Phoenix Suns Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Suns To Hire Mike Muscala As Assistant Coach

August 9th, 2025 at 12:11pm CST by Rory Maher

The Suns intend to hire former NBA forward/center Mike Muscala as an assistant coach, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

Muscala, 34, retired as a player last summer after 11 years in the NBA.

The No. 44 overall pick of the 2013 draft, Muscala spent the majority of his career with the Hawks and Thunder, but he also had brief stints with the Sixers, Lakers, Celtics, Wizards and Pistons. Across 548 regular season appearances, he averaged 5.9 points and 3.1 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per game, with a shooting slash line of .451/.373/.830.

Muscala, who starred in college at Bucknell, never played for the Suns, but he does have a connection to new head coach Jordan Ott. Scotto points out that the two men worked together in Atlanta, where Ott got his NBA start as a video coordinator.

When Muscala retired, his father indicated that Mike intended to pursue a graduate degree in sports management, with an eye on continuing his basketball career in coaching and/or management. A little over a year later, he has his first NBA coaching job.

Pacific Notes: Kuminga, Kings, Suns, Green

August 6th, 2025 at 8:48pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Warriors do not want to include the contract of either Moses Moody or Buddy Hield as part of a possible Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade with the Kings, Sam Amick of The Athletic confirms (via Twitter). That essentially stalls the deal indefinitely, as Golden State would need to move off one of those players in order to take back Malik Monk and fill out the rest of its roster.

There’s still plenty of time left between now and the October 1 deadline for Kuminga to accept his qualifying offer, so it’s possible other suitors or offers will emerge for the restricted free agent forward, but for now, Golden State expects Kuminga to return to the team for 2025/26.

Kuminga was injured for much of the 2024/25, but when he did play, the 22-year-old showed his athleticism and scoring ability. In 47 healthy games, he averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per contest.

There’s more out of the Pacific Division:

Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic confirms that there’s mutual interest between the Suns and Kuminga, but acknowledges that a deal between Phoenix and the Warriors looks like an extreme long shot at this point. According to Rankin, the 6’7″ forward views the Suns as the kind of team where he’d get to enjoy a major, consistent role alongside an All-Star (Devin Booker). The Suns have talked to Booker’s agent, Aaron Turner, but the Warriors have shown no interest in the trade package Phoenix can offer.
While there has been some outside skepticism, the Suns are confident that newly added guard Jalen Green will be a good fit alongside Booker in their backcourt. Gerald Bourgeut of PHNX Sports breaks down three areas of Green’s game that the former No. 2 overall pick needs to improve for the pairing with Booker to succeed. Last year on the 52-30 Rockets, Green averaged a team-high 21.0 points, along with 3.4 dimes per game. He has intriguing upside as a supplemental creator and scorer next to Booker.
In case you missed it, Lakers All-Star forward LeBron James has reportedly been amenable to L.A.’s pivot to focusing its team-building around the younger Luka Doncic.

Mike Hopkins Joins Pelicans’ Coaching Staff

August 5th, 2025 at 6:30pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Pelicans have hired Mike Hopkins as an assistant coach and head of player development, Pete Thamel of ESPN tweets. Hopkins joins Willie Green‘s staff after spending last season with the Suns as an assistant under Mike Budenholzer.

Prior to last season, Hopkins spent most of his career at the college ranks. He was the head coach at the University of Washington from 2017-24. He posted a 122–111 record with the Huskies, though they reached the NCAA Tournament just once during that time.

Prior to that opportunity, he was a longtime assistant under Jim Boeheim at his alma mater, Syracuse. Hopkins was on Boeheim’s staff from 1995-2017.

Green’s staff also includes associate head coach James Borrego and assistants Jarron Collins, Casey Hill, Aaron Miles, Corey Brewer and Jodie Meeks.

Warriors Don’t Expect To Trade Jonathan Kuminga

August 4th, 2025 at 10:06am CST by Arthur Hill

After making little progress in sign-and-trade talks, the Warriors expect Jonathan Kuminga to be on their roster when the season begins, a source tells Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard.

