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Suns Notes: Ishbia, Lawsuits, Williams, Centers, Butler, Jones

October 19th, 2025 at 9:02am CST by Luke Adams

A pair of Suns minority owners dismissed their lawsuit against majority owner Mat Ishbia and the team on Friday, but intend to file a new suit over what their lawyer refers to as Ishbia’s “mismanagement” of the franchise, reports Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.

It’s the latest development in a legal battle within the Suns’ ownership group. Andy Kohlberg (Kisco WC Sports) and Scott Seldin (Kent Circle Investments) sued the Suns and Ishbia in August, alleging that they weren’t being permitted to view records and financial information that would help them understand how the team was being run and how much their shares are worth. Ishbia filed a countersuit earlier this week, arguing that the initial suit was part of a negative PR campaign against him as those minority owners sought a buyout at an “extortionate” cost.

“Our clients succeeded in their books and records action in obtaining information we were seeking and have discontinued that case,” Michael Carlinsky, an attorney representing Kohlberg and Seldin, said in a statement, per Vorkunov. “We are now focused on the critical phase in our litigation, which will involve our clients’ assertion of claims for mismanagement and other misconduct and look forward to their day in court.”

Ishbia and the Suns remain confident that nothing will come of the new suit.

“This is more of the same from litigious limited partners who are using the courts to try to leverage a buyout,” Suns spokesperson Stacey Mitch said. “They dropped their books and records complaint because the organization is and has been fully transparent about its operations and success. We are confident that we will prevail in court.”

We have more on the Suns:

After taking part in a competitive scrimmage on Saturday, Suns center Mark Williams is on track to be available for the team when the regular season tips off on Wednesday, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “This was the most minutes he’s seen in a scrimmage that we’ve played,” head coach Jordan Ott said. “Mark is big. You can see his size out there, both ends. Offensively, puts pressure on the rim. Defensively, when someone is driving in there, you have to make the decision.” Phoenix has taken a cautious approach with Williams this fall due to his extensive injury history — he has played just 106 of 246 possible regular season games during his first three years in the NBA.
While Williams is expected to start at center, Ott said the rotation in the middle will be “fluid” early in the season, per Rankin. Oso Ighodaro, Nick Richards, and rookie Khaman Maluach will also be in the mix. “On a night-to-night basis, we’ll have a plan going into it, but we have to be a little fluid as coaches and kind of read the games and see exactly who is impacting winning out there on the court on a night-to-night basis,” Ott explained.
According to Rankin, Ott called it a “really tough” decision to cut Jared Butler, who had a big preseason with the Suns while on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 contract. Butler averaged 15.5 points, 4.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in 20.9 minutes per game across four preseason outings, but was waived because Phoenix is operating slightly over the tax line and apparently doesn’t plan to fill its 15th roster spot for now. “He was part of us for multiple months,” Ott said of Butler. “He really helped our group. Helped his teammates. Helped our intensity of camp. … Hopefully at the end of it, JB knows that we tried to do the best we could. Hopefully, we helped him.”
Former Suns general manager James Jones said on Thursday that his time in Phoenix was “phenomenal” and spoke about his new role in the NBA’s league office. Rankin has the highlights in a story for The Arizona Republic.

Suns Notes: Williams, Maluach, Gillespie, Ishbia

September 27th, 2025 at 11:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

An inability to stay healthy has been the biggest impediment to success in Mark Williams‘ NBA career, so the Suns entered training camp with a plan to help him avoid injuries, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Williams appeared in 43, 19 and 44 games during his three seasons in Charlotte, and Phoenix officials understood they had to try something different after landing him in a draft-night trade.

“We know Mark’s history and we’re trying to change it,” coach Jordan Ott said Friday. “We’re taking an approach. He’s been out here and has been good. This is Sept. 26. Definitely added some strength to him. You can see it when he walks in the building. He definitely has great size. Excited to see where he goes, but we still do have a couple more weeks.”

Although the exact nature of their concerns was never specified, the Lakers opted to rescind a trade for Williams in February. L.A. had viewed Williams as a rim protector and a lob partner for newly acquired Luka Doncic, but something in his physical made the team change its mind. He was able to resume playing for the Hornets after the trade was called off.

