Hoops Wire

Tag: phoenix suns

  • NBA Rumors: Bucks, Pelicans, Trey Murphy III, Suns, Mark Williams, Pacers

    NBA Rumors: Bucks, Pelicans, Trey Murphy III, Suns, Mark Williams, Pacers

    Bucks

    The Bucks continue to be linked to Tennessee forward Nate Ament ahead of next week’s draft.

    According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, a Bucks contingent that included general manager Jon Horst and new coach Taylor Jenkins recently traveled to meet with Ament, who is viewed by some around the league as a potential top-10 selection.

    In fact, rival teams reportedly believe Milwaukee at No. 10 could be Ament’s draft floor.

    The Clippers, Nets and Mavericks have also shown interest, per Fischer.

    Pelicans

    Meanwhile, the Pelicans continue searching for a path back into the lottery. Fischer reported that New Orleans has interest in Ament if it can acquire a top-14 selection.

    That could be noteworthy for another reason.

    Golden State, which owns the No. 11 pick, has been linked to Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III. Fischer added that New Orleans remains willing to listen on Murphy, though one rival executive indicated the asking price remains very high.

    Suns

    The Suns have issued qualifying offers to center Mark Williams and guard Koby Brea, making both players restricted free agents, per Keith Smith of Spotrac.

    Williams, of course, is the bigger name.

    Acquired from Charlotte last summer, the 7-footer averaged 11.7 points and 8.0 rebounds while appearing in a career-high 60 games. Injuries again became an issue late in the season, but Phoenix has repeatedly expressed interest in bringing him back.

    The Suns are also believed to be focused on new deals for guards Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin as they continue shaping next season’s roster.

    Pacers

    The battle for backup center minutes in Indiana could be worth monitoring.

    According to Tony East of Circle City Spin, Micah Potter and Jay Huff may find themselves competing for reserve frontcourt roles behind starter Ivica Zubac next season.

    Potter is entering an option year, while Huff remains under contract on a minimum deal.

    Neither is likely to grab many headlines, but both could factor into Indiana’s rotation decisions heading into training camp.

  • Charles Barkley wishes Suns never traded him to Rockets

    Charles Barkley wishes Suns never traded him to Rockets

    NBA, Houston Rockets, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley
    Getty

    Houston, we had a problem.

    Charles Barkley, who spent the final four seasons of his Hall of Fame NBA career in Houston, never wanted to be a Rocket.

    On Monday, he told Dan Patrick he’d hoped to finish his career as a Phoenix Sun, where he won the 1993 Most Valuable Player award.

    “I wish the Suns had never traded me to Houston,” Barkley said on The Dan Patrick Show.

    Sir Charles told Patrick that a friend in the Rockets organization called to ask him if he would ask for a new contract if Houston traded for him. Barkley thought the question was absurd because he was happy in Phoenix and there was no way (in his mind) the Suns would deal their best player.

    As Barkley tells it, days after the Suns told Barkley they weren’t considering trading him to Houston, he was, in fact, sent to Houston.

    In exchange for Barkley, the Suns received Sam Cassell, Robert Horry, Chucky Brown and Mark Bryant.

    It was a mega deal for both teams, but one that Barkley wishes never came to fruition.

    “I wanted to finish my career in Phoenix,” said Barkley. “All I wanted was a chance to win. I had four years (in Phoenix). We lost to the Bulls (in the NBA Finals). Then we lost to the Rockets in seven games.

    “One of our teams was gonna win a championship. We were the best two teams. We lost to (the Rockets) in seven games both times. I was happy with my career. I wanted to just finish it out (in Phoenix) ’cause I knew my body was starting to give out.”

    Instead, he finished his NBA journey with a couple productive seasons in Houston, some disappointment and, eventually, a ruptured quad that essentially ended his playing career.

    “I played good my first two years. My last two years I sucked as a player,” Barkley recalled.

    Despite perceiving himself as a player that “sucked,” Barkley still averaged double-doubles in all four of his seasons with Houston. It was seemingly the rest of his Rockets teammates that never quite took off.

  • NBA Notes: Kings, DeMar DeRozan, Suns, Schedule, Warriors

    NBA Notes: Kings, DeMar DeRozan, Suns, Schedule, Warriors

    Warriors Not Interested In Kings’ DeMar DeRozan As Part Of Possible Jonathan Kuminga NBA Trade
    File photo

    Kings

    DeMar DeRozan was mentioned in trade rumors before the deadline. The Kings ultimately kept their veteran scorer. Right now, they’re probably glad they did.

    DeRozan has been on a tear lately, including a season-high 41 points on Sunday.

