The Phoenix Suns promote Brian Gregory to General Manager

[Superbone]

I strongly disagree with his premise that hiring from within is inherently bad.

The Suns situation is bad enough to the point that it is a little unbelievable to accept that the personnel to turn drastically improve the situation were already part of the organization.

We'll have a good read on if this was a good hire in a couple of months, so I won't waste time crying over it. But there are more red flags here than signs that this is the right direction.

Yep, let's hope in a couple months we're all singing a different tune. And I like your approach.

[Mori Chu]

My approach is, trust isn't just given, it is earned. This team blows, and the people who built it did a very bad job. Promoting from within is much more likely to be bad than good because everybody within led to this bad current outcome. It is unlikely that one of the architects of this colossal failure of a team is really the genius we need to turn everything around and become a contender. It could happen, but I really don't think it is likely at all. It would be much more likely to be successful to bring in new blood and new ideas and reset from the current failed regime. But that's just my two cents.

[ShadowHawke]

It only took Cuban 11 years to win a ring with the Mavs.

[Kryptonic]

My approach is, trust isn't just given, it is earned. This team blows, and the people who built it did a very bad job. Promoting from within is much more likely to be bad than good because everybody within led to this bad current outcome. It is unlikely that one of the architects of this colossal failure of a team is really the genius we need to turn everything around and become a contender. It could happen, but I really don't think it is likely at all. It would be much more likely to be successful to bring in new blood and new ideas and reset from the current failed regime. But that's just my two cents.

I'm with you... Had this been the first couple of months or even the first year I'd have a little more grace with their approach.

[TOO]

It only took Cuban 11 years to win a ring with the Mavs.

We also need to land a first ballot hall of famer in the draft.

[ShadowHawke]

It only took Cuban 11 years to win a ring with the Mavs.

We also need to land a first ballot hall of famer in the draft.

Would have helped not to pick the guy who could have played all three supporting roles for Dorothy.

[Superbone]

My approach is, trust isn't just given, it is earned. This team blows, and the people who built it did a very bad job. Promoting from within is much more likely to be bad than good because everybody within led to this bad current outcome. It is unlikely that one of the architects of this colossal failure of a team is really the genius we need to turn everything around and become a contender. It could happen, but I really don't think it is likely at all. It would be much more likely to be successful to bring in new blood and new ideas and reset from the current failed regime. But that's just my two cents.

I'm with you... Had this been the first couple of months or even the first year I'd have a little more grace with their approach.

Well, it doesn't matter how much trust or grace you guys have or not. Either way, we'll all just have to wait and see the outcome.

[JustWinBaby]

What legit head coach will join this dumpster fire?

A brand new one to head coaching. That's who. Only 30 NBA head coaching jobs in the world. They are paid well and are in very high demand.

I hope you guys are right and we do get an up and comer that helps turn this franchise around. It certainly will offer a large pay increase for any young assistant. It appears that there might be some great candidates in Miami, Houston and Cleveland. There certainly are others. I hope that is the direction we take, and we make the correct choice.

[Superbone]

What legit head coach will join this dumpster fire?

A brand new one to head coaching. That's who. Only 30 NBA head coaching jobs in the world. They are paid well and are in very high demand.

I hope you guys are right and we do get an up and comer that helps turn this franchise around. It certainly will offer a large pay increase for any young assistant. It appears that there might be some great candidates in Miami, Houston and Cleveland. There certainly are others. I hope that is the direction we take, and we make the correct choice.

You and all of us, brother!

[O_Gardino]

► Show Spoiler

Suns promote Brian Gregory to GM, James Jones reassigned
https://arizonasports.com/nba/phoenix-s ... y/3582392/

Gregory was hired by Phoenix as the new vice president of player programming last June, a part of the new front office hires that included assistant general manager Matt Tellem.

This past season was Gregory’s first in not only an NBA front office but the league in general. The majority of Gregory’s basketball background is in coaching at the collegiate level. That most notably began at Michigan State from 1990-96 starting as a graduate assistant and then rejoined as an assistant coach from 1999-2003, time he spent coaching Suns owner Mat Ishbia for three seasons when Ishbia played for the Spartans.

Gregory left Michigan State in 2003 to become the head coach of Dayton for eight years, posting a 172-94 record. He was then hired by Georgia Tech in 2011, where he struggled, going 76-86 and was not retained after five seasons.

Gregory spent the 2016-17 season as a consultant at Michigan State before taking on his third head coaching gig, this time at South Florida. It was another stop without much results, with six years resulting in a 79-107 record before he was fired in March 2023.