Rankin indicates that Williams’ minutes might be limited in the Suns’ four preseason games so they can preserve him for the regular season. Ott noted on Saturday that Nick Richards, Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro have been getting most of the work in training camp, but that doesn’t mean there are concerns about Williams’ physical condition.

“He’s in a good place,” Ott said. “We want Mark to know we care about him this year and going forward so we have a really intentional plan for him.”

There’s more from Phoenix:

Maluach had a difficult time during Summer League, but fellow Duke alum Grayson Allen sees promise in the rookie big man, Rankin tweets. “He talks non-stop on the court,” Allen said. “Like he’s commanding the defense, calling out coverages, constantly talking. For a rookie, let alone a 19-year-old guy to come into a gym and do that first day of training camp is impressive. He’s already ready in that aspect.”
Hoping for a larger role in his second season with the Suns, Collin Gillespie spent the summer working to improve his jumper and take better care of the ball (Twitter video link from Rankin). “The way (Ott) talked about smaller guards like myself, we have to be able to shoot off the dribble and be efficient and not turn the ball over,” Gillespie said. “So I just worked on decision making, shooting, shooting from deeper, shooting off the dribble.”
At Wednesday’s media day, owner Mat Ishbia responded to questions about five workplace discrimination lawsuits recently filed against the Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, per Jason Wolf of The Arizona Republic. Ishbia dismissed the claims as “ridiculous” and “a cash grab,” adding, “We don’t settle. So if we don’t do anything wrong, I’m not paying someone.” ESPN’s Baxter Holmes reported this week that employees were told in the spring that to keep their jobs they had to sign an agreement limiting their ability to sue the team over workforce matters.

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.

Stein/Fischer’s Latest: Beal, Suns, CP3, Bucks, Lillard, Heat

July 3rd, 2025 at 10:48pm CST by Luke Adams

The Suns and Heat had exploratory talks this week about the possibility of a Bradley Beal trade, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). However, those discussions “ultimately collapsed,” resulting in a rising belief that the veteran guard will ultimately be bought out by Phoenix.

If the two sides do end up working out a buyout agreement, expect the Heat to show interest in signing Beal as a free agent, per Fischer and Stein, who say the Bucks would also be interested in adding the three-time All-Star if he reaches free agency.

Here’s more from The Stein Line duo:

In addition to looking more seriously at a possible Beal buyout, the Suns have also engaged in conversations with teams about various trade scenarios involving center Nick Richards and wings Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, Stein and Fischer say.
After turning away interest from the Mavericks and Hornets earlier in free agency, Chris Paul continues to consider the Suns and Clippers. Stein and Fischer confirm he’s also receiving interest from the Bucks, who have been on the lookout for another point guard in the hopes of filling the sizable hole left by Damian Lillard‘s Achilles injury (and impending release). ESPN’s Shams Charania said during a Thursday SportsCenter appearance that Paul, who is known to prefer playing closer to his family in Los Angeles, spoke to Bucks officials on Wednesday (hat tip to Scott Polacek of Bleacher Report).
Speaking of Lillard, Stein and Fischer classify the Heat‘s interest in signing the Oakland native as “serious,” but acknowledge that the injured star will likely be in no rush to sign his next contract.
The Pacers, Kings, and Pelicans are among the other teams who remain on the hunt for another point guard, Stein and Fischer write.

Lakers Rumors: LeBron, Kessler, Richards

July 2nd, 2025 at 12:53pm CST by Luke Adams

Although ESPN’s Brian Windhorst still isn’t expecting the Lakers to trade LeBron James, he said on Wednesday’s episode of First Take (YouTube link) that he doesn’t consider it quite as unlikely as he did a few days ago when reports of the star forward opting in for 2025/26 were accompanied by a “nebulous” statement from agent Rich Paul.

“When the idea of a trade came up, I slammed the door on it,” Windhorst said (hat tip to RealGM). “I said, first off, LeBron wants to be a Laker. If he didn’t want to be a Laker, he could have opted out. He has a no-trade clause. Over the last three days, I have unlocked the door. I wouldn’t say that I’m opening the door. I would just say I’ve unlocked the door. The door I slammed and locked on Sunday, I’m not 100 percent sure.