As a restricted free agent, Kuminga has been involved in a stalemate throughout the summer. No interested teams have enough cap space to make a competitive offer, and no one is willing to give Golden State what it wants in a potential deal. The Kings and Suns have been mentioned most prominently as possible trade partners for the 22-year-old forward, but negotiations have been fruitless so far.

Several sources tell Kawakami that the Warriors have been “unenthusiastic” about the prospect of trading Kuminga since the process began. Owner Joe Lacob remains a huge supporter of Kuminga and isn’t willing to part with him unless the trade package includes “real value.”

Kawakami adds that Lacob is willing to be patient until the situation is resolved. That means there’s no pressure on general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. to take the best available deal just to have a sense of certainty as training camp nears.

In the absence of an offer sheet from a rival team, Kuminga’s options are limited. He can either accept a reported two-year, $45MM offer from the Warriors that includes a team option for the second season, or he can sign his one-year, $8MM qualifying offer.

Kawakami views the Kings as the best destination for Kuminga and states that he probably would have signed with them by now if he had been unrestricted. Sacramento could offer a definite rotation role and is rumored to be willing to pay him $63MM over three years.

The Kings are reportedly offering Malik Monk and a protected future first-round pick in return, which hasn’t piqued the Warriors’ interest. Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that Golden State wants the pick to be unprotected, and Kawakami is doubtful that the team has interest in giving up Moses Moody or Buddy Hield, as one of them would have to be added to the deal due to base year compensation rules.

Kuminga has until October 1 to accept the qualifying offer, and Kawakami notes that the date can be pushed back if both sides agree. That means there’s no urgency to get a deal in place, especially from the team’s perspective.

Kawakami’s compromise solution is for the Warriors to replace the second-year team option in their proposal with a partially guaranteed year, perhaps around $14MM. That would guarantee Kuminga in excess of $30MM and take away his right to block a trade. Kawakami points out that it would provide a lot more security than taking the QO and would leave Kuminga with a contract that would be easy to move by the February trade deadline.

Jonathan Kuminga Rumors: Warriors, QO, Suns, Kings

August 1st, 2025 at 1:26pm CST by Luke Adams

Jonathan Kuminga has been unwilling to accept a two-year, $45MM offer from the Warriors that includes a second-year team option, Sam Amick of The Athletic writes, confirming reporting from ESPN. Amick also confirms that the restricted free agent forward has signaled an increased willingness to accept his one-year, $8MM qualifying offer.

Recognizing that it wouldn’t make a ton of financial sense for Kuminga to take the qualifying offer, Golden State is likely hoping that stance is a bluff, according to Amick, who says the Warriors’ “Plan A” is to convince the 22-year-old to re-sign on a short-term deal and then revisit trade options prior to February’s deadline, when it would be easier to move him.

The Suns are reportedly willing to offer Kuminga $90MM over four years, but sources tell Amick that sign-and-trade talks between Phoenix and Golden State haven’t “progressed in any serious manner,” with the Warriors not showing any real interest in the sort of package the Suns is offering. Marc J. Spears of ESPN previously mentioned Royce O’Neale, Nick Richards, and second-round picks as the primary assets Phoenix is willing to put on the table.

While the Kings have reportedly offered a package that includes Dario Saric, Devin Carter, and draft capital (reportedly multiple second-round picks or a protected first-rounder), they’ve also proposed a deal that would involve Malik Monk and a 2030 first-round pick, with Kuminga getting a three-year, $63MM contract, Amick reports. In that scenario, Amick explains, the 2030 pick would be lottery-protected and would turn into the least favorable of the Kings’ and Spurs’ 2031 first-rounders if it doesn’t convey in ’30.

The Warriors have insisted the first-round pick be unprotected, per Amick, which has been a sticking point. Additionally, other reports – including one from Matt George of Locked on Kings (YouTube link) – have indicated that Golden State doesn’t have much real interest in Monk either. Acquiring Monk without sending out any additional salary beyond Kuminga would hard-cap the Warriors at the first tax apron without the flexibility to fill out the rest of their roster, barring cost-cutting moves.

