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The Phoenix Suns spent an estimated $259.5 million last season in salary and luxury tax bills (third most in the league) to finish sixth in the West and get swept out of the playoffs by Minnesota in the first round. Phoenix’s bill is expected to jump to $447 million this season.
That has led some people outside Phoenix to wonder just how deep into his pockets owner Mat Ishbia is willing to reach, and would the lack of flexibility in roster building because of the second apron have Kevin Durant starting to get restless? Of course, that led to internet Durant trade speculation, all backed by nothing (Durant has two seasons left on his current contract). Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein tried to shoot down the Durant trade talk during an interview with PHNX Sports.
“I think the most important part is you can’t just have conversations when there’s issues or things come up, right? Because then it’s not true and authentic. It goes to our care factor. So I talk to KD all the time about how his life is, about the Olympics…
“He loves it here. We talk to Rich Kleiman, who’s his [business] partner all the time about the vision and what we’re building, and everyone’s really happy, and I think we’re gonna have a really , really good year. And Kevin’s part of all the discussions about the vision for the team, all the stuff we’re doing on the court, off the court. So the fact that we have all that dialogue, there’s equity built into it. If you do those things, everything else will take care of itself.”
The only way the Suns would trade Durant is if he demands it. There are currently no signs of that.
While the Suns made a few offseason moves — picking up Tyus Jones at the minimum was a steal — their biggest offseason bet was on new coach Mike Budenholzer getting more out of a top-heavy Suns roster. Bartelstein has faith that’s
going to happen.
“He is awesome. I mean, he’s the real deal. We’ve become very, very close over the three months. It’s crazy it’s been that fast. He’s so detail-oriented. He thinks Phoenix Suns all day, every day, from the biggest things of where is Kevin gonna…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/suns-ceo-bartelstein-tries-shoot-171759209.html
Author : NBC Sports
Publish date : 2024-08-16 17:17:59
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