Mat Ishbia acknowledges that there’s talk during the offseason about the Phoenix Suns facing challenges like having a top-heavy roster, salary cap constraints, and limited flexibility after a disappointing season.
However, Ishbia disagrees with this narrative.
He says, “The idea that everything is falling apart is not true. The Phoenix Suns are doing well. Really well. Not as good as we aim to be. Not as good as we’ll be next year. That’s what we need to figure out — what adjustments we need to make to win a championship next year.”
Ishbia, along with Suns general manager James Jones, spoke to the media on Wednesday, following their team’s elimination from the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite having high hopes for a championship, the Suns’ performance was lackluster.
Ishbia, who divides his time between Michigan and Arizona, is back in Arizona for player exit interviews and to plan the team’s direction for the next season. This includes deciding whether coach Frank Vogel will continue for another season.
While Ishbia refrained from commenting on Vogel’s performance until they had spoken, he emphasized the importance of continuity.
Jones expressed support for Vogel, stating, “Given the circumstances, I think Frank did a great job. We put together a very talented team, primarily with three scorers. Whenever you try to get players to adjust their games, there’s a transition period. It can be challenging, but I believe he handled it well this year.”
Vogel faced difficulties due to the team’s questionable roster construction. The Suns lacked a true point guard, relying on players like Booker and Beal to fill that role, and struggled with turnovers throughout the season. Additionally, their bench depth was limited.
Jones mentioned that the team is open to adding more ballhandlers for the next season, but they need to find the right fit.
He asked, “Sure, adding more ballhandlers sounds good, but who do you want? Who is available considering our current roster? Who can seamlessly integrate with our team?”