Here are a few more items of interest related to the Kuminga situation:

The Kings like the fact that Kuminga could be slotted in at the power forward position, allowing Keegan Murray to move to his preferred small forward spot, Amick writes, adding that Sacramento’s three-year, $63MM offer is designed to ensure the team avoids surpassing the luxury tax line this season.
Noting that possible Warriors free agent additions like Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton are in limbo while the team seeks resolution on Kuminga, Amick adds Gary Payton II to that list, suggesting a return to Golden State remains in play for the veteran guard.
While there has been speculation that the Kings would trade DeMar DeRozan if they acquire Kuminga, Matt George of Locked on Kings (YouTube link) says everything he’s heard suggests the front office isn’t eager to move DeRozan and would want to hang onto him even if Kuminga ends up in Sacramento. “Every single time I’ve inquired about the Kings moving on from DeMar DeRozan, I’ve been met with a pretty definitive ‘no, the Kings aren’t looking to trade him,'” George said. “But if they were to go out and get Jonathan Kuminga – which I still believe is unlikely at this point – they would ask DeRozan to come off the bench.”
Grant Afseth of FastbreakJournal.com hears from sources that a two-year, $48MM deal that includes a player option is one framework that has been floated in talks between Kuminga and the Warriors. The report doesn’t make it clear which side has “floated” that idea (presumably it’s coming from Kuminga’s camp) or whether the forward would insist on retaining his implicit no-trade clause in that scenario.

Signed Second-Round Picks Now Count Against Cap

July 31st, 2025 at 10:10am CST by Luke Adams

Between July 1 and July 30 of each NBA league year, a player signed using the second-round pick exception doesn’t count toward his team’s cap, but that changes as of July 31. Beginning on Thursday, each of the second-rounders signed using that exception will begin carrying 2025/26 cap hits.

[RELATED: 2025 NBA Draft Pick Signings]

The effect this will have on teams around the league is negligible. The only club still operating below the cap is Brooklyn, but the Nets didn’t make any second-round picks in this year’s draft and haven’t signed any second-rounders that were stashed from previous drafts, so this change won’t reduce their cap room at all.

The Nets are far from the only NBA team that hasn’t signed a second-round pick to a standard contract this offseason. In fact, only 11 of the league’s 30 clubs have done so.

The Suns, Magic, Hornets (two picks), Sixers, Lakers, Pistons, and Pacers made the top eight selections of the 2025 second round and have signed those players to standard deals, while the Pelicans (No. 40 pick Micah Peavy), Kings (No. 42 pick Maxime Raynaud), Cavaliers (No. 49 pick Tyrese Proctor), and Hawks (2024’s No. 43 pick Nikola Djurisic) have joined them. The rest of this year’s second-rounders are either still unsigned, will play overseas, or agreed to two-way contracts.

None of those 11 teams surpassed an apron threshold as a result of their second-rounders’ new cap hits. For example, the Cavs would be well over the second apron with or without Proctor on their books.

Since none of those teams will see their ability to make other roster moves affected by the new cap charges, this is really more of a housekeeping note than anything.

Jonathan Kuminga Rumors: AfroBasket, Suns, Kings, Trade Talks

July 31st, 2025 at 7:37am CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

With Jonathan Kuminga‘s negotiations in restricted free agency seemingly set to drag on into August, the Warriors forward will likely have his international commitments affected by the stalemate.

As Marc Stein of The Stein Line details (via Twitter), the ongoing talks between Kuminga’s representatives and Golden State are expected to prevent him from suiting up for the Democratic Republic of Congo in this year’s AfroBasket competition, which tips off on August 12 in Angola. Kuminga had initially been listed on the team’s roster ahead of the tournament.

The primary reported suitors for Kuminga at this juncture are a pair of the Warriors’ Pacific Division rivals, the Suns and the Kings.

While Phoenix has legitimate interest in Kuminga, it’s unclear whether the club has the sort of young talent or draft assets to get a deal done. John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix (Twitter link) reports that second-year Suns forward Ryan Dunn has never been discussed in trade talks and insists that he will not be included.

