Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia sat at the end-of-season press conference and made a proclamation that changes will be coming this offseason. Ishbia named generalized bulleted points that the franchise needed to improve on, namely establishing an identity that is like the city of Phoenix: Gritty.

To complete that goal changes from top to bottom are needed, and it has already started with the firing of head coach Mike Budenholzer. The changes are continuing with Sources speaking to the Arizona Republic about the Suns looking to add new personnel to the team’s front office to help make basketball decisions.

Ishbia has gotten much of the blame for Phoenix’s shortcoming in the past few years, but general manager James Jones and CEO Josh Bartelstein stat that it’s a team effort.

Suns CEO on Ishbia involvement:

Bartelstein makes it clear that despite Ishbia’s involvement, he doesn’t make the trade or pressure the front office in anyway. The workload falls on the shoulder of Bartelstein and Jones, which is why the franchise is looking for someone to join the front office to help with basketball personnel decisions.

The Suns won’t hire a head coach until the decision on the new members of the front office are finalized. “Everything will be evaluated” Ishbia said during the press conference, so massive changes are still in the cards for this summer.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Could Hawks’ latest firing mean the end of Trae Young era in Atlanta?

Report details how Nico Harrison’s warpath led to Luka Doncic’s Mavericks exit

Luka Dončić’s sudden trade to the Los Angeles Lakers shocked the basketball world. Why would Dallas move a 25-year-old All-NBA talent months after reaching the Finals? Until recently, the reasoning was murky. Now, Tim MacMahon’s exposé has shed light on the internal strife, placing General Manager Nico Harrison at the center of the controversy. Harrison isolated Dončić by firing key staff to micromanage the situation which ended up leading to his eventual exit from the Mavericks. BOMBSHELL: How Nico Harrison’s warpath led to Dončić’s Mavericks exit The downfall started in the summer following Dirk Nowitzki’s Hall of Fame induction. Team insiders revealed that Dallas’ internal culture began to erode 18 months before Dončić’s departure. Harrison’s pursuit of full control ignited a series of calculated moves, beginning with a dramatic firing. Firing a franchise pillar Shortly after returning from Nowitzki’s celebration, Harrison arranged a video call with longtime head athletic trainer Casey Smith. Smith was in Ohio, caring for his dying mother, but Harrison insisted on the meeting. In that call, Harrison dismissed Smith after nearly two decades with the franchise. Sources said, per McMahon, that Harrison viewed Smith as “too negative.” Insiders interpreted this as Smith not being enough of a yes-man. One team source explained, “He felt threatened by him. Harrison wanted everyone to know he ran the show.” This firing marked the beginning of a wide-ranging overhaul. It was quickly followed by the exits of performance director Jeremy Holsopple and therapist Casey Spangler — two respected figures throughout the league. Holsopple was even named the NBA’s Strength Coach of the Year in 2021. Alienating Dončić All three men had been instrumental in helping Dončić adjust to life in Dallas. They had earned his trust and built strong personal bonds with the superstar. Their removal appeared to be a strategic move by Harrison to strip Dončić of his inner circle within the franchise. Dončić’s camp, led by his business manager Bill Duffy and later Jeff Seager, viewed Harrison’s actions as hostile. They believed Harrison treated trusted staff like enablers rather than assets. With their exits, Dončić became increasingly isolated from the organization. Harrison’s replacements — Johann Bilsborough and Keith Belton — never gained Dončić’s trust. Sources confirmed the superstar found it hard to work with the new staff. The disconnect only deepened. The fallout with Nowitzki and others Smith’s firing triggered further departures. Nowitzki stepped away from his advisory role with the Mavericks. A franchise icon, Nowitzki no longer felt aligned with the new direction. Longtime communications VP Scott Tomlin, close to both Nowitzki and Dončić, also left. He now works for Nowitzki’s foundation. Since Dončić’s trade, Nowitzki and Tomlin have attended only two NBA games — both featuring Dončić with the Lakers. During a podcast in German, Nowitzki noted, “You could already see the team heading in a different direction.” Dončić’s health and performance plan Even before the fallout, Dončić and Seager had hired personal performance experts. These included Real Madrid’s Javier Barrio Calvo and Slovenian national team coach Anže Macek. They worked alongside the Mavericks’ staff during Dončić’s MVP-caliber season in 2022–23. Dončić averaged 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists that season. He led the league in total minutes and dominated the postseason in all major statistical categories. Yet, Harrison remained dissatisfied. Sources said Harrison focused on Dončić’s weight gain and occasional injuries. He reportedly ignored the superstar’s record-breaking output, choosing instead to highlight minor concerns. Cuban sidelined, trade triggered Owner Mark Cuban had long prioritized Dončić’s happiness. He often worked with Seager and kept the superstar involved in major decisions. But with new team governor Patrick Dumont in place, Harrison gained unchecked power and pushed Cuban out of basketball operations. When Dončić suffered a calf strain before training camp, tensions spiked. He sat out the preseason and gained weight during recovery. Harrison and others grew frustrated. Meanwhile, Dončić’s camp felt the team was painting him in a negative light. Eventually, Harrison made the bold move. He sent Dončić to the Lakers for Anthony Davis. It marked the end of an era and highlighted the cost of Harrison’s quest for absolute control. A culture shift, but at what cost? Harrison’s actions reshaped the Mavericks. But his consolidation of power also dismantled a fragile ecosystem built around Dončić. The exits of respected staff, the alienation of franchise legends, and the ousting of an all-time talent all stemmed from a single motivation — control. Whether Dallas thrives under Harrison’s regime remains to be seen. But the cost of that control has already changed the franchise forever.

