A botched three-team trade between the Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards saw the Suns walk back a previously agreed upon deal to ship out veteran swingman Trevor Ariza, one which the Suns and Wizards wound up doing anyway a day later, trading the latter for young wing Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers. General manager James Jones, who was hired in the wake of Ryan McDonough's firing from his position, spoke about the embarrassing gaffe that led to the two teams reworking the deal on their own:
“It’s just a miscommunication and I’ll leave it at that,” Jones said of the failed trade, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “We’ve moved beyond it. We’ve moved past it. It’s a deal that didn’t go through.”
The Suns consequently waived Rivers, who became the third player waived this season, along with Tyson Chandler in November and Darrell Arthur during the offseason — three players being paid nearly $30 million in salary to do nothing for the team.
Yet Phoenix has been able to rattle off a three-game win streak after losing 24 of their first 28 games of the season.
“I think what you’re seeing right now is delayed gratification,” Jones said. “A lot of long hours, a lot of repetitions, a lot of lumps, bumps and bruises, but our guys are starting to figure it out. We’re committed to playing the right way, being selfless and competing. I think that’s the recipe for us and that’s the identity this team has to have for us to continue to build.”
The Suns also got back their best player in Devin Booker, who has put up 28 and 38 points, respectively, in his last two games since returning from a six-game absence.
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