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My guess is if they’re coming to the Suns, they push for Booker, who fits their timeline much better. And if that’s the case, the Suns are idiots if they don’t engage.
Suns Off Season Changes for 2025-26
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My guess is if they’re coming to the Suns, they push for Booker, who fits their timeline much better. And if that’s the case, the Suns are idiots if they don’t engage.
i think they're learning from our mistakes - I think a lot of teams are
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Yeah, he's the type of upgrade that could make a huge difference there. I'll be thrilled if they decide on KD and give us everything we want for him but I just can't see why they'd do it. It would definitely make them better but about the time all of their other key players hit their peak, KD would likely be retired.
The more I think about that trade proposal Chap posted, why wouldn't Houston just add Lauri themselves for a fraction of the cost? He'd probably be available for Sheppard, Whitmore, and our picks plus salary filler. He gives Houston an All-Star scorer who is long that plays SF. They'd be huge in their frontcourt.
Yuma
Suns are my Kryptonite!
OK, I have been podcasting and reading everything I can about Gregory. Unfortunately the resume is thin for front office, seemingly.
There's two main criticisms (If you disregard the prior Michigan connection):
1. Gregory has no background as an NBA front office guy and what it takes to evaluate talent.
2. Gregory's lack of experience handling the egos of agents, parents of players, players themselves, etc.
The first criticism number 1 is the one I have the most worry about. In his past positions as a college coach he had 5 total guys that later became NBA players. Granted he didn't coach powerhouse schools, but that makes me worry about the recognizing talent. Since his schools were smaller maybe it can be attributed to getting talented guys to go to smaller programs that held him back. IDK. This is the one that counts the most for us. We won't know until he supposedly does his thing from here on out. Oso and Dunn were really not the typical JJ picks. They had some size and athleticism, and couldn't shoot. So maybe the rumor he influenced these picks is true. I don't give him credit for that since it was still JJ's show. Let's see what he brings. I think this is a valid wait and see like @Chaplin says.
The second criticism I oddly don't worry about. Anyone who has had to recruit and deal with all the egos involved in college athletes, they learn how to be charming and crafty in how they deal with these scenarios. He obviously charmed Ishbia. I have way less worry about him having these skills, than the first category. Mosty of the free agents we have acquired have Ishbia stories where he pitched them on joining the Suns. We still have that resource. He also had the job this last year of the Suns, where he was basically in charge of keeping players happy, their families, etc. He actually has "some" experience in that category. I heard on one podcast he replaced a woman who had his job, and she described the job as if a free agent needed to relocate, she found housing, a car if needed, tickets for family, etc.
Of course anything less than Bob Myers is a major disappointment. I am actually surprised a billionaire owner taking over a new team doesn't start with someone like Bob Myers to retool the franchise right from the start. Go out and get the best mind you can get to build the franchise. Let them provide the blueprint. What do I know? I am obviously not a billionaire.
There's two main criticisms (If you disregard the prior Michigan connection):
1. Gregory has no background as an NBA front office guy and what it takes to evaluate talent.
2. Gregory's lack of experience handling the egos of agents, parents of players, players themselves, etc.
The first criticism number 1 is the one I have the most worry about. In his past positions as a college coach he had 5 total guys that later became NBA players. Granted he didn't coach powerhouse schools, but that makes me worry about the recognizing talent. Since his schools were smaller maybe it can be attributed to getting talented guys to go to smaller programs that held him back. IDK. This is the one that counts the most for us. We won't know until he supposedly does his thing from here on out. Oso and Dunn were really not the typical JJ picks. They had some size and athleticism, and couldn't shoot. So maybe the rumor he influenced these picks is true. I don't give him credit for that since it was still JJ's show. Let's see what he brings. I think this is a valid wait and see like @Chaplin says.
The second criticism I oddly don't worry about. Anyone who has had to recruit and deal with all the egos involved in college athletes, they learn how to be charming and crafty in how they deal with these scenarios. He obviously charmed Ishbia. I have way less worry about him having these skills, than the first category. Mosty of the free agents we have acquired have Ishbia stories where he pitched them on joining the Suns. We still have that resource. He also had the job this last year of the Suns, where he was basically in charge of keeping players happy, their families, etc. He actually has "some" experience in that category. I heard on one podcast he replaced a woman who had his job, and she described the job as if a free agent needed to relocate, she found housing, a car if needed, tickets for family, etc.
Of course anything less than Bob Myers is a major disappointment. I am actually surprised a billionaire owner taking over a new team doesn't start with someone like Bob Myers to retool the franchise right from the start. Go out and get the best mind you can get to build the franchise. Let them provide the blueprint. What do I know? I am obviously not a billionaire.
ASUCHRIS
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Well you should care - as Espo says, what happens in the next couple of months determines the course of this team for next decade of the franchise. Putting a guy in charge of those decisions who is completely unqualified is a hell of a choice.
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
we're so screwed lol - more i contemplate on what's likely more i realize - we're bottom dwelling again - a destination ambitious players avoid - a 4 year paycheck for coaches only putting in one year of work - toothless and draftless
ASUCHRIS
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No, I'm not. I'm saying "wait and see" isn't conducive to the discussion about the here and now, and basically ignores all the information we have in front of us at this point.
ASUCHRIS
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I also don't buy the "no good GM would come here" argument. The expectations are in the toilet - many people are saying that the Suns situation is the worst in the NBA in a long time. A good young up and coming GM being paid handsomely and given guarantees could definitely be interested in the position.
