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Suns head coach reacts to win vs. reigning champion Thunder
The Phoenix Suns won a 108-105 stunner over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 4 before a sellout crowd of 17,071 at Mortgage Matchup Center.
HOUSTON — Mat Ishbia shot down a recent trade idea.
The Phoenix Suns team owner quoted a tweet from former NBA player DeMarcus Cousins saying the Los Angeles Lakers should trade Austin Reaves for Dillon Brooks.
“Don’t bother calling,” Ishbia tweeted. “Suns aren’t interested. Dillon’s not going anywhere.”
Cousins suggested the trade on “Run It Back.”
“He’s a culture changer,” Cousins said. “He’s a proven winner. We talk about all the glaring holes when it comes to this Lakers team. He fits exactly what they need right now.”
A proven defender, Brooks is also averaging a career-high 21.4 points in his first season with the Suns, who acquired him from Houston in the Kevin Durant trade. He’s been a key piece behind the Suns’ stronger-than-expected start to this season (21-14 heading into the Jan. 5 game vs. the Rockets).
“You getting a two-way player compared to a one-sided player,” Cousins continued. “Why wouldn’t you do it?”
The Suns apparently aren’t willing to do it.
“We love Dillon,” said Suns coach Jordan Ott when asked pregame Monday his reaction to Ishbia addressing Cousins’ trade idea on social media. “We had a big game last night. A big basketball game that we played. Loved that one. We’ve got another challenge tonight.”
This isn’t the first time Brooks’ name has come up when it comes to playing for another team.
Agent Rich Paul suggested on the “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman that a championship contender should consider trading for Brooks.
“If there is a team out there that can go and get Dillon Brooks that actually has a chance of winning a championship, they should because you want that guy on your team,” Paul said after the Lakers defeated the Suns in Phoenix, 116-114, Dec. 14, a game in which Brooks and LeBron James went at it all night.
“And he’s a guy you probably don’t want to play against.”
Brooks’ agents are Mike George and Shayaun Saee of One Legacy Sports Management, which is also affiliated with United Talent and Klutch Sports.
Paul is the founder and CEO of Klutch Sports, which represents James, his close friend. Suns rookies Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming are also represented by Klutch Sports.
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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