“ I think we have the best team in the league. » Before drawing this conclusion, Mat Ishbia has seen his management team struggle in recent weeks to renew the Suns squad, almost from top to bottom. This reconfiguration ended a few days ago with the transfer of Deandre Ayton towards Portland, against Jusuf Nurkicas part of the broader exchange around Damian Lillard.
Giving up on the first choice of the 2018 Draft, to recover his Portland counterpart, was not the decision of the sole owner, or of another decision-maker of the Suns. It was a “ unanimous decision “.
“ Nurkic is more suitable for our team. We’re trying to win a title now. What Nurkic can do on the field, and off the field, his integration into the franchise, that’s what suits us best. On top of that, we got Grayson Allen and Nassir Little back, a group of guys who will make us better. Our team definitely improved that day », displays a confident Mat Ishbia.
The latter believes that the newcomer will perhaps not have the same statistical performance as Deandre Ayton, even if on equal playing time, their productions are very close. “ But he will play his role », continues the owner.
Namely, according to the person concerned, “ doing the little things, being good on defense, grabbing rebounds, I’m one of the best defensive centers. […] And like Book (Devin Booker) said, I have to play point guard now! “, the Bosnian laughsin reference to the shortage of players on position 1.
Deandre Ayton will “impress” in Portland
This one ” thanks » the Blazers for sending him to Phoenix and placing him in such a situation. “ I never had the chance to be a member of a ‘super team’ in the past “, formulates the 29-year-old player who says he is not coming “ replace Ayton » and not feel pressure. The fact of evolving alongside “ three players capable of scoring 30 points per game », Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, is an opportunity according to him that he wants to take advantage of. “ Who should we take a look at? “, he asks himself.
Jusuf Nurkic should see his offensive responsibilities be reduced in contact with the superstars, where those of Deandre Ayton, within the rebuilding Blazers team, should experience the opposite curve. But, Mat Ishbia thus expects that he “ impresses a lot of people “.
“ Transfers are the hardest part in this business but it’s also realizing that (transferred players) may be in better situations. I saw Deandre arrive in Portland with a big smile. When shaking his hand as he left after the transfer, you could sense from his energy that this was a new opportunity “, reports Devin Booker who, also addressing Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, adds: “ They did things for this franchise that will never be forgotten. »
The guard is now the last representative of the squad that reached the NBA finals… two years earlier. “ It’s completely normal, it’s the NBA. This has been happening for years and years. It’s normal for me », puts into perspective Kevin Durant who, only eight months after his arrival, acts as a “pillar” of the team…