    Coach Doug Christie says the steady presence is exactly what the Kings need.

    “He’s like a comfy blanket,” Christie said, per Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee. “It doesn’t surprise me. You watch him go about his business, you watch him work and then you see him play, it’s the same thing.”

    In other words, dependable scoring. Night after night.

    Suns

    The Suns are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. The problem is what lies ahead.

    Phoenix, currently 39-28, has the third-toughest remaining schedule in the league, according to Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. The Suns sit seventh in the West and are trying to climb out of play-in territory.

    Guard Collin Gillespie said the urgency is obvious.

    “Every game is super important,” Gillespie said. “We’ve got to take it one game at a time. We can’t let the little details slip. We know we’re fighting for something every game.”

    Phoenix wraps up a demanding road trip with stops in Boston, Minnesota and San Antonio.

    Warriors

    Warriors coach Steve Kerr once again made his case for shortening the NBA schedule.

    Kerr believes trimming the 82-game season could improve the overall product, even if it means less revenue.

    “I’m well aware fewer games would mean less revenue and everybody takes a pay cut,” Kerr said, via SNY’s Ian Begley. “I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because the quality of the product is the most important thing.”

    Kerr suggested cutting roughly 10 games from the schedule.

    “We have incredible people in this league and great fans,” he said. “I just want to make sure we give our fans the very best product we can.”

  • Suns Owner Mat Ishbia Moving Toward Buyout Of Minority Stake

    Suns Owner Mat Ishbia Moving Toward Buyout Of Minority Stake

    Mat Ishbia, Suns, NBA
    File photo

    A legal battle involving Suns owner Mat Ishbia may soon be heading toward resolution.

    According to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, a new court filing indicates the dispute between Ishbia and minority owners Scott Seldin and Andy Kohlberg is expected to move to confidential binding mediation.

    If approved by a Delaware judge, the process could allow Ishbia to buy out the pair’s combined 13 percent stake in the franchise at a price determined by a mediator. The move would likely lead to the lawsuit being dismissed.

    Seldin and Kohlberg filed suit in November 2025, accusing Ishbia of financial misconduct and mismanagement. At one point, the dispute escalated to the point where Ishbia’s majority ownership stake could have been diluted significantly.

    Ishbia has denied the allegations.

    Should the buyout move forward, Ishbia’s ownership stake would increase to roughly 96 percent. Seldin and Kohlberg are the final holdovers from the Suns’ ownership group under former owner Robert Sarver.

    Ishbia purchased the Suns from Sarver in 2023 after an NBA investigation into workplace conduct forced Sarver to sell.

    At the time, most of the team’s minority partners accepted buyout offers tied to a franchise valuation of roughly $4 billion.

    The Suns entered Monday with a 39-28 record.

  • Bodycam shows Suns’ Dillon Brooks blew 0.0 during DUI arrest

    Bodycam shows Suns’ Dillon Brooks blew 0.0 during DUI arrest

    Dillon Brooks, NBA, Suns
    Imagn

    Body camera footage is shedding more light on the recent arrest of Dillon Brooks.

    The Phoenix Suns forward was taken into custody early Friday morning in Scottsdale, Arizona, on suspicion of driving under the influence. But newly released bodycam video suggests the situation may have been more complicated.

    According to reports from Arizona Sports, Brooks was suspected of being under the influence of marijuana, not alcohol.

    The footage appears to support that.

    Brooks reportedly registered a 0.0 on a breathalyzer test during the stop, while officers told him the vehicle smelled like what one described as “a dispensary.”

    Brooks was cooperative with officers throughout the interaction, according to reports.

    At one point, he expressed concern about being handcuffed due to the broken hand he is currently rehabbing. Brooks fractured the hand last month and has been sidelined since Feb. 21.

    The veteran forward even offered a bit of commentary while riding in the patrol car.

    “I’m really in a car with you watching you drive and you’re doing the exact same thing that I’m doing,” Brooks said to the officer.

    Brooks had been enjoying one of the best seasons of his career before the injury, averaging 20.9 points while helping lift Phoenix to a surprising 35-27 record.

    He is expected to remain out another several weeks while recovering from the hand injury.

  • Suns’ Dillon Brooks arrested on suspicion of DUI

    Suns’ Dillon Brooks arrested on suspicion of DUI

    Dillon Brooks, Suns, NBA
    Getty

    Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks was arrested early Friday morning in Scottsdale, Arizona on suspicion of driving under the influence.

    According to reports from TMZ and The Arizona Republic, Brooks was pulled over for traffic violations around 1 a.m. and charged roughly 30 minutes later.

    Police transported Brooks to Scottsdale City Jail, where he was booked and later released around 3:30 a.m.

