Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia has been all business ever since he became the owner of the franchise. And in his five moves ever since he took over the reins, he has made five blockbuster moves that show he wants to create a powerful superteam.
His bid to purchase the Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury for $4 billion was accepted in December 2022, the sale of which was approved by the league on February 6, 2023. Subsequently, Ishbia made his plans clear.
Below are his first five moves after taking ownership:
February 9, 2023: Traded For Kevin Durant
Less than a week after the NBA approved the sale of the Suns, Ishibia made his first move with a blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant. On February 9, 2023, they engaged in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets for Durant and TJ Warren in exchange for Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Jae Crowder, four unprotected first-round picks, and a 2028 first-round pick swap.
The trade instantly elevated Phoenix as a title contender, and Durant proved his worth by averaging 26.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.
While they did coast to the playoffs and won the first round against the LA Clippers, they were undone by the Denver Nuggets in the second. But the move of trading for Durant meant that Ishbia made his intentions of creating a superteam very clear.
May 13, 2023: Fired Monty Williams As Head Coach
Soon after the Suns’ disappointing second-round exit from the playoffs, Ishbia fired Monty Williams as the head coach. The team had signed Williams in May 2019 for a five-year deal, but the new owner felt that changes were in order.
In 2021, Williams led the Suns to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993, but the team didn’t make the summit overtime and saw Ishbia fire the coach who was named Coach of the Year in 2022. Williams will now coach the Detroit Pistons in the upcoming season.
June 6, 2023: Hired Frank Vogel As The New Head Coach
Soon after showing the door to Williams, Ishbia’s third move was hiring a defense-first coach in Frank Vogel, who led the Los Angeles Lakers to win the 2020 NBA championship.
Vogel previously served as the head coach for the Orlando Magic and the Indiana Pacers. He had tremendous success with Indiana in the 2010s, guiding them to five playoff trips in six seasons and two Conference Finals runs.
With the team primarily known for their offense, Ishbia made the logical move of having a coach who will turn them into a scrappy and pesky defensive unit.
June 18, 2023: Traded Chris Paul To The Washington Wizards
Chris Paul was traded to the Washington Wizards in a shocking and mammoth trade that saw him head to DC along with Landry Shamet, a few second-round draft selections, and some pick swaps for Bradley Beal.
At 38, Paul went through a decline last year, playing just 59 contests, averaging 13.9 points on .440/.375/.831 shooting splits, 4.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, and 1.5 steals.
Ishbia’s willingness to swap experience for precision shows that he was not afraid to sacrifice big names if it meant increasing the Suns’ chances of winning their maiden championship.
June 18, 2023: Traded For Bradley Beal
With Bradley Beal, the Suns are building a superteam for the ages. With Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Deandre Ayton in the mix, the team now has a well-rounded unit.
Along with his offensive prowess, Beal also brings the team his leadership skills from the Wizards and also the grinder mindset that Vogel has been preaching ever since he was appointed as the team’s head coach.
The latest stacked superteam in the West will surely be the cynosure of all eyes, and should they all be healthy, the Suns will be the most lethal offensive outfits. And Ishbia’s win-now mentality was on full display with this move.
Are The Phoenix Suns Indeed The Best Team In The NBA?
Given how their roster is shaping up, the Suns will surely be legitimate contenders as one of the best teams in the NBA, but they have some issues to tend to.
Soon after the Beal trade, former NBA star Kendrick Perkins labeled the Suns as the best team in the league.
“Bradley Beal, KD, and D Book? Three of the most prolific scorers in the game today on one team,” Perkins said. “James Jones is out here selling used cars for Rolls-Royce because that’s exactly what just happened. The fact that he was able to keep Deandre Ayton was huge. Look, the Phoenix Suns with this Big 3 should be the favorite to come out of the West and win next year’s title… Currently constructed, this is the best team in basketball.”
While they do look formidable on paper, the Suns need depth, and it appears that their next plan will put the spotlight on their center. Ayton looks set to be the one to be moved.
Another major concern with this team is health, as Beal, Booker, and Durant have all seen their share of injury issues over the last few years. Much depends on how the front office tackles these issues.
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