The Athletic NBA Daily Suns Rising with Sam Amick + Trade Deadline Leftovers
Feb 13, 2026
Sam Amick, veteran NBA reporter for The Athletic, shares inside reporting on how Suns owner Mat Ishbia reshaped the front office and key roster moves behind the team’s resurgence. Conversations cover culture changes, fan-first initiatives, and how the Suns avoided tanking. They also debate the broader harm of tanking, league-level fixes, trade deadline leftovers, and under-the-radar summer targets.
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Owner Shift Changed Suns Trajectory
- Matt Ishbia reversed the narrative by saying he wasn't involved enough and then leaned into being hands-on.
- That shift plus targeted roster moves (Dylan Brooks, Jordan Ott) explains the Suns' surprising improvement.
Michigan State Ties Shaped Hiring
- Sam recounts Ishbia hiring many Michigan State–connected staff, including Brian Gregory and Jordan Ott.
- Those hires created trust and familiarity that accelerated roster cohesion.
Role Players And Coaching Mattered Most
- The Suns' season hinges less on star additions and more on impact role players and coaching fit.
- Targeted bets on players like Dylan Brooks and coach Jordan Ott produced outsized impact.