    TMZ reported that Brooks was respectful and cooperative with officers during the process.

    The Suns issued a brief statement after the news surfaced.

    “We are aware of the situation involving Dillon Brooks and are gathering more information,” the team said. “We have no further comment at this time.”

    Any potential discipline from the NBA would likely come later. The league typically waits for legal proceedings to unfold before determining whether a suspension is warranted.

    The arrest comes during a strong first season in Phoenix for Brooks, who arrived last summer in the blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Suns.

    Brooks averaged 20.9 points in 50 games before suffering a fractured left hand last month that required surgery. He remains sidelined and is not expected back until late in the season.

  • Suns’ Mark Williams diagnosed with foot stress reaction

    Suns’ Mark Williams diagnosed with foot stress reaction

    Mark Williams, Suns, NBA
    NBAE

    The Phoenix Suns will be without starting center Mark Williams for the foreseeable future.

    The team announced Thursday that Williams has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in the third metatarsal of his left foot. He will be reevaluated in two to three weeks.

    It’s unclear exactly when the injury occurred. Williams played 22 minutes in Tuesday’s win over the Sacramento Kings.

    The 24-year-old had largely avoided the injury issues that plagued him earlier in his career. After appearing in just 106 games over three seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, Williams has played a career-high 56 games for Phoenix this season.

    That durability had been a positive development for the Suns.

    Williams, the 15th overall pick in the 2022 draft out of Duke, is averaging 11.6 points and 8.1 rebounds while shooting 63.3 percent from the field in 23.6 minutes per game.

    Phoenix entered Thursday at 35-26 and faces a busy stretch ahead, with nine games scheduled between March 5 and March 19.

    In the meantime, backup center Oso Ighodaro is expected to step into a larger role, while rookies Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach could see increased minutes off the bench.

  • NBA Notes: Pelicans, Zion Williamson, Suns, Devin Booker, AJ Dybantsa

    NBA Notes: Pelicans, Zion Williamson, Suns, Devin Booker, AJ Dybantsa

    NBA, Jazz, Pelicans, Zion Williamson, Raptors
    File photo

    Pelicans

    Pelicans forward Zion Williamson saw his career-high streak of 35 straight games played end Sunday because of an ankle sprain.

    But don’t expect a long absence.

    Williamson is listed as questionable for Tuesday against the Lakers and told ESPN he expects to suit up.

    There’s more at stake than pride. Williamson can lock in at least 80 percent of his $42.2 million salary for 2026-27 if he appears in 16 of New Orleans’ final 20 games. The remaining portion becomes guaranteed if he also meets weight-related benchmarks.

    Motivation? Check.

    Suns

    The Suns are getting healthier at the right time.

    Devin Booker is off the injury report after missing four games with a right hip strain, as relayed by Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. Phoenix split those contests but ranked near the bottom of the league offensively without him.

    Newly signed swingman Haywood Highsmith also appears set to make his season debut after knee surgery last summer. With Dillon Brooks and Jordan Goodwin still sidelined, there’s an immediate opportunity for minutes.

    NBA Draft

    At the top of Sam Vecenie’s latest mock for The Athletic: AJ Dybantsa.

    The BYU freshman headlines what evaluators are calling a loaded class. Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and Duke forward Cameron Boozer remain firmly in the No. 1 conversation.

    After that? Things get murkier, especially with NIL money giving some prospects real incentive to stay in school.

  • Suns Notes: Booker nearing return, Green searching for rhythm

    Suns Notes: Booker nearing return, Green searching for rhythm

    Devin Booker, Suns, NBA
    Getty

    Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker took part in 5-on-5 work at Sunday’s practice, a significant step as he works back from a right hip strain.

    Booker has missed the past four games, but coach Jordan Ott sounded encouraged.

    “He knows his body better than anyone,” Ott said, via Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “He’s been through these processes. Incredible recovery. So, he knows how he’s supposed to feel. How he’s supposed to feel when he plays.”

    Ott added that backup guard Jordan Goodwin, who is dealing with a left calf strain, is a bit behind Booker in the recovery process.

    “He’s just now ramping up,” Ott said. “He is on the court. He was on the court today. Book is further along than Goodie, but he is starting to progress onto the court.”

    Green struggling

    Meanwhile, Jalen Green is trying to rediscover his shooting touch. Over his past four games, Green is averaging 12.8 points while shooting 28 percent from the field.

    Ott pointed to conditioning as part of the equation after Green missed extended time with recurring hamstring issues.

    “He knows he’s a little out of rhythm, but it’s good just to get him out there,” Ott said. “It’s like the consistent number of games I think is good. … He’s a little sore from it and that’s normal.”

