The Phoenix Suns promote Brian Gregory to General Manager

[JJ Slim]

One thing I've been told is never trust anybody with two first names.

Or two last names?

[BigLewy]

I thought JJ did well overall, but he almost seemed to play it safe and go for singles and doubles. Obviously in hindsight, he could have made better picks a good portion of the time, but then again, going for the home run potential blew up in our faces multiple times (Bender, Chriss, Josh Jackson).

I'll reserve judgment on the new GM hire, but I can't say I'm confident right now. But hey, maybe he shocks us and is able to find a deal for Beal without gutting the available assets and brings home a ton in a KD trade.

[Split T]

JJ is smart, well liked, and seems pretty level headed. My hope is he still has a fairly strong voice in the front office. Really hard to know what was him and what wasn’t him…even going back to the McD days. Mikal is a JJ pick through and through, but McD was still technically in charge. Ayton doesn’t seem like a JJ pick though.

I think we can safely attribute everything after McD was fired to when Ishbia came on as JJ moves, but before and after is hard to know.

[The Bobster]

One thing I've been told is never trust anybody with two first names.

Wait. What?

[Superbone]

One thing I've been told is never trust anybody with two first names.

What about Mr. Three First Names?

Who's that?

[Superbone]

One thing I've been told is never trust anybody with two first names.

Wait. What?

[Superbone]

Speaking of JJ's legacy:

James Jones departs as top Suns executive with a complicated legacy
https://arizonasports.com/dan-bickley/j ... 140li2fbdl

The former Suns general manager was once two victories away from immortality and a spot in the team’s ring of honor. Now, he is unceremoniously replaced by a man with very little experience and very few credentials.

The Suns came full circle under the stewardship of Jones, from the bottom to the top and all the way back down. They are once again an NBA punchline. No amount of alignment can change their current reputation.

Oh, but Jones nearly pulled off one of the greatest feats in the history of Arizona sports. He scored the hard-earned trust of tight-fisted Robert Sarver. He convinced a meddlesome owner to give a five-year contract and real money to Monty Williams, a proven head coach who comes in demanding guardrails, a guy who does not want the owner loitering in his office after games.

Jones made that happen. He was responsible for Mikal Bridges. He drafted Cam Johnson. He convinced Chris Paul to believe in the magic that transpired at Disney World during the nightmare of COVID-19. And in July 2021, his team held a 2-0 lead on the Bucks and Mike Budenholzer in the NBA Finals.

Jones nearly delivered a storybook championship with a heritage franchise and a homegrown team that went deep inside the community, uniting Arizona in ways I’ve rarely experienced. He was sooooo close to being a forever hero.

It’s also cruel that his biggest mistake is now playing a starring role in the NBA playoffs. Jones could’ve and should’ve taken the easy layup in 2020 and drafted Tyrese Haliburton. Even worse, everyone knew it in real time. The team had an aging, injury-prone point guard in Paul, and they needed to draft and mentor his successor. Jones took a wild swing on Jalen Smith, mostly because the Lakers had just won the bubble championship with Anthony Davis and LeBron James and Jones felt desperate for frontline defense. A tragic miss.

[ShelC]

11 other teams passed on Hali right? And the Kings drafted him and then traded him?

[Split T]

Ya a lot of people missed on Hali…he was a strange situation. Covid draft…bad draft tbh. Even the highest people on Hali were high on him because they thought he was a safe pick. Never a star, but looked like a clear good player. Like a Lonzo Ball before the injuries. No one saw him being an All-NBA guy.

I had him first on my board, but that’s because I hated the draft. I didn’t like Ant(who was not good in college). James Wiseman was a big mystery. LaMelo was super talented and the one guy I probably would have taken over Hali. Toppin was the other guy I had top 3.

[ShelC]

It's just weird the obsession this fanbase has over Hali. We cry less over drafting DA over Luka and Josh Jackson over De'Aaron Fox or Markkanen.

[Split T]

Because at the time we all would’ve drafted Hali…half the board was in favor of Ayton/Josh Jackson at the time so they are easier to grasp. It’s more painful when it’s apparent with hindsight and foresight.

Also lots of people still bring up Ayton over Luka.

Hali is also better than Fox or Markkanen, so it makes sense it’s brought up more.

[JeremyG]

One thing I've been told is never trust anybody with two first names.

What about Mr. Three First Names?

Who's that?

Mike D’Antoni. Has it really been that long?

He was pretty much a disaster as GM too though I guess.

[Gladiator]

Took some time to belatedly listen to his media conference and wow, that was a train wreck. I’ve worked in a bit in communications and you can usually tell when someone knows their stuff and when someone is just throwing out buzz words and cliches. Our guy was all jargon and buzz words - alignment, vision, identity, do things differently….
I would love to be more optimistic and am usually pretty positive but I’m very confident in saying he does not have it. (Unless he got significantly better after the first 10 minutes because I couldn’t go on after that point)

Edit: he does come with a reputation as a hard worker so there is that. And I really do hope to be wrong about him.

[Superbone]

One thing I've been told is never trust anybody with two first names.

What about Mr. Three First Names?

Who's that?

Mike D’Antoni. Has it really been that long?

He was pretty much a disaster as GM too though I guess.

That's only two names for one thing. And the last name isn't a first name. It's two first names butted up against each other. They go together. Not a first name.

[BKinSJC]

One thing I've been told is never trust anybody with two first names.

What about Mr. Three First Names?

Who's that?

Mike D’Antoni. Has it really been that long?

He was pretty much a disaster as GM too though I guess.

That's only two names for one thing. And the last name isn't a first name. It's two first names butted up against each other. They go together. Not a first name.

It's intended to be a joke, because it sounds like "Mike Dan Tony"

[Charlie Smithy!]

What about Mr. Three First Names?

Who's that?

Mike D’Antoni. Has it really been that long?

He was pretty much a disaster as GM too though I guess.

That's only two names for one thing. And the last name isn't a first name. It's two first names butted up against each other. They go together. Not a first name.

It's intended to be a joke, because it sounds like "Mike Dan Tony"

All I know is, is that I always wanted to read one of assistant Coach Dan's pregame letters to Leandro Barbosa

[Superbone]

What about Mr. Three First Names?

Who's that?

Mike D’Antoni. Has it really been that long?

He was pretty much a disaster as GM too though I guess.

That's only two names for one thing. And the last name isn't a first name. It's two first names butted up against each other. They go together. Not a first name.

It's intended to be a joke, because it sounds like "Mike Dan Tony"

I get it. I guess I missed the humor part.

[Superbone]

Who's that?

Mike D’Antoni. Has it really been that long?

He was pretty much a disaster as GM too though I guess.

That's only two names for one thing. And the last name isn't a first name. It's two first names butted up against each other. They go together. Not a first name.

It's intended to be a joke, because it sounds like "Mike Dan Tony"

All I know is, is that I always wanted to read one of assistant Coach Dan's pregame letters to Leandro Barbosa

Dan Dan Toni is much "funnier" btw. I bet his letters to Leandro sounded like Rosanna Rosannadanna.

[O_Gardino]

One thing I've been told is never trust anybody with two first names.

Wait. What?

Movie announcer voice: He is BOB. He is BRAD. He is BOB THE BRAD!!!

[O_Gardino]

It's just weird the obsession this fanbase has over Hali. We cry less over drafting DA over Luka and Josh Jackson over De'Aaron Fox or Markkanen.

That's just because it's more recent and more relevant to the conversation about Jones.