Phoenix Suns Wiretap

James Jones: Suns Won't Break Up Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal Trio

May 18, 2024 9:29 AM

James Jones believes in the roster he's built for the Phoenix Suns. So much so, that despite facing second apron restrictions, Jones shut down any talk that he'd break up his big three. Jones said there is no scenario in which the Suns would trade Kevin Durant, Devin Booker or Bradley Beal this offseason.

Phoenix has over $194 million in guaranteed salary committed to just seven players for next season. The second apron is projected to be set at $189.5 million. That means the Suns will have several restrictions for filling out the rest of their roster. Phoenix can re-sign their own free agents, sign their own draft picks, sign players to minimum contracts, and make heavily restricted trades.

The Suns are expected to be in a similar situation through next summer, as well. Durant's contract runs out after the 2025-26 season. At that point, Phoenix may see start to see some wiggle room under the tax aprons and maybe even the tax itself.

John Gambadoro/Arizona Sports 98.7 FM

Tags: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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Suns Expected To Hire Matt Tellem For Front Office Role

May 17, 2024 11:42 PM

The Phoenix Suns are expected to hire Matt Tellem for a role in their front office.

Tellem currently serves as vice president of strategy for the Brooklyn Nets.

Tellem is the son of Arn Tellem, who is former agent and current executive with the Detroit Pistons. 

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Mike Budenholzer Talks About Dream Job With Suns, Need To Add Point Guard

May 17, 2024 11:39 PM

Mike Budenholzer had his introductory press conference as head coach of the Phoenix Suns on Friday. 

"I'm excited about working with this roster and these players," Budenholzer said. "We have great players. And with great players come great expectations. I think we embrace that."

Budenholzer return to coaching after his dismissal in 2023 by the Milwaukee Bucks.

"This year, for me, was really healthy," Budenholzer said. "I kind of had a list of priorities, diving into my kids and my family, super important. We've been through a lot. So really, the time with my kids was just amazing. My son's a senior in high school -- going to every one of his games -- driving home you're like, 'Wow, I got a gift."

While the Suns are limited on how they can remake their roster, Budenholzer said he'd at least like to add a point guard.

"The conversations have been great and there's no doubt that we need to look at the whole roster and talk about point guard," Budenholzer said. "I'm sure it's a hot-button issue here, whether it's with the media, players or the front office. We need to think about it.

"We need to be able to play without one. We probably need to be able to have one. We need to be versatile -- play different ways."

Budenholzer ultimately talked about coaching the Suns is his dream job.

"The biggest message I want you to hear is that I would coach this team if it was on the moon," Budenholzer said, grinning. "I would coach this team if it was in Alaska. If these players were in Denmark. ... I would go anywhere to coach this team."

ESPN

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Rockets Offered Nets Their Own Picks Back In Exchange For Suns' Picks

May 13, 2024 5:33 PM

While the Houston Rockets were linked with a trade pursuit of Mikal Bridges back in January, they were also seeking a way to convert some of their future picks into picks that stretch further out into the future.

During that trade discussion, the Rockets offered the Brooklyn Nets their own first round picks back to them in exchange for the picks from the Phoenix Suns.

The Nets declined that scenario as they were pursuing a spot in the playoffs last season.

The Rockets ultimately held onto Brooklyn's pick in the 2024 draft and it moved up in the lottery to No. 3. 

Houston could reach out to other teams with a similar stockpile of picks such as the Utah Jazz or the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Rockets traded James Harden to the Nets in 2021 for unprotected first round picks in 2022, 2024 and 2026, along with pick swaps in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027. Brooklyn subsequently traded Kevin Durant to the Suns in 2023 for first round picks in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029, as well as a pick swap in 2028.

Jonathan Feigen/Houston Chronicle

Tags: Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Frank Vogel's Assistants Will Not Be Retained Under Mike Budenholzer

May 12, 2024 12:24 PM

Mike Budenholzer will not retain Frank Vogel's assistant coaches, sources told Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report.

It was reported earlier in the week that the Suns are expected to offer David Fizdale a role in the front office, though Fizdale is likely to reject the position.

Chris Haynes/Bleacher Report

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Suns To Offer David Fizdale Front Office Role

May 11, 2024 12:00 PM

The Phoenix Suns are expected to offer lead assistant David Fizdale a job in the front office.

