Mat Ishbia’s promised changes may not take the shape fans initially expected when it comes to the front office.
Mat Ishbia promised change during last week’s end-of-season press conference. Change in how the Phoenix Suns’ organization defines its identity, and change in how it structures its front office.
“We’ve got to set it up front first with the leadership, and that starts with me, and we will do that,” Ishbia informed the media last Thursday. “Then we will get the right front office structure with scouts and what to look for in the draft, and then we’re going to find the right coach and it will be a process.”
“You’re not going to see a next coach hired in a week or two,” he added.
Rumblings have begun to surface about what those changes might actually look like. While nothing has been formally announced, one thing seems clear: neither Josh Bartelstein nor James Jones will be relieved of their current roles. Both appeared publicly following Mat Ishbia’s press conference and spoke with the tone of leaders tasked with restructuring, not exiting. The messaging pointed not to sweeping terminations, but to a recalibration. A reshuffling of roles and responsibilities within the organization’s core.
Suns insider Duane Rankin echoed that sentiment today, adding weight to the idea that change is coming, but not in the form many initially expected. Per Duane Rankin’s article on AZCentral:
Sources have informed The Arizona Republic the Suns likely will look to add someone to the front office to work on basketball personnel decisions.
Phoenix Suns likely will add to front office after losing season, sources say (w/video) #Suns https://t.co/1Na3Uu8GiJ via @azcentral
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 21, 2025
What does that mean, exactly?
My guess is this: with James Jones currently serving as both President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, the Suns are likely to recalibrate. His role could shift into a more defined President of Basketball Operations position. This would equate to Jones being focused on long-term vision, leadership, and overarching strategy, while a new General Manager is brought in to handle the day-to-day mechanics of roster building.
It’s a move that would introduce balance into a top-heavy front office, allowing for clearer lines of responsibility and fresh perspective without dismissing the experience and equity Jones has built within the organization.
Then there’s Josh Bartelstein, the team’s CEO. His role exists in a separate lane. He is steering the business side of the franchise, from branding and revenue to culture and executive leadership. But the intersection of these three positions—President of Basketball Ops, General Manager, and CEO—is where alignment matters most.
If done right, it creates a modern front office structure. One where basketball and business operate in harmony, each feeding into a shared identity. Where vision, execution, and sustainability are no longer siloed, but seamlessly woven together.
The risk in this approach, especially when paired with a hands-on owner, is falling into the trap of “too many chefs in the kitchen.” With too many voices steering the direction of the franchise, the result can be blurred responsibilities, conflicting agendas, and a lack of cohesive vision. Instead of streamlined decision-making, you get noise.
And in the NBA, where timing and clarity are everything, that kind of clutter can be costly.
We should know in the upcoming days what the blueprint is, for that decision needs to be made prior to the hiring of a new head coach. Stay tuned to Bright Side as we continue to learn what the new identity of the Suns will be and what changes will occur.
Listen to the latest podcast episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. Stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, Castbox.
Please subscribe, rate, and review.