Andscape’s Marc J. Spears, meanwhile, hears that Kuminga is intrigued by the possibility of playing for the Kings.

“He wants to go (to Sacramento),” Spears said during an NBA Today appearance on Wednesday (Twitter video link). “The Kings are offering a starting spot, power forward, next to Keegan Murray, next to [Domantas] Sabonis. He’s talked on a zoom call with Scott Perry, the GM; B.J. Armstrong, the assistant GM; and also with their head coach [Doug Christie]. So he’s in, he wants to go there.”

Spears also shared some details on what a Suns offer for Kuminga might look like. “I heard they’re offering Royce O’Neale and four seconds and Nick Richards,” he said.

For what it’s worth, Phoenix only currently controls three second-round picks.

ESPN’s Shams Charania also appeared on NBA Today on Wednesday (Twitter video link) and suggested that Sacramento has been open to including a protected first-round pick in its sign-and-trade offer for Kuminga. Charania added that both the Kings and Suns have been willing to go up to about $90MM over four years for the 22-year-old. For now, Golden State has rejected sign-and-trade proposals from both teams.

“(The Warriors) want a good player, they also want an unprotected first-round pick, a good first-round pick,” Charania said. “The Sacramento Kings, I’m told, have actually offered a first-round pick in those conversations – it’s been a conditional first-round pick – as well as a potential rotation player. But the Warriors have wanted to the Sacramento Kings to give them an unprotected – fully – first-round pick.”

Phoenix doesn’t presently have the ability to trade a first-round pick.

Luke Adams contributed to this story.

Pacific Notes: Bronny, Suns, Saric

July 30th, 2025 at 11:05pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Lakers guard Bronny James is adjusting to life ahead of his second pro season, as he tells Dave McMenamin of ESPN. James, who still deals with occasional health issues after suffering a cardiac arrest in the summer of 2023, is looking to improve his conditioning and develop his defense. After his second Summer League stint, the 6’2″ USC alum seems to feel a bit more secure in who he is and his own upside.

“My confidence level is, for sure, taking a leap,” James told McMenamin.

James’ head coach JJ Redick, a rookie in his own role in 2024/25, believes the 20-year-old can potentially crack the team’s rotation sooner rather than later — provided his fitness improves.

“The biggest thing for Bronny is that he has to get in elite shape,” Redick told McMenamin. “That’s the barrier of entry for him right now. And if he does that, I think he’s got a chance to be a really fantastic player in the NBA.”

Lakers athletic trainer Mike Mancias explained how James, son of All-Star L.A. teammate LeBron James, can continue to build on his conditioning.

“His conditioning is like a basketball 401(k),” Guthrie said. “It is all about daily deposits… That 401(k) will be great because he’s been putting in the work starting now, starting in the offseason, focusing on his diet, focusing on sleep, focusing on all those things. That’s all part of conditioning. It’s all tied together.”

There’s more out of the Pacific Division:

Former Suns director of safety, security and risk management Gene Traylor has been fired by Phoenix after he sued the club for discrimination, harassment and retaliation, sources inform Baxter Holmes of ESPN. “Mr. Traylor was terminated from his position as a security manager because an independent, outside investigation concluded that he violated company policies with respect to confidential information about security operations and he was intentionally untruthful with the investigator,” Suns senior VP of communications Stacey Mitch said in a statement to Holmes.
New Kings center Dario Saric is determined to play meaningful minutes for Sacramento after riding pine with Denver for most of 2024/25, per Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. The 31-year-old spoke with gathered reporters after a practice with the Croatian national team, as the club gears up for the second round of the 2027 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifying matchups. “I went to Sacramento, passed medicals, talked to the coach and general manager,” Saric said. “I received positive feedback. I hope to get minutes at the four and five positions. But you never know for sure. I thought I was going to play in Denver too, but I ended up sitting on the bench.” Instead, the 6’10” vet appeared in just 16 games for the Nuggets.
In case you missed it, restricted free agent Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga remains frustrated by his stalemated contract talks with Golden State.

