Mat Ishbia: Suns are having 'a really disappointing year'
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia hasn't been impressed by his team's performance this season.
"It's been a really disappointing year. Very disappointed," Ishbia said, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "There's not a person in the organization that doesn't feel that way. We had high expectations. We felt really good about where (we were) going into the season, and we've not met any of those expectations."
The Suns possess the most expensive trio in the NBA, with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal combining to make $150 million this season. Yet Phoenix sits six games below .500 with 16 contests remaining and is 2.5 games behind the Dallas Mavericks for the final play-in spot in the West.
"So what's the reason?" Ishbia said. "I don't have the answer. If I had the answer, I'd fix it right now.
"I still believe in our team. I still believe in coach (Mike) Budenholzer. I believe in the guys we have. And at the same time, at the end of the season, if we don't get to where we expect to get to, I'll have enough data and evidence that it didn't work or it did work. And then we'll make decisions based on that."
One of those decisions could include moving Durant, as the Suns will reportedly look to trade him if they don't make a serious run down the stretch.
However, Phoenix likely won't rebuild. Ishbia said the Suns could instead "pivot and reload" around Booker. The Houston Rockets have reportedly shown interest in Booker, but those conversations were apparently brief.
"Never happen," Ishbia said. "So, here's what I'll tell you: I have Devin Booker in (his) prime. In order to win an NBA championship, you got to have a superstar. You got to have a great player."
Booker also said he wants to remain a Sun and win a championship in Phoenix.
"That's the responsibility of being a franchise player, and I wear that with honor," Booker said. "So it might not look the most pretty right now, but we got to get it done, and I'm going to do it."
Despite the disappointing season, Ishbia wants to continue to strive for a title.
"Maybe next year, we won't be as good, but we're going to try again," Ishbia said. "The next opportunity we have, we're going to try to win and compete. And it will work. We will win championships here in Phoenix. Might not be this year, but I promise you, we are going to do it."