Minnesota Wild Rookie Zeev Buium Fined by Gary Bettman and the NHL After First Career Game

‘Everybody needs to take a deep breath’: Maria Sharapova’s ex-coach backs Coco Gauff to win…

Ex-coach of former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova, Rick Macci, has backed America’s Coco Gauff to lift ‘multiple Grand Slams’ in the future despite recent struggles. The 21-year-old, who is already regarded as one of the best players in the world in women’s tennis in the singles category along with the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula, is going through a tough phase according to her own high standards. This year, Gauff has participated in six events and has yet to advance past the quarterfinals stage. Most recently, she featured in the Monte-Carlo Masters, where she was knocked out after losing to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinal in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-3. Macci, who coached several other top players in the world, including the likes of Serena Williams, Andy Murray and Venus Williams, has backed Gauff to win ‘multiple Grand Slams’ in the future. The 70-year-old, in a series of posts on the social media platform X — previously known as Twitter — stated that everyone needs to calm down when they are talking about Gauff, who is still just 21 years old. He stated that the youngster still has a lot of talent and that she will return to her best very soon. “Coco will be fine. You never lose talent/athletic ability,” he wrote. “This is a journey of winning/losing staggers/daggers. She will win multiple Grand Slams and be number one in the future. Everybody freaks out when you lose/Struggle but [if] you win everybody loves to Snuggle. Know her game inside out. Know what is inside this champion. Coco has some genetic qualities better than any player. This is a fragile mental game and liabilities bubble up more when you lose that edge. Fine line between the W/L. The Delray track star will get back on track and track down many Slams in the future. Everybody needs to take a deep breath as Coco will be fine. She is 21. She will go up and down for a while but will 100% go to another level and more in the future. Not tomorrow if you call balls and strikes daily. Before the sunshine/rainbow there is a rain/thunder.”

Dynamic QB Would Reportedly ‘Love’ to Join Raiders & Learn Behind Geno Smith

Phillies Trade Idea Sends Bryce Harper Back to Outfield, Lands NL East Slugger

Bryce Harper noted before the season started that he’d be willing to move back to the outfield if the Philadelphia Phillies added a first baseman. Whether the front office and ownership believe that’s the right decision, given some of the health concerns Harper has faced throughout his career, is something the team might consider. There aren’t many elite first basemen around Major League Baseball, and Harper is probably the best in the show, despite playing the position for the first time in his career last season after returning from Tommy John surgery. However, if one becomes available, mainly a veteran who doesn’t strike out much and can put together good at-bats, the Phillies should be interested in them. Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report named Josh Bell one of the top 10 most likely trade candidates at the deadline, and he could make perfect sense for this Phillies lineup if Harper is still willing to move back to the outfield. “Now in his second stint with the Nationals, Bell is a veteran switch-hitter that can play first and DH,” Kelly wrote. “The Nationals have some exciting young talents, but are probably a year or two away from contending. He signed a one-year, $6 million deal to return to the Nats in the summer likely aware that there was a real shot he’d be traded for the fourth consecutive summer.” Bell is an above-average hitter who has been around the league over the past few seasons, playing for multiple teams. While his numbers have dropped in recent campaigns, he was still an above-average player as recently as 2023, posting a 114 OPS+ in the second half with the Miami Marlins. The switch-hitter isn’t exactly a perfect player, and his defensive issues are certainly warranted. Still, if he returned to how he played during 2022, when he ranked in the 83rd percentile in K%, he could be an excellent fit for this Phillies lineup.