Phoenix owner Mat Ishbia called the Suns’ 36-46 season a failure and promised significant changes after the team missed the play-in tournament.
His assessment came three days after the club dismissed Mike Budenholzer following one season as head coach.
Ishbia admits the season failed
Phoenix finished 11th in the Western Conference despite building around Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
Ishbia described the campaign as embarrassing and said nobody in the organisation could be proud of the result.
The Suns lacked the consistent effort, defensive identity and joy he expected from a team carrying championship ambitions.
Booker remains central to the plan
Ishbia firmly ruled out trading Booker and called him the franchise player.
He was less definite about Durant, who had one year left on his contract, and Beal, who had two expensive seasons remaining.
President of basketball operations James Jones said the roster needed more defensive depth around its three leading scorers.
Fourth coach in four seasons
Phoenix began another coaching search and planned to take its time before making an appointment.
The next coach would be the Suns’ fourth in four seasons, an instability that reflected repeated attempts to find the right structure around the stars.
Ishbia said the franchise had to get the hire right. After an expensive roster finished outside even the play-in, the next decision carried little room for another mistake.
