News from around the NBA 2025-2026

[Hoop Head]

The KD deal started us down the wrong path but the Beal and Nurkic trades were unforgivable in hindsight. We should have draft picks, cap space and Toumani Camara.

I'm still salty over Camara. We made 3 boneheaded moves within 4-5 months, starting with the KD deal. Then the Ayton/Camara for Nurkic/Allen/Little/Johnson deal. CP3 for Beal/Goodwin. Of course there were picks included in all but each one of those trades really set a handicap on this team for the next 6 years or so. The hole we're in is just so deep that we need to bite the bullet and sit for a year or two rather than pretend we can compete.

 

[Raindog]

I'm still salty over Camara. We made 3 boneheaded moves within 4-5 months, starting with the KD deal. Then the Ayton/Camara for Nurkic/Allen/Little/Johnson deal. CP3 for Beal/Goodwin. Of course there were picks included in all but each one of those trades really set a handicap on this team for the next 6 years or so. The hole we're in is just so deep that we need to bite the bullet and sit for a year or two rather than pretend we can compete.

Exactly. James Jones made all those trades because he was basically a one trick pony GM who didn't want to bother with scouting, drafting, and building for the future in the way sensibly managed teams do.

Also, he seems to have been blindsided by the bargaining agreement which is a pretty massive error for someone whose job was basically to keep his eye on how payroll would affect the team into the future, especially when he was mortgaging away the team's drafts for the next half decade.

Ishbia bears some responsibility, too, of course. I think he was giddy and starstruck at the prospect of adding some big name guys to the roster and overly eager to make a big splash with his new team. He was obviously listening to bad advice from Jones (and probably Isiah Thomas, too) and didn't really do his own due diligence.

 

[Hoop Head]

Exactly. James Jones made all those trades because he was basically a one trick pony GM who didn't want to bother with scouting, drafting, and building for the future in the way sensibly managed teams do.

Also, he seems to have been blindsided by the bargaining agreement which is a pretty massive error for someone whose job was basically to keep his eye on how payroll would affect the team into the future, especially when he was mortgaging away the team's drafts for the next half decade.

Ishbia bears some responsibility, too, of course. I think he was giddy and starstruck at the prospect of adding some big name guys to the roster and overly eager to make a big splash with his new team. He was obviously listening to bad advice from Jones (and probably Isiah Thomas, too) and didn't really do his own due diligence.

I don't know how I forgot the new CBA. The fact JJ didn't accept for that in any way should have cost him his job immediately, like once the CBA was announced. He was the Treasurer of the Player's Association before joining this team's front office and walked into the leagues front office once he was let go. He clearly knew people involved and how they operated. He gave Brooklyn everything they wanted and then proceeded to empty our cupboards on Beal while taking a second mortgage trading Ayton. He makes Zeke's tenure in New York look like the Spurs.

I think I mentally blocked the CBA because it was already bordering on unhealthy how I felt about James Jones but I'll admit I am a full blown hater at this point who hopes he the best thing that happens in each of his days is stepping on legos.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I have a question. Have the Suns ever protected a first round pick that they have traded? Under any Gm, ever? I can’t remember them doing it once.

 

[Mainstreet]

Good luck Grayson Allen. Lots of fond thoughts about your time here in Phoenix. The same with Royce O'Neale.

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