A recent report from ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz portrayed the situation in Phoenix as one long plagued by dysfunctional leadership, from owner Robert Sarver on down, and questioned the Suns‘ current front office structure, which features James Jones and Trevor Bukstein operating as interim co-GMs. For his part though, Jones believes he, Bukstein, and the rest of the club’s current management group has done well dealing with a challenging situation after former GM Ryan McDonough was unexpectedly fired in October.
“I think we’ve done a pretty damn good job,” Jones said, per Gina Mizell of The Athletic.
Within her look at the Suns’ front office situation, Mizell notes that, despite not fully replenishing their scouting department after some dismissals last fall, the Suns have been active when it comes to scouting college prospects, sending personnel to multiple ACC, SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, and Murray State games over the past couple of months.
“The perception is that we’re not out there,” Jones said. “We are out there.”
While they haven’t replaced all the basketball evaluators that were fired along with McDonough, the Suns did quietly hire longtime NBA guard Ronnie Price as a scout, Mizell notes, confirming a previous report from John Gambadoro of ArizonaSports.com. The franchise has also “taken steps to add offseason consulting help” for evaluating international draft-eligible players, though there are no top-tier European prospects like Luka Doncic available this year, Mizell writes.
Here’s more from out of Phoenix:
- Suns forward T.J. Warren, who has been sidelined since January 22 with an ankle injury, remains out for tonight’s game against Utah. However, head coach Igor Kokoskov said on Tuesday that the club has yet to have any discussions about shutting down Warren for the season, tweets Mizell.
- Although it’s clear that 2018 lottery pick Mikal Bridges will be a building block for the Suns going forward, it remains to be seen whether 2017 lottery pick Josh Jackson is still a part of that core group, according to Bob Young of The Athletic. As Young outlines, Jackson’s long-term place in Phoenix will be even more up in the air if Kelly Oubre re-ups with the team this summer.
- Heading into Wednesday night, the Suns have won five of their last seven games, a stretch that coincides with Devin Booker being as healthy and productive as he has been all season, writes Cody Cunningham of Suns.com. While the hot streak may cost Phoenix the top spot in the 2018/19 Reverse Standings, Booker’s run is a positive sign as he prepares to enter the first season of his five-year, maximum-salary extension this summer.
- In a separate article for Suns.com, Cunningham explores how the Suns’ young players are looking to develop leadership skills.
The Suns office is whack. Tanking isn’t their option but look at all the ill signings the last years. Elfrid Payton, Greg Monroe. Losing Tyson Chandler. Now a top signer Ayton can’t have veteran advice from anyone but Jamal Crawford. Dipping into G League talent like Mike James didn’t help the Suns do anything and now they’re settling with guys like Tyler Johnson and Richaun Holmes. That will never help guys move on the court and neither does it help coach Kokoskov. How could he even try to balance their team with such low talent?
Waiving Tyler Ulis? Losing guys like Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe when your team is in dire need of a Point Guard to back up Devin Booker at the 2 spot after signing him to a larger than life contract? Booker’s homies from Kentucky and leaving your only talent to nothing?
It’s good to see the suns getting some wins, though they need to remain in contention for a top 2 pick. My fear would be them ending up number 3 and being stuck taking another wing with Zion and Morant gone
With a dozen games left and the odds changed, it is more about pingpongballs than the basketball.
Enjoy the wins!
They are the worst team in the West. But they need to fight hard for a fourth-or-less pick. They’ve had all year with Ayton and nobody is crying cry-baby for them. Not letting Josh Jaskson shine this year has no doubt cost them.