Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia has spoken for the first time following the trades involving Bradley Beal and Chris Paul.
The Suns agreed to a trade with the Washington Wizards that will see Beal make the switch to Phoenix. In return, the Suns will give the Wizards some draft picks and two players in Paul and Landry Shamet.
As a result, Beal will join the Suns and form a new superstar trio in the organisation alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Durant was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in February, while Booker was drafted in 2015 with the No.13 overall pick in the first round.
After the deal was first announced, it was stated that it would take a few days to be fully completed. This, it was understood, was due to allowing time to find a new team for Paul that could take part in the three-team trade.
On Thursday it was confirmed that the Golden State Warriors would be trading with the Wizards for Paul. The 38-year-old is getting ready for his 18th season in the NBA and will be playing alongside the likes of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in 2023/24.
As part of the trade, the Suns also acquired Jordan Goodwin and Isaiah Todd from the Wizards. And now the team’s owner, Ishbia, has spoken for the first time about the trades.
Ishbia, who completed a takeover of the Suns in February, stated that with the signing of Beal, he hopes that the team will be in a good position to win a championship next season. He also went on to offer his thanks to Paul and Shamet, with Paul having spent the previous six years in Phoenix.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bradley, Jordan and Isaiah to the Phoenix Suns as we continue to build one of the premier organizations in all of sports," said Ishbia.
“Bradley Beal is one of the best players in the NBA and brings so much to our team including incredible work ethic, great character, and the mindset of a champion.
“Jordan and Isaiah add talent and versatility to our roster that will continue to make this team among the league’s best. We are committed to bringing an NBA championship to Phoenix and I could not be more excited about how this organization is coming together heading into the upcoming season.”
“I want to thank Chris and Landry for all of their contributions to the team's success in recent years,” Ishbia added. “Chris is an all-time great and brought incredible passion and leadership to our organization during his time with the Suns.”
