Suns general manager James Jones won his first NBA Executive of the Year award after just two years on the job. In a new piece, Gina Mizell of Suns.com details how Jones netted the honor.
As Mizell details, two years to the day before Jones won the award, he had his first draft as full-fledged team GM, selecting Cameron Johnson on June 20, 2019.
“[When] I was first drafted here, it was like, ‘Oh man, this team is terrible. I was a terrible pick. This team was destined for failure.’” Johnson reflected. “Then to get to this point now, going into the Western Conference Finals … (it) shows the trust and the faith and the confidence we have in one another.”
“He’s a big reason why we’re having the success, because of the team that he’s put together and the character of the players and the talent that he’s assembled,” head coach Monty Williams (a Jones hire) said of the man his NBA colleagues used to nickname “Champ.” “Just happy for him. He’s changed this thing in a short period of time.”
Among his more impactful moves for the 2020/21 season, Jones traded for All-Star point guard Chris Paul, signed starting power forward Jae Crowder, and traded for reserve swingman Torrey Craig. The Suns finished the abbreviated 2020/21 season with a 51-21 record, good for the second seed in the Western Conference.
There’s more out of the Pacific Division:
- Though Suns point guard Chris Paul will miss at least the first two games of Phoenix’s Western Conference Finals matchup against the Clippers, the 11-time All-Star has managed to remain a vocal figure even from a distance, writes Mark Medina of USA Today. “We put him on FaceTime,” All-Star Suns shooting guard Devin Booker said. “We lean on him for a lot, and we know how disappointed he is and frustrated he couldn’t be out here for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, especially knowing his past history around this time. But we know we had him all the way through. We brought him in the locker room. We had him in our after-game huddle. So he’s proud of us.” Paul continues to grapple with the NBA’s coronavirus-related health and safety protocols and will miss Game 2 of the series on Tuesday.
- Clippers forward Marcus Morris suffered a knee injury during the first half of the Clippers’ 120-114 Game 1 loss to the Suns on Sunday. Though Morris is not on the club’s official injury report ahead of Game 2 yet, L.A. coach Tyronn Lue said that he was unsure whether Morris would suit on Tuesday, tweets Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
- After Sixers All-Star point guard Ben Simmons underwhelmed in his club’s seven-game second-round series loss to the Hawks, James Ham of NBC Sports Bay Area wonders if the Kings should consider trying to trade for the All-Defensive First-Teamer. Ham notes that Simmons will not come cheap, as the 24-year-old just completed the first season of the five-year, maximum-salary extension he signed with the team in the 2019 offseason. Though Ham asserts that Sacramento would not part with young guards De’Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton, he thinks that Simmons, though not a perfect match due to his flaws as a shooter, could be worth a look.
Reporter suggestion
Hield and Bagley for Simmons
Or
Hield and Wright for Simmons
Picks
Agree?
Westbrook for Simmons (and George Hill)
Westbrook would finally be on a legit team for once since OKC if that happened.
Some internet trade ideas have
Simmons for Beal
Wizards would have Westbrook and Simmons
It’s all bricks on the court
Hield and Bagley, but that would hit us hard against the Salary Cap and he would have to change Positions since we already have 2 PGs. Maybe the PF or C spot.
“Could a package that includes Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley, along with a first-round pick or two work to land Simmons? Would Hield, point guard Delon Wright and a first-round pick do the trick?”
If the Kings propose that trade I would take it in a HEARTBEAT.
When the competition gets better, he isn’t as effective.
Playoffs Round 1 16.7 points 9.2 rebounds 8.6 assists
Playoffs Round 2 11.9 points 7.2 rebounds 6.6 assists
And then the FT% is just a downward trending line 71% to 69%, 58% to 56%, 35% to 33%.
Really in a heart beat?
Yes he was bad but he was also arguably the best defender last season and averaged 17-9-8.5 while helping take the Sixers to first in the east under a new head coach.
