced out in the Playoffs in a series where Houston bigs were DOMINATING the Warriors paint.
He deserved better thats undeniable.