After nearly two decades in South Florida, Georgia Tech and Dayton as NCAA I Division, Brian Gregory will be the new general manager of the Suns after a very bad campaign in 2024-25. This summer, the organization will need to start rebuilding its roster for next season.
The main reason he was selected for the job was probably due to his 25-year relationship with franchisee Mat Ishbia, as seeing career transitions from college to the front office of the NBA are not common. Gregory firmly believes that his strong bond with billionaires will be an asset to the future.
“One of the reasons I will never shy away from sitting here is because of my relationship with Mat Ishbia,” Brian told the media last week. “But this relationship is based on our consistency. Common values. Common work ethics.”
While many would think his close relationship with Ishbia might be a problem, Gregory insists that trusting within the organization’s highest role is an advantage. “We've been through a lot together,” he said. “He trusts me, I trust him.”
Entering the offseason, the Phoenix Club must decide what trades must be made to improve the overall chemistry between the rosters. It seems that the general manager's most valuable trading chip is just 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant.
The 37-year-old veteran averaged 26.6 points in past campaigns. Bradley Beal, on the other hand, may be harder to trade as he should be over $50 million next year. “I have a good relationship with these two guys,” the executive said.
“Kevin gave me a good hug in the weight room when he ran into news on Twitter. We had dinner with Brad Beal last Thursday and we talked about some summer plans and things like that,” Gregory added. “Honestly, my main focus is finding the right head coach for those guys.”