Buddy Heild and Bagley, you take them in a heart beat? Both have never even made the playoffs never mind how they preformed. Bagley struggles to stay fit and Heild is a great shooter but that’s about it. No way I would take that deal. Not when you haven’t looked into a CJ McCollum, whatever GSW could offer, KP, Kemba, Dloading or whoever else
I think getting Kyle Lowry at the point guard spot in FA makes a lot of sense using Danny Greens 15mil, and Mike Scott’s 5mil expiring contracts. That means your most likely trading Simmons and getting back a player to fill the 2 or 3 spot.
Realistically I think Andrew Wiggins and a GSW package makes more sense. Former first overall pick, played with Embiid in college, quietly a good defender, and averages decent numbers 18.5-5-2.5. Improved his three point shooting to 38% last year, also contested the 12th most shots in the league and the most for a wing. Obviously he’s not as good as Simmons but you take a slight hit knowing you’ll also get a pick or two and he can shoot the ball.
Overall you have to look at it like Simmons, Green and Scott or Lowry, Wiggins, Paschall and a first…
Wiggins is barely a league average player. His defense this year was his best so far, but still not good. It’s not a slight hit, it’s a massive drop off in defensive ability. I imagine the Sixers will have plenty of offers for average players and a 1st round pick. They would be better off taking another deal since GSW pick won’t be very high as Wiggins contract isn’t expiring
Regular Season stats don’t matter. Joker was the MVP and he’s riding horse carriages right now around tracks.
Ben Simmons is a 1st team NBA Defense, and his FT% and unwillingness to rise to the occasion and do anything in the 4th lost this series. He didn’t shut anyone down.
Draymond Green is also a 1st Team NBA Defense player, and his lack of shooting and poor offense also hurts GSW when you don’t have the best back court in league history both playing.
Sixers don’t have Steph and Klay.
I would take Buddy and MB3 in a heartbeat BC you have a 40% 3pt shooter on the court at all times for the next few years. And he can shoot freer throws. MB3 is a playable forward/center when you get to the playoffs. Scott wasn’t and Dwight became unplayable.
That’s depth.
Season is over Lowry isn’t signing here for the min. And you can’t trade Green and Scott BC they are FAs. Players you’d keep are Embiid Harris Maxey Thybulle and you’d deal Shake Simmons and Hill and let Dwight Green and Scott.
Draymond has a lack of offense. Have you ever watched the Warriors. Obviously not. His offense has never hurt the Warriors.
I don’t mean trade those two for Lowry I mean use the 20mil we were paying them to go towards Kyle Lowry.
Bagley is always injured and come playoffs you could play him but only if he’s not injured. Heild is a nice shooter and FT shooter but you can’t just have one dimensional players like him. We already have Curry that plays that role, and Milton off the bench.
As for that other person that’s just going on about the huge drop off defensively between Wiggins and Simmons. I’m clearly aware it’s not a slight drop off between those two. I’m just referring to Wiggins all round play and ability to shoot the ball and his above average defence makes up means it’s isn’t a huge drop off between the two and if you can get a Paschall and pick situation it would be much better.
I’d say Wiggins is better than Heild and Paschall is better than Bagley, plus GSWs pick is the 14th overall which is a nice spot to get a player
Why would the Warriors want Ben Simmons? He can’t shoot. Where would he play?
I’d take Halliburton and Bagley for Ben n Maxey.
Philly will become a star for Ben. Buddy is not better than Seth curry and bagley is gambling. It’s to soft.
Fox is the best assets and many the only asset for a trade with Ben Simmons
Fox, Wright (mabye a first) for Simmons, Maxey and Thybull.
Philly becomes a future Star PG and Kings becomes defense and with Maxey a great talent
Kings won’t give up Fox and we shouldn’t give up Simmons for anything else they have
Yes and that is the problem by the kings/Simmons trade rumors