Victory laps are one of the greatest rewards in professional sports. Mat Ishbia took his on Thursday. It was richly deserved.
The Suns owner had a remarkable season. The Mercury went from last place to the WNBA Finals. His NBA team defied all odds and all critics. We no longer roll our eyes at the promise of future championships in Phoenix. We nod our heads.
Under fire and a microscope, Ishbia won the Kevin Durant trade; hired a rookie head coach who turned out to be a savant; and hired a former college basketball lifer to be his general manager, an astounding move that paid huge dividends.
Top down, it was a first-class performance from our heritage franchise. But now comes the hard part. How do the Suns win a playoff game? A playoff series? A title that’s eluded Arizona for 58 years?
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Mat Ishbia: Suns star Devin Booker is not getting traded
There is little merit behind making only minor alterations to the team Ishbia gushed over on Thursday. Yes, the Suns were hit hard by injuries, missing key players down the stretch and into the postseason. The trio of Devin Booker-Dillon Brooks-Jalen Green had precious little time to create real chemistry.
But there is also great danger in delusions. After a remarkable three months of regular season basketball, the Suns wobbled to the finish line. The team badly needs size and length. The roster needs balance. And then there’s the matter of Devin Booker.
Wise or otherwise, Ishbia made it clear on Thursday that Booker will NOT be traded. To the contrary, he boldly declared Booker will win a championship in Phoenix. The show of loyalty was heartwarming. As a sports town nourished and enlightened by longtime relationships with Larry Fitzgerald and Shane Doan – two players who loved us back and never left for greener pastures – we all know the power of fidelity and devotion in professional sports.
Except Booker no longer resembles an ascendant force who can be the main guy on a championship team, who can win big games on his own when necessary. Which means the Suns must be even better over the coming offseason. Which means Ishbia must acquire the right mix of talent around Booker to decrease the traffic around Booker, including a real threat at the rim.
Which means Ishbia is going to have to ace another big trade, probably of Jalen Green and others, threading a needle yet to be found in the haystack.
We wish him luck. And after unofficially winning Comeback Owner of the Year, he deserves some benefit of doubt.
Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7.
Follow @danbickley
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