The Phoenix Suns have been quite aggressive since new owner Mat Ishbia took over.
Ishbia didn’t hesitate to pull off a big trade for Kevin Durant, even if that meant jeopardizing the team’s future.
Likewise, the new owner didn’t bat an eye to part ways with Monty Williams, regardless of the fact that he had been the winningest coach in the league since 2021.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, that’s just how they’ll conduct business from now on in the desert.
“It was Mat Ishbia again, who effectively is running, overseeing basketball operations. General Manager James Jones, his influence has been diminished there. This is a Mat Ishbia production right now.”@wojespn on the Phoenix Suns 😬pic.twitter.com/XXbywWSKy5
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 14, 2023
Per Woj, GM James Jones now has a diminished role and less authority, as Ishbia will have a hands-on approach and call the shots in the Valley of the Sun.
The Suns have been on the verge of winning an NBA championship for three years now, and Williams has been a two-time NBA Coach of the Year since taking the reins of the team.
Sometimes, things run their course, and it’s not the coach’s fault, but he still ends up being the fall guy for a team that falls short of the goal.
Even so, some think Williams’ rotations were questionable, and it was more than evident that he didn’t get along with Deandre Ayton, so maybe letting him go was the right decision.
Now, the Suns will have a tough time finding the right guy to take over, especially considering they’ll have to compete with the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors, and while coaching that team could look fun on paper, Kevin Durant has a history of insubordination that might scare some candidates away.
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Doc Rivers Comments On Suns Firing Their Head Coach