Suns GM Gets Candid About Jalen Green After Kevin Durant Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Phoenix Suns are in the midst of a franchise-altering offseason and more moves could be on the way. The first move came in the head coaching department, when they chose to fire head coach Mike Budenholzer just one season into a five-year $50 million contract. But a 36-46 season while having the highest payroll in the history of the NBA was too much for owner Mat Ishbia to stomach.
He then made a change in the front office, moving James Jones into an advisory position to make way for Brian Gregory to take over as the new general manager. It was about having someone hand-picked by Ishbia whom he can trust. While Jones had served in the position for the Suns since 2017, many credited him for the team’s run to the NBA Finals. However, he was part of the old regime, and Gregory wanted someone with whom he had a previous relationship.
Suns GM gets candid about Jalen Green after Kevin Durant trade
One of Gregory’s first orders of business had been a long time coming. It was rumored that the Suns were considering trading Kevin Durant at the trade deadline, but they ultimately held off. But just days before the NBA Draft, that’s when Gregory struck.
He traded Durant to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick, and five second-round picks as part of a now-historic seven-team trade. Following the official completion of the trade, Gregory spoke about Green.
“Jalen is an explosive scorer who has already shown impressive productivity across the board throughout his young career,” Gregory said. “His athleticism and natural ability are off the charts. Jalen has already proven his commitment to putting in the work that excellence requires, and we believe that his approach to the game will allow him to further unlock his incredible upside here in Phoenix.”
Brian Gregory on Jalen Green: “Jalen is an explosive scorer who has already shown impressive productivity across the board throughout his young career. His athleticism and natural ability are off the charts. Jalen has already proven his commitment to putting in the work that
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) July 6, 2025
On paper, the trade looks good for both sides. The Rockets get a piece that they believe puts them in title contention with the best in the league, while the Suns get a package in return that helps them both in the short and long term.
If the Suns continue on this track, they’ll almost certainly be in contention for a spot in the NBA Playoffs after missing out on the playoffs last season.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.