(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Mat Ishbia, owner of the Phoenix Suns, recently said his team isn’t going to make major changes this summer.
That being said, he isn’t opposed to trading away future draft picks.
According to Evan Sidery, the Suns plan to shop around their No. 22 overall pick in this year’s draft and their 2031 first-round pick, which can be dealt away on draft night.
Speaking of these picks, Ishbia made it clear that he values win-now talent over up-and-coming players who aren’t yet in the league.
Ishbia said, per Sidery:
“If fans like to look in the future and say, ‘Hey, I really like that 2031 draft pick, because maybe that seventh-grader is gonna be really good and we’re gonna draft them and one day he’s gonna be a player,’ you ain’t going to like the Phoenix Suns. Because we’re gonna say, ‘Draft picks are to get great players.’”
The Suns plan to shop the No. 22 overall selection and their 2031 first-round pick in trade talks this offseason, which are officially eligible to be dealt on draft night.
Suns owner Mat Ishbia views draft picks as assets for established players instead of trying to develop… pic.twitter.com/XV9rkg2MDZ
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 3, 2024
Ishbia is obviously interested in bringing established players to the Suns and is willing to part ways with draft picks in order to make that happen.
On one hand, that makes sense because two of the Suns’ biggest players, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, are aging and likely won’t be playing for much longer.
Therefore, Ishbia wants to surround them with talent that is able to play and win right now.
On the other hand, the Suns have spent so much money and assets recently to rebuild the team and that means that their long-term future is looking rather bleak.
By giving away draft picks, the team will be without rookies for many years.
Ishbia is solely focusing on the Durant era and isn’t paying much attention to what will come after.
Is that a smart move for the Suns after their latest disappointing postseason?
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