I don't think Ish wants a serious candidate, or to give up control. He's having too much fun playing GM.
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I really don't know what to think about moving Gregory into the GM role but I'm certainly not impressed by it. But I'm concerned I keep seeing people bemoaning our fate as a bad team for the next 5 years. We could hire the greatest GM of all time, the greatest Head Coach of all time and I still think our time in hell will run several years past that 5 year mark if we don't do a complete rebuild. If we keep building for the present, by the time we finally have equal footing as regards future draft picks we'll likely have one of the weakest rosters in the league.
Yuma
Suns are my Kryptonite!
I don't buy that argument either. I think the perception is control. Would Ishbia give up the control needed to that new GM to do what is needed? I think money is no problem. It's control.
You buy a team, you should have fun with it. I get that. IF, and we know this didn't work, but suppose getting KD and Beal HAD resulted in an NBA Championship. No one on this board would be criticizing his meddling at all. We would all be happy, and singing his praises. Of course that didn't happen, so now the fall out.
I think there will obviously be "meddling" by owners. Why by a luxury car, and then be expected to let others drive it, but you? I know that's not directly applicable to a sports team, but you get the gist of what I am saying. The last owners we have had, one group was too poor to be get to the next level, the next ownership group kept running the franchise as a money maker only and refused to spend for those last pieces to take a shot, and now this group tries to spend their way through problems in general (until the recent hire of our new GM). In theory, I want the last group who is willing to take the shots. Obviously there is a big learning curve to this group. In hindsight, I would have loved group one to merge with group two, for more of, "If we had the money, here's what we would have done, approach."
The only way we get out of this is more athleticism, and bigger guys. This is what the Western Conference, and the NBA, in general is going to. The CBA model is for each team to have 1-2 stars, and then the rest are support players. We have three stars and cannot sustain our current model. Someone will have to go. IF this new GM can figure a successful way out of this, I will tip my hat to him.
Yuma
Suns are my Kryptonite!
I think the odds are in your favor on this. Like many are saying, Espo, Kellan Olsen, Brandon Kleen, etc., it is possible to avoid this scenario, but you have to thread the needle perfectly. The Suns have obviously painted themselves into the hardest corner to get out of. It's going to take stellar management to get out of this situation.
I think it's a little comical how some believe Gregory, who is a former coach of Ish, isn't someone Ish respects and hired as a front to meddle.
Where we differ is that beyond those 5 years. I think we're in for some pain, albeit less than this season because even the Igor Suns were more entertaining. We need to add some draft capital but I wouldn't be opposed to adding draft capital for when we start controlling our own destiny as in picks in 2030 or later. We're screwed now and it'll take time to build and develop a core but I don't believe we can acquire a core before then. Time will tell but the future isn't bright and that has virtually nothing to do with the new GM, it was set in motion in 2023. That will go down as one of the darkest years in Suns history. KD trade, Beal deal, Monty fired, Ayton shipped off, etc.
ASUCHRIS
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Not nearly as hilarious as thinking a complete NBA neophyte who ONLY has an NBA GM job because his ol pal from Michigan State gave him one will be working autonomously and not hand in glove with Ish.
You scoffing at the most obvious reality is totally on brand though.
I know you struggle thinking for yourself so keep quoting podcasters as if that demonstrates anymore than you're a loyal consumer. We both know you can't form your own opinion on anything.
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Is this P&R? It's sure starting to feel like it.
It shouldn't. I've kept what I've said Suns related 100%. ASUChris' whole argument is "This podcaster says..." as a rebuttal to anyone here who disagrees with his view.
No one has said Ishbia won't be involved. He didn't pay a few billion for courtside seats. There's a reality in between the extremes he paints where Ishbia is the Wizard of Oz and not involved at all. That nuance has been ignored because Espo said (insert social media link here).
ASUCHRIS
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No, it's not. I've stated plenty of my own reasons for why I don't like the move, but you feign ignorance to be a jerk, per usual. Not angry just sober is really the perfect avatar for you - you at least got one thing right.
There are lots of people who are much more informed than you who have much more valid opinions based on facts, yet you think you know better. (It's really how you tend to operate in every facet, as we've seen in P&R - kudos to you for being consistent!)You have no interest in trying to sell the merit of a Gregory hire or having a discussion - just the same boring personal attacks. For the good of all of us, I'll stop wasting my time responding to you.
Just can't leave P&R alone, can you? I never claimed to be an expert on anything or an authority but I am entitled to my opinion and you take issue with that. You keep bringing in outside nonsense, not me. Not surprising you want to project now though since you're regularly oblivious. This is funny, genuinely.
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Oh, I don’t think there’s any way we’re not terrible for 5 years. But this is the offseason that probably determines if we’re awful for another 5 years after that, pretty much dampening hope for at least a decade.
A smart GM has two very valuable pieces they can trade to start the rebuild immediately. But Ish has made it clear that’s not what he wants to do which is why he probably went in house with a yes man.
This thread is going to a take a time out if cooler heads don’t prevail.
We can only hope.
Ouchie-Z-Clown
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I wouldn’t. I would continue to draft all those young players and use them to backfill their talent as they become too expensive. Their youth still has so much growth potential too.
I’d do the same if I were OKC. Just keep adding talent.