This Kellan Olson piece is well worth reading. Lot's of stuff about what did and didn't work under Jones' tenure and his avoidance of athletic players in favor of basketball IQ.

James Jones era appears to sunset

► Show Spoiler

The 2021 NBA Executive of the Year’s tenure atop the totem pole comes to an end after working with five head coaches, two owners and one interim governor since he made the immediate jump from a playing career (2003-17) to a high-ranking executive position in 2017.

“James’ contributions have been instrumental to our organization, and we appreciate everything he has done for the Suns on and off the court,” Ishbia said in a statement. “We are grateful to continue to have his experience and insight.”

Jones was hired by prior owner Robert Sarver under former GM Ryan McDonough. The placement of Jones as GM in 2019, his hiring of head coach Monty Williams and eventually trading for point guard Chris Paul were some of the more pivotal moves in franchise history.

Prior to the 2019-20 season and Williams’ involvement, Phoenix was coming off four seasons with a combined record of 87-241 (.265). With Williams and Jones aligning on a style of play and type of players who gave the organization a clear basketball culture, Phoenix went 194-115 the next four years.

IMO this is what we've been missing for the last couple of seasons. I wasn't a huge Jones fan, but he and Monty did in fact work together well and it resulted in winning teams. I would have given them a couple more years together before considering a change.

Hopefully the new guy can find a coach to work with the kind of team he's going to build.

[Superbone]

► Show Spoiler

Suns promote Brian Gregory to GM, James Jones reassigned
https://arizonasports.com/nba/phoenix-s ... y/3582392/

Gregory was hired by Phoenix as the new vice president of player programming last June, a part of the new front office hires that included assistant general manager Matt Tellem.

This past season was Gregory’s first in not only an NBA front office but the league in general. The majority of Gregory’s basketball background is in coaching at the collegiate level. That most notably began at Michigan State from 1990-96 starting as a graduate assistant and then rejoined as an assistant coach from 1999-2003, time he spent coaching Suns owner Mat Ishbia for three seasons when Ishbia played for the Spartans.

Gregory left Michigan State in 2003 to become the head coach of Dayton for eight years, posting a 172-94 record. He was then hired by Georgia Tech in 2011, where he struggled, going 76-86 and was not retained after five seasons.

Gregory spent the 2016-17 season as a consultant at Michigan State before taking on his third head coaching gig, this time at South Florida. It was another stop without much results, with six years resulting in a 79-107 record before he was fired in March 2023.

This Kellan Olson piece is well worth reading. Lot's of stuff about what did and didn't work under Jones' tenure and his avoidance of athletic players in favor of basketball IQ.

James Jones era appears to sunset

► Show Spoiler

The 2021 NBA Executive of the Year’s tenure atop the totem pole comes to an end after working with five head coaches, two owners and one interim governor since he made the immediate jump from a playing career (2003-17) to a high-ranking executive position in 2017.

“James’ contributions have been instrumental to our organization, and we appreciate everything he has done for the Suns on and off the court,” Ishbia said in a statement. “We are grateful to continue to have his experience and insight.”

Jones was hired by prior owner Robert Sarver under former GM Ryan McDonough. The placement of Jones as GM in 2019, his hiring of head coach Monty Williams and eventually trading for point guard Chris Paul were some of the more pivotal moves in franchise history.

Prior to the 2019-20 season and Williams’ involvement, Phoenix was coming off four seasons with a combined record of 87-241 (.265). With Williams and Jones aligning on a style of play and type of players who gave the organization a clear basketball culture, Phoenix went 194-115 the next four years.

IMO this is what we've been missing for the last couple of seasons. I wasn't a huge Jones fan, but he and Monty did in fact work together well and it resulted in winning teams. I would have given them a couple more years together before considering a change.

Hopefully the new guy can find a coach to work with the kind of team he's going to build.

Well, this is kind of exactly what Ishbia said he's going for. An identity and then a coach, players and style that fit that identity.

[O_Gardino]

► Show Spoiler

Suns promote Brian Gregory to GM, James Jones reassigned
https://arizonasports.com/nba/phoenix-s ... y/3582392/

Gregory was hired by Phoenix as the new vice president of player programming last June, a part of the new front office hires that included assistant general manager Matt Tellem.

This past season was Gregory’s first in not only an NBA front office but the league in general. The majority of Gregory’s basketball background is in coaching at the collegiate level. That most notably began at Michigan State from 1990-96 starting as a graduate assistant and then rejoined as an assistant coach from 1999-2003, time he spent coaching Suns owner Mat Ishbia for three seasons when Ishbia played for the Spartans.