The move comes after the Suns hired Mike Budenholzer as the team's new head coach.

Fizdale is not expected to accept the offer, according to The Athletic. 

Shams Charania, Doug Haller & Eric Nehm/The Athletic

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Suns To Hire Mike Budenholzer On Deal Worth Approximately $10M Per Season

May 10, 2024 11:01 AM

The Phoenix Suns will hire Mike Budenholzer on a contract worth approximately $10 million per season.

Budenholzer will return to coaching one season after he was fired by the Milwaukee Bucks. Budenholzer's Bucks defeated the Suns during the 2021 Finals.

The Suns parted ways with Frank Vogel as head coach this week after one season in the job.

After a disappointing first round exit, the Suns intend to keep their core of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal in place. 

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Mike Budenholzer Emerges As Top Candidate For Suns

May 9, 2024 5:16 PM

Mike Budenholzer is the leading prominent candidate to replace Frank Vogel as head coach of the Phoenix Suns. The Suns fired Vogel on Thursday.

Budenholzer was fired by the Milwaukee Bucks last season after their first round exit against the Miami Heat.

There is momentum on a Budenholzer deal and he has begun working on building an assistant coaching staff to bring with him.

Budenholzer is a native of Arizona and has been linked with the Suns' job in the past.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Frank Vogel Fired By Suns

May 9, 2024 5:14 PM

The Phoenix Suns have fired Frank Vogel as head coach after one season. Vogel, who went 49-33 in Phoenix, was signed to a five-year, $31 million deal in June 2023. 

The Suns were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.

Mike Budenholzer is expected to be a prominent candidate to replace Vogel.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Suns Intend To Keep Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal

May 7, 2024 10:35 AM

The Phoenix Suns' disappointing first round performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves has led to some speculation that they may have to break up their superstar duo of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in order to field a more balanced roster.

"Do people in the league say that?" said Brian Windhorst on The Rich Eisen Show. "Yes, they do. I talk to multiple people who think that's what they're going to have to do that. Do the Suns say that? No, they do not.

"I think the Suns' intention is to keep all three of these star players. Tweak the roster, tweak some of their systems and processes and try to be better next year."

Windhorst also stressed how Durant spoke about how the Suns could benefit from continuity. 

The Suns have also yet to publicly decide the future of Frank Vogel as head coach.

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Tags: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Suns Still Deciding Future Of Frank Vogel As Head Coach

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Mat Ishbia: The House Is Not On Fire, We're In A Great Position

Baxter Holmes/ESPN

Kevin Durant Eligible To Extend With Suns Beginning July 8th

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Kevin Durant Never Felt Comfortable With Suns Offense

Shams Charania & Doug Haller/The Athletic

Suns To Take 'Hard Look' At Coaching Change; James Jones Expected To Remain As GM

Shams Charania & Doug Haller/The Athletic

Frank Vogel Says He Has 'Full Support' Of Mat Ishbia

Baxter Holmes/ESPN

Kevin Durant Plans To Play 'Until The Wheels Fall Off'

Baxter Holmes/ESPN

Grayson Allen Day-To-Day With Ankle Injury, X-Rays Negative

ESPN

RealGM Radio: Seth Partnow On The Playoffs (Apr 2024)

RealGM Staff Report

Kevin Young To Leave Suns To Become Head Coach Of BYU

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Kevin Durant On Avoiding Injuries: No Players Flopped Into My Legs This Year

Duane Rankin/Arizona Republic

Grayson Allen, Suns Agree To Four-Year, $70M Extension

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

NBA Playoffs 2024: Western Conference First Round Matchups

RealGM Staff Report

Frank Vogel Says Suns Level Of Frustration Is 'High'

Gerald Bourget/PHNX Sports

Isaiah Thomas, Suns Sign Contract For Remainder Of Season

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Hornets To Interview Charles Lee, David Adelman, Jordi Fernandez, Kevin Young

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Isaiah Thomas, Suns Sign Second 10-Day Contract

RealGM Staff Report

Suns-Nuggets Averages 1.4M Viewers On ESPN

Jon Lewis/Sports Media Watch

Grayson Allen Not Thinking About His Next Contract Yet

Duane Rankin/AZ Central

Isaiah Thomas, Suns To Sign 10-Day Contract

Shams Charania/The Athletic