{"id":616148,"date":"2026-04-30T23:05:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T23:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/616148\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T23:05:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T23:05:11","slug":"bickley-mat-ishbia-earned-benefit-of-the-doubt-after-suns-turnaround","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/616148\/","title":{"rendered":"Bickley: Mat Ishbia earned benefit of the doubt after Suns turnaround"},"content":{"rendered":"

Victory laps are one of the greatest rewards in professional sports. Mat Ishbia took his on Thursday. It was richly deserved.<\/p>\n

The Suns owner had a remarkable season. The Mercury went from last place to the WNBA Finals. His NBA team defied all odds and all critics. We no longer roll our eyes at the promise of future championships in Phoenix. We nod our heads.<\/p>\n

Under fire and a microscope,\u00a0Ishbia\u00a0won the Kevin Durant trade;\u00a0hired a rookie head coach\u00a0who\u00a0turned out to be a\u00a0savant; and\u00a0hired a former college basketball\u00a0lifer\u00a0to be his general manager,\u00a0an astounding move that paid\u00a0huge\u00a0dividends.<\/p>\n

Top down, it was a first-class performance from our heritage franchise. But now comes the hard part. How do the Suns win a playoff game? A playoff series? A title that\u2019s eluded Arizona for 58 years?<\/p>\n

There is little merit behind making only minor alterations to the team Ishbia gushed over on Thursday. Yes, the Suns were hit hard by injuries, missing key players down the stretch and into the postseason. The trio of Devin Booker-Dillon Brooks-Jalen Green had precious little time to create real chemistry.<\/p>\n

But there is also great danger in delusions. After a remarkable three months of regular season basketball, the Suns wobbled to the finish line. The team badly needs size and length. The roster needs balance. And then there\u2019s the matter of Devin Booker.<\/p>\n

Wise or otherwise, Ishbia made it clear on Thursday that Booker will NOT be traded<\/a>. To the contrary, he boldly declared Booker will win a championship in Phoenix. The show of loyalty was heartwarming. As a sports town nourished and enlightened by longtime relationships with Larry Fitzgerald and Shane Doan \u2013 two players who loved us back and never left for greener pastures \u2013 we all know the power of fidelity and devotion in professional sports.<\/p>\n

Except Booker no longer resembles an ascendant force who can be the main guy on a championship team, who can win big games on his own when necessary. Which means the Suns must be even better over the coming offseason. Which means Ishbia must acquire the right mix of talent around Booker to decrease the traffic around Booker, including a real threat at the rim.<\/p>\n

Which means\u00a0Ishbia\u00a0is going to have to ace another big trade,\u00a0probably of\u00a0Jalen Green and others,\u00a0threading\u00a0a needle\u00a0yet to be found in the haystack.<\/p>\n

We wish him luck. And after unofficially winning Comeback Owner of the Year, he deserves some benefit of doubt.<\/p>\n

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. \u2013 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Follow @danbickley<\/a><\/p>\n

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