Gregory left Michigan State in 2003 to become the head coach of Dayton for eight years, posting a 172-94 record. He was then hired by Georgia Tech in 2011, where he struggled, going 76-86 and was not retained after five seasons.

Gregory spent the 2016-17 season as a consultant at Michigan State before taking on his third head coaching gig, this time at South Florida. It was another stop without much results, with six years resulting in a 79-107 record before he was fired in March 2023.

This Kellan Olson piece is well worth reading. Lot's of stuff about what did and didn't work under Jones' tenure and his avoidance of athletic players in favor of basketball IQ.

James Jones era appears to sunset

► Show Spoiler

The 2021 NBA Executive of the Year’s tenure atop the totem pole comes to an end after working with five head coaches, two owners and one interim governor since he made the immediate jump from a playing career (2003-17) to a high-ranking executive position in 2017.

“James’ contributions have been instrumental to our organization, and we appreciate everything he has done for the Suns on and off the court,” Ishbia said in a statement. “We are grateful to continue to have his experience and insight.”

Jones was hired by prior owner Robert Sarver under former GM Ryan McDonough. The placement of Jones as GM in 2019, his hiring of head coach Monty Williams and eventually trading for point guard Chris Paul were some of the more pivotal moves in franchise history.

Prior to the 2019-20 season and Williams’ involvement, Phoenix was coming off four seasons with a combined record of 87-241 (.265). With Williams and Jones aligning on a style of play and type of players who gave the organization a clear basketball culture, Phoenix went 194-115 the next four years.

IMO this is what we've been missing for the last couple of seasons. I wasn't a huge Jones fan, but he and Monty did in fact work together well and it resulted in winning teams. I would have given them a couple more years together before considering a change.

Hopefully the new guy can find a coach to work with the kind of team he's going to build.

Well, this is kind of exactly what Ishbia said he's going for. An identity and then a coach, players and style that fit that identity.

Fingers crossed.

[JustWinBaby]

I do not know if you watched that Warrior/Rocket game last night. Yeah, the players were great, but my takeaway is how hard each team played. Both Udoka and Kerr did a hell of a job getting their teams prepared to win. That is what this team has really missed the last couple of years. That is Gregory's most important task. Let's hope he gets it right.

[Superbone]

[ShelC]

What's the over/under on how many times Michigan State/Spartan basketball is mentioned.

[Superbone]

What's the over/under on how many times Michigan State/Spartan basketball is mentioned.

5?

[Superbone]

This doesn't sound good!

Report: Suns Make More Key Front Office Changes
Some key executives are reportedly no longer with the Suns after they promoted Brian Gregory to GM
https://www.si.com/nba/suns/news/report ... ce-changes

"Multiple league sources and reports indicate that the final calls on Dunn and Ighodaro weren’t made by Gregory, but rather by assistant GM Gerald Madkins, who joined the Suns in 2023 after holding a similar assistant GM role with the New York Knicks from 2017–20, brought nearly two decades of personnel and scouting experience to the table. His resume includes stops in Houston, New Orleans and the Clippers, where his ability to identify under-the-radar talent was widely respected.

"Sources confirm that Madkins and their personnel team — including David Sevush (manager of player personnel evaluation), and scouts Charles Payne and Darrel Johnson — were central in pushing for the selections of Dunn and Ighodaro, valuing their defensive upside and cultural fit within a roster built around Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.

"Sources tell me that if Gregory would have picked he would have chosen Kyle Filipowski, a Duke product and the Utah Jazz’s 32nd overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Filipowski is currently a two-way product for the Jazz and their G-League affiliate the Salt Lake City Stars.
"However, despite their contributions, Madkins, Sevush, Payne, and Johnson are all reportedly out of the organization. While their departures haven’t been officially announced, sources familiar with the Suns’ internal discussions confirm that the exits are not coincidental — they reflect a broader organizational reshuffling that’s left many inside the franchise stunned.

"There’s a belief that no one knows who’s in charge, one high-ranking league source said.

“'This is a horror movie,' they shared."

[Kryptonic]

Link was taking me to another story but from the gist of it... the key guys in our scouting department, whom were a part of Dunn and Ighodaro are all gone now. Sounded like Gregory wanted some Duke guy who's a scrub on a 2 way contract. I'm already down on Gregory and this isn't helping... Hopefully he has some better options coming in.

[Kryptonic]

I responded before you edited in the quote lol.... thanks

[Superbone]

Link was taking me to another story but from the gist of it... the key guys in our scouting department, whom were a part of Dunn and Ighodaro are all gone now. Sounded like Gregory wanted some Duke guy who's a scrub on a 2 way contract. I'm already down on Gregory and this isn't helping... Hopefully he has some better options coming in.

I fixed the link.