Mavericks, Suns Announce Preseason Schedules

July 30th, 2025 at 4:00pm CST by Rory Maher

The Mavericks formally announced their 2025 preseason schedule on Wednesday, as Marc Stein of The Stein Line relays (via Twitter).

Stein reported nine days ago (Twitter link) that the Mavericks would hold their training camp this fall in Vancouver, Canada. Today’s press release confirms that Dallas will travel to Vancouver for a training camp held at Simon Fraser University from September 30 through October 4.

The Mavs’ preseason slate begins Oct. 6 when they host the defending champion Thunder in Fort Worth, Texas. They will return to Dallas on Oct. 11 for their second preseason contest vs. Charlotte.

On Oct. 13, the Mavericks will head to Utah to face the Jazz. Dallas’ preseason slate concludes on Oct. 15 with a neutral game in Las Vegas against the Lakers.

The Suns also announced their preseason schedule today (Twitter link).

According to the press release, Phoenix’s first preseason game is Oct. 3 in Palm Desert, CA vs. the Lakers. The Suns will then make a lengthy trip to Macao, China for a pair of contests against the Nets on Oct. 10 and Oct. 12.

Phoenix’s preseason schedule concludes with a home contest against the Lakers on Oct. 14 — a quick turnaround given the long international flight.

Latest On Jonathan Kuminga

July 30th, 2025 at 9:53am CST by Dana Gauruder

The Kings have been linked to restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga for weeks but there’s little common ground in sign-and-trade talks with the Warriors.

The Athletic’s Sam Amick said on the Warriors Plus Minus podcast (hat tip to BasketNews) that Golden State isn’t interested in either DeMar DeRozan or Devin Carter as part of a trade package.

“My understanding is the Warriors weren’t interested in Carter or DeRozan. As of a couple of weeks ago, the Kings weren’t willing to pay Kuminga into the $20 million range,” Amick said.

Multiple reports have indicated Kuminga and his agent are seeking a contract in the $30MM range annually.

The Sacramento Bee’s Jason Anderson reports that the Kings have not given up in their pursuit of a sign-and-trade deal for Kuminga and offered Golden State a package of Carter, Dario Saric and draft compensation, which could include a protected first-round pick or multiple second-round picks.

Anderson speculates the Warriors would likely make a deal with Sacramento if the Kings were willing to add Keegan Murray or Keon Ellis to the mix. However, Anderson hears that Murray and Ellis have not been discussed in those negotiations and are considered off limits by the Kings.

ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported last week that the Warriors would like to add a talented young player and a first-rounder for Kuminga. The Suns have been identified as another suitor for Kuminga but don’t possess the draft capital Golden State is seeking.

Slater added in a radio interview relayed by Anderson that the 22-year-old forward came away with a good impression after a recent meeting with Kings representatives, which included general manager Scott Perry, assistant GM B.J. Armstrong and head coach Doug Christie.

“He’s open-minded to the idea of Sacramento. … I think part of that – I know part of that pitch – is you’re talking starting role, you’re talking bigger opportunity than the Warriors are necessarily offering right now. And I think that’s the part that shouldn’t get lost in this situation,” Slater said. “Jonathan Kuminga isn’t just looking for the exact contract he wants in free agency. He’s looking for the opportunity he wants on the court.”

Slater and ESPN’s Shams Charania report that the Warriors are making a stronger push to resolve the Kuminga impasse but he continues to reject their two-year, $45MM contract offer. Kuminga’s decision is due in large part to the Warriors’ insistence on having a team option for the second season and their unwillingness to let him maintain the built-in no-trade clause, the ESPN duo adds.

His agent, Aaron Turner, presented the Warriors several proposals this month, including a three-year deal worth around $82MM that would allow them to stay below the second tax apron.

The Suns have been the most aggressive team pursuing Kuminga, including a proposal of up to four years and approximately $90MM for Kuminga with a player option for the final season, per ESPN’s report.

In recent days, Golden State has begun signaling a plan to cut off sign-and-trade conversations entirely, according to Charania and Slater. The Warriors have the ability to play hard ball with Kuminga, figuring he could either accept their contract offer or sign his qualifying offer of $7.9MM and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.