“That is because my conversations over the last three days have crystalized that the Lakers are essentially viewing LeBron as an expiring contract. And that may sound like a toss-off statement, but that’s not insignificant. LeBron has never been an expiring contract. Quite literally. Never in his 23-year career, over the nine contracts he has signed, over all the different teams he has been on, he has never been on the last year of his contract. He has never been 40 years old. He has never not been the franchise player on his team.”

As has been previously reported, James and the Lakers didn’t have any serious discussions about a new contract that would extend beyond 2025/26. That may signal that LeBron isn’t sure whether he’ll continue playing beyond 2026 — either way, it means he’ll become an unrestricted free agent next summer, since his contract can’t be extended before then.

“What happens to expiring contracts in the NBA? They are viewed as trade pieces,” Windhorst said. “For all those reasons (a trade still seems unlikely)—the money, the fact that LeBron and Luka (Doncic) are still a very formidable duo. The fact that the Lakers are not done with their offseason. The fact that trading him is crazy. The fact that this is being built around Luka and they have to maintain their cap sheet and all of those things. Everything in that makes sense. I’m just unlocking the door because I’m not as convinced as before of it’s impossibility.”

We have more on the Lakers:

If James did want to be traded, there are teams “who would step up and make offers,” Windhorst said during an ESPN segment on Tuesday evening (YouTube link). With that in mind, Fred Katz of The Athletic considers what it might look like if teams like the Cavaliers, Mavericks, Warriors, Knicks, and Clippers were to try to make a play for the four-time MVP. Cleveland looks like the longest shot out of that group, since the Cavs are operating far above the second tax apron and would have to gut their roster to aggregate contracts and shed enough salary to make a legal trade.
Addressing the idea of the Lakers trading for Jazz center Walker Kessler, Jovan Buha (YouTube link) reiterates that Utah’s asking price would have to come down for it to be a viable possibility for Los Angeles. “I’ve just heard nothing but they want two picks plus a young player for Kessler,” Buha said. “So the Lakers cannot do that trade. They can give one pick and one young player and a swap. You could throw in a couple swaps. … Take off the protections on the top-four pick in 2027. But I just don’t know if that’s going to be enough for Utah.” Because they’ve traded away their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks already, the Lakers can’t put more than one first-rounder (2031 or 2032) in a trade offer due to the Stepien rule.
Phoenix big man Nick Richards is reportedly among the veteran centers the Lakers have expressed some level of interest in. The Suns have gotten inquiries from a few teams about Richards, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link), but it’s unclear if they’ll actually move him. As Gambadoro explains, they like Richards as a player and like the idea of having a reliable insurance policy behind Mark Williams, who has battled injuries in recent years.
In case you missed it, our check-in on the top remaining free agents this morning included Lakers-related items on Deandre Ayton and Damian Lillard.

Scotto’s Latest: Alexander-Walker, Richards, Capela, Kennard, Shamet

June 30th, 2025 at 10:34am CST by Arthur Hill

Echoing multiple reports, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype confirms that the Hawks and Pistons are considered to be the front-runners for Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, but he lists other contenders as well. League sources tell Scotto that the Clippers and Raptors remain in pursuit of Alexander-Walker along with other teams. He adds that the Magic were also interested before trading for Desmond Bane.

Toronto may be a surprise considering its position near the bottom of the standings this year, but the Raptors are reportedly determined to make a quick turnaround. Scotto notes that Alexander-Walker is a Toronto native and the franchise has a history of bringing in Canadian players, with four on the roster this season.

Scotto talked with several executives around the league who expect Alexander-Walker to sign for at least the $14.1MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception. League sources told Scotto they don’t expect him to return to the Wolves after they reached new deals with Naz Reid and Julius Randle.

Scotto shares more rumors as the start of free agency draws near:

Center Nick Richards appears to be a trade candidate after the Suns drafted Khaman Maluach and agreed to acquire Mark Williams from Charlotte. Richards’ $5MM contract for next season became fully guaranteed on Sunday, and Scotto hears from league sources that the Knicks, Pacers and Lakers are among the teams with interest.
Clint Capela isn’t expected to return to the Hawks in the wake of the Kristaps Porzingis deal, and Scotto lists the Clippers, Lakers and Spurs as teams to watch for the free agent center.
Sources tell Scotto that Luke Kennard is likely to move on from the Grizzlies. The 29-year-old guard is one of the league’s top three-point shooters.
The Knicks would like to keep free agent guard Landry Shamet, but he’s being eyed by several contending teams, Scotto adds.