  • NBA Moves: Timberwolves, Kyle Anderson, Suns, Jamaree Bouyea, Blazers

    NBA Moves: Timberwolves, Kyle Anderson, Suns, Jamaree Bouyea, Blazers

    Kyle Anderson, Timberwolves, Warriors, NBA
    File photo

    Timberwolves

    The Timberwolves have officially signed veteran forward Kyle Anderson after he cleared waivers.

    Anderson reached a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies following a brief four-game stint. The 32-year-old began the season in Utah before being included in a larger trade and ultimately returning to Minnesota, where he previously helped the Wolves reach the Western Conference finals.

    Known for his versatility and defense, Anderson is averaging 7.5 points in 24 games this season. Memphis will fill his roster spot by signing veteran big man Taj Gibson.

    Minnesota has been active, also adding Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips at the deadline.

    Suns

    The Suns are converting two-way guard Jamaree Bouyea to a two-year standard contract, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

    Bouyea has appeared in 33 games, averaging 6.5 points in 15.5 minutes. The move follows the waiver of Cole Anthony, who never reported after being acquired at the deadline.

    Phoenix must now fill an open two-way slot before Wednesday’s deadline.

    Trail Blazers

    The Blazers are signing guard Chris Youngblood to a two-way deal, per ESPN.

    Youngblood played 32 games with Oklahoma City earlier this season and recently averaged 23.5 points in the G League. Portland had an opening after promoting Sidy Cissoko last month.

  • Cavs, multiple others enter season with open roster spots

    Cavs, multiple others enter season with open roster spots

    Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman meets with NBA reporters.
    AP

    More than half of the 30 NBA teams are opening the season with at least one roster spot available, with the Cavaliers among them. And they are taking a patient, financially smart approach to it.

    As Hoops Rumors’ Luke Adams writes, each NBA team can carry up to 15 standard contracts and three two-way players, totaling a potential 540 roster spots across the league.

    Of those, 522 are currently filled to begin the 2025-26 season, leaving 18 open spots spread across 17 franchises.

    Cleveland is one of those teams, and the only one operating above the second tax apron. That makes any roster move an expensive one — exponentially so when factoring in luxury penalties.

    For now, Adams notes, the Cavs appear content to roll with 14 standard contracts and two two-way players, keeping both a standard and a two-way slot open.

    They could shuffle that 14th roster spot later in the season, as Thomas Bryant’s minimum contract is fully non-guaranteed. If waived before January 7, the Cavs would owe him only a prorated portion of his deal.

    While two-way players don’t count against the cap, they still come with modest salaries, and the Cavs’ decision to leave one open could be part fiscal, part strategic.

    Teams with fewer than 15 standard players are limited to 90 combined active games for their two-way players. The Cavs, with their title aspirations and tax-burdened payroll, aren’t in a rush to burn those early.

    Elsewhere, 15 other teams have one open standard roster spot, including the Celtics, Warriors, Nuggets, Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Suns, Sixers, and Rockets — most of whom are also operating above the tax line.

    Adams adds that several of those clubs are close enough to the hard cap that signing a 15th man simply isn’t possible yet.

    The Pistons, by contrast, could fill their opening the soonest, sitting more than $20 million below the tax line with no financial barriers.

    Still, with Jaden Ivey the only player currently nursing more than a minor injury, Detroit isn’t pressed to act immediately.

    The Nets are the lone team with one open two-way slot. Brooklyn’s payroll is the lowest in the league, and with every NBA team now having its own G League affiliate, Adams writes there’s “no real excuse” not to carry a full complement of two-way players once the G League season begins.

    For now, the Cavs headline the list, as the lone second-apron team. Clearly, they are choosing patience over pressure.

  • NBA Notes: Raptors, Brandon Ingram, Suns, Mark Williams, Nets

    NBA Notes: Raptors, Brandon Ingram, Suns, Mark Williams, Nets

    NBA, Brandon Ingram, Raptors
    Imagn

    Raptors

    Brandon Ingram says he’s embracing a new chapter in Toronto.

    In an interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape, the former Pelicans forward said he still has “a lot of love for New Orleans” but felt it was time for a change.

    “This team can be whatever we want it to be,” Ingram said of the Raptors. “We have everything on the defensive end. We play hard. The next thing is execution over and over again on the offensive end.

    “The East is wide open. We have a chance to be better, but we’ve got to expedite it.”

    Ingram, 28, averaged 23.2 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.1 rebounds last season with New Orleans before being dealt to Toronto in July.

    Suns

    Mark Williams looks ready to go when the Suns open the season Wednesday, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic.

    “This was the most minutes he’s seen in a scrimmage that we’ve played,” head coach Jordan Ott said. “You can see his size on both ends — offensively he puts pressure on the rim, and defensively he makes people think twice.”

    Williams, who has battled injuries throughout his young career, has appeared in only 106 of a possible 246 games since entering the league. Phoenix has been cautious with his workload this preseason, but Ott said he expects the 7-footer to start at center.

    The Suns will also mix in Oso Ighodaro, Nick Richards, and rookie Khaman Maluach as part of a “fluid” rotation early on.

    “On a night-to-night basis, we’ll have a plan,” Ott said. “But we have to be flexible and read the games to see who’s impacting winning.”

    Nets

    No. 8 overall pick Egor Demin says his foot injury predated the NBA Draft.

    The 19-year-old Russian guard/forward told The New York Post’s Brian Lewis that the plantar fascia tear he’s been rehabbing actually occurred before June — not during Summer League — and simply got worse over time.

    While the Nets expect to monitor his foot all season, Demin said he doesn’t anticipate needing surgery. He made his preseason debut Thursday and impressed, scoring 14 points with five rebounds in 19 minutes against the Raptors.

    “He was excellent,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “He’s composed, he talks to his teammates, and he made it look easy. He shot it when he was open, got to the line, and rebounded. It was good to see.”

  • Rumor: Kings, Suns Sign-And-Trade Talks For Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga Have Not ‘Progressed To A Serious Level’

    Rumor: Kings, Suns Sign-And-Trade Talks For Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga Have Not ‘Progressed To A Serious Level’

    Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors, Kings, Suns, NBA
    Getty Images

    The Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns have held sign-and-trade talks for Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, but no deal is close, according to NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. 

    The Warriors don’t like what the Kings or Suns are offering for Kuminga, who is a restricted free agent. 

    “Only the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns have engaged in sign-and-trade discussions with Golden State, none of which have progressed to a serious level, league sources told ClutchPoints,” Siegel wrote. 

    All signs point toward Kuminga starting next season on the Warriors since there is no team with cap space to sign the swingman to an offer sheet. 

    Kuminga, who doesn’t have a good relationship with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists for Golden State last season in 47 games. The 22-year-old wing shot 45.4% from the field, 30.5% from beyond the arc and 66.8% from the free-throw line. 

    Kuminga was the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He enters next season with career averages of 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists with Golden State. 

    The Warriors lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2025 playoffs in five games after beating the Houston Rockets in the first round in seven games. 

    Meanwhile, the Suns and Kings missed the 2025 postseason. 

    It looks like Kuminga will play next season with the Warriors on a one-year qualifying offer and then hit unrestricted free agency next offseason. As an unrestricted free agent, Kuminga can leave Golden State and pick his next team. 

    According to NBA insiders Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of ESPN, Jonathan Kuminga believes the Warriors have stunted and strung his career along for four seasons. 

    More NBA News & Rumors

  • Source: Jonathan Kuminga Wants To Leave Warriors, Likes Kings And Suns

    Source: Jonathan Kuminga Wants To Leave Warriors, Likes Kings And Suns

    Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, NBA
    Getty Images

    Jonathan Kuminga wants to leave the Golden State Warriors and likes the idea of playing for the Sacramento Kings or Phoenix Suns, an NBA source told Sam Amico of Hoops Wire on Saturday. 

    The Suns and Kings are interested in Kuminga, but neither franchise has extended an offer sheet to the talented forward, the NBA source said. 

    As a restricted free agent, Kuminga can either re-sign with the Warriors on a new deal, play next season with Golden State on a qualifying offer worth $7.9 million and enter unrestricted free agency next offseason or sign an offer sheet with a rival team.

    If Kuminga signs an offer sheet with a team, the Warriors can either match the offer sheet or let the 22-year-old swingman leave and execute a sign-and-trade deal.

    “We’re trying to be responsible. With the aprons and hard caps and all of that, you can’t just throw money around. We still love Jonathan. We’re hopeful we can figure out a way to strike a balance that works for him and for us. But we’re not going to compromise our roster-building ability now, or in the future. We have to be responsible in the way we build our team,” a Warriors front office executive told NBA reporter Keith Smith of Spotrac. 

    Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Warriors last season in 47 games. He shot 45.4% from the field, 30.5% from beyond the arc and 66.8% from the free-throw line. 

    Kuminga has career averages of 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists with the Warriors. He was the seventh overall pick in the 2021 draft. 

    Multiple sources told Hoops Wire last season that Kuminga doesn’t have a good relationship with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. 

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