Suns To Guarantee Nick Richards’ $5MM Salary

June 29th, 2025 at 12:15pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Suns are expected to guarantee Nick Richards’ $5MM salary for next season, The Athletic’s Fred Katz tweets.

Phoenix had to decide by today whether to make that guarantee or waive him. Richards was acquired from Charlotte in mid-season and wound up making 34 starts in 36 appearances with the Suns, averaging 9.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 22 minutes per game.

Where Richards fits into the Suns’ plans remains to be seen. The Suns are acquiring Richards’ former Hornets teammate, Mark Williams, in a deal that is not yet official. Phoenix also used a lottery pick acquired from Houston in the Kevin Durant deal on Duke big man Khaman Maluach. Additionally, the Suns have another young big in Oso Ighodaro.

Richards’ salary could be useful as part of another trade down the road. In any case, he’ll get the final year of his three-year, $15MM contract he signed with Charlotte guaranteed.

Suns Notes: Frontcourt, Allen, O’Neale, Micic, Martin

June 23rd, 2025 at 2:52pm CST by Luke Adams

Expect the Suns to focus on adding frontcourt help in the draft and during free agency, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link), who points out that the team could really use a power forward after agreeing to trade Kevin Durant to Houston and also needs either a starting or backup center.

As a result of adding Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks in the Durant deal, Phoenix’s roster is heavy on wings, with Green now part of a group of shooting guards that includes Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Grayson Allen, while Brooks joins Royce O’Neale and Ryan Dunn at small forward. Cody Martin, who has a non-guaranteed $8.7MM salary for next season, could also be part of that mix if the Suns decide to hang onto him.

The Suns have gauged the trade market for Allen and O’Neale, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports, so moving one of them could help clear the logjam on the wing.

Up front, meanwhile, Phoenix likes both Nick Richards and Oso Ighodaro, according to Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports, and the expectation is that Richards will have his $5MM salary guaranteed, per Scotto. However, Richards probably fits better as a backup than a full-time starter, while Ighodaro is entering his age-23 season and still needs time to develop.

Unless they’re able to shed significant salary, the Suns will only be able to offer minimum-salary contracts to free agents, but they now control four draft picks this week, including Nos. 10 and 29 in round one.

Here’s more on the Suns:

Within a story that extensively breaks down the Durant trade and its impact on the rest of the Suns’ roster, Bourguet says he expects the team to decline Vasilije Micic‘s $8.1MM team option and suggests Martin could be an odd man out as well for cap/tax reasons, though the club does like him. Scotto confirms that Phoenix will likely turn down Micic’s option and waive Martin unless one of their salaries is needed for a trade.
In that same PHNX Sports story, Bourguet notes that Brooks will bring some “swagger” to the roster that the Suns have lacked since Jae Crowder and Chris Paul departed, confirms that the plan is to hang onto Green rather than flipping him to another team, and briefly explores what the front office will do with Beal, since finding a trade for him feels unlikely.
The Suns had won between 45 and 64 games in the four seasons prior to 2024/25, but the Durant trade feels like it could be the beginning of a difficult stretch for the franchise, writes Doug Haller of The Athletic.
Eric Koreen and James Jackson of The Athletic teamed up to discuss what the Durant trade means for Phoenix going forward, with Jackson expressing surprise that the Suns weren’t able to extract either more young talent beyond Green or additional draft assets besides this year’s No. 10 overall pick.

International Notes: Thompson Twins, Micic, Brown, McCollum

May 25th, 2025 at 2:03pm CST by Arthur Hill

Amen Thompson and Ausar Thompson may represent Jamaica in FIBA competitions and possibly the Summer Olympics, according to Daniel Blake of The Jamaica Observer (Twitter link). Blake states that they have begun the process of applying for citizenship, which they’re eligible to do because their father, Troy, is from Jamaica.

Amen, a first-team All-Defensive selection, became a full-time starter for the Rockets midway through the season and gained a reputation as one of the NBA’s most versatile and athletic players. Ausar overcame a health issue that cut short his rookie year and solidified a starting spot with a Pistons team that produced one of the largest single-season improvements in NBA history.

Blake adds (via Twitter) that Jamaica is making a serious upgrade to its basketball program, with Clippers guard Norman Powell already committed to playing in pre-qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA World Cup this summer. Blake states that other targets include Suns center Nick Richards, Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart and Timberwolves forward Josh Minott.

There’s more international news to pass along:

Olympiacos in Greece is expressing interest in Suns point guard Vasilije Micic, per Kevin Martorano of Sportando. Phoenix holds an $8.1MM team option on Micic for next season, but that’s unlikely to be exercised because he only got into five games after being acquired from Charlotte at the trade deadline.
Former NBA guard Lorenzo Brown may be looking to change teams next season with T.J. Shorts expected to join Panathinaikos, writes Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews. Brown was disappointed with his role in his first season with the Greek powerhouse and wants to find a spot where he can play regularly. “I think I’ve proven myself in this league a bunch of times,” he said. “I just want to play, man, and finish strong. I’ll be 35 in August, but I still have a lot of game left. I can still dunk, still windmill—whatever you need me to do. I just want to play and compete. I think I was a little out of the loop this year. It was a little weird. My brothers fought for me all year. That brotherhood—that’s what matters most.”
Errick McCollum, currently with Fenerbahce in Turkey, told Antonis Stroggylakis of Eurohoops that he received NBA offers earlier in his career, but he opted for the security of playing overseas. The 37-year-old point guard is the older brother of the Pelicans’ CJ McCollum. “I had some opportunities. But the role wasn’t right,” he said. “Sometimes it was third point guard. Not many minutes, minimum contract. It just wasn’t right in my career. For other people, it may be good. But I’m a guy who wants to play. I want to have an impact. Be out there on the court making a difference.”

Pacific Notes: Durant, Edwards, James, Harden

February 16th, 2025 at 5:46pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Suns got off to an 8-1 start but it’s been a rocky ride since that point. They entered the All-Star break with a 26-28 record, 11th in the Western Conference. At All-Star media day on Saturday, Kevin Durant gave his take on why they’ve faltered, as The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin relays.

“We started well,” he said. “I feel like we definitely could be playing better. I feel like there’s a couple factors. We had some guys in and out of the lineup. We’re not rebounding well, turning the ball over. I think just fundamental stuff I think we’ll be better. If we fix that coming out of the break, I think we’ll have a better chance to win some basketball games.”

Durant believes the club will finish strong, citing the recent additions of Nick Richards and Bol Bol to the starting five.

“We made a couple lineup changes, too, that will help us out, adding more size to our starting lineup, so that may help, as well,” Durant said. “Our last few games, we’ve just been playing a better brand of ball. Even though we lost two, I feel like we’re just playing a better brand of ball, a more sustainable brand with the lineup switches like that.”

We have more from the Pacific Division:

The Timberwolves reportedly made a last-ditch attempt prior to the trade deadline to engage in talks with the Suns regarding Durant. Fellow Western Conference All-Star Anthony Edwards couldn’t believe the Suns even entertained offers for Durant, according to Rankin. “Yeah, I was super surprised,” Edwards said. “Didn’t think Phoenix would be trying to trade him.”
LeBron James will become the third player in NBA history to appear in an All-Star Game after turning 40. James will also be making his 21st appearance in the game and he’s humbled by the opportunity. “Special thanks to my fans that voted me in their portion,” the Lakers forward said, per Khobi Price of the Orange County Register. “The coaches, the players who had anything to do with me being a part of it. It’s always special and very humbling and I don’t take it for granted being an All-Star. It’s something that, when I was a kid, I always watched the All-Star Game and had the opportunity to do and I always wanted to be on that floor. But it’s always special. I’m pretty happy about it.”
James Harden is making his first All-Star appearance since 2022. The Clippers guard was confident he could reach that level again, he told Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. “I never doubted it,” Harden said. “It was me just, you know, finally being healthy and getting back to my zone. Getting back to who I am and here I am.” Harden is averaging 21.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game this season.