The Phoenix Suns' new GM, Brian Gregory, spoke to the media for the first time on Tuesday, and what he said didn't instill confidence in fans that he is the right person to lead the team out of the hole they dug themselves in.
Gregory joined the front office two years ago as a consultant and was named vice president of player programming last June. That's the only experience Gregory has in an NBA front office. Phoenix sits above the second tax apron and depleted its draft assets over the past few years, putting the new GM in a challenging position.
Fans wanted someone with experience to come in and change the culture, but Mat Ishbia went with someone he's known for a long time. Gregory was an assistant coach at Michigan State when Ishbia was there as a walk-on. He coached in college for 33 years, and he prides himself on scouting talent.
At his press conference, Gregory talked about identifying the best talent for the Suns. His track record in that area isn't exactly the best, which, again, concerns fans.
Brian Gregory's first press conference didn't reassure Suns fans
Gregory led Dayton to the NCAA Tournament twice and won an NIT Championship. He didn't lead Georgia Tech or South Florida to the NCAA Tournament during his time with those schools.
Chad Dollar, one of Gregory's former assistants at Georgia Tech and South Florida, told The Athletic that he calls Gregory "The Fixer" (subscription required). Dollar credited Gregory for rebuilding the former collegiate programs he was with.
What Suns fans care about is if Gregory can "rebuild" Phoenix. His inexperience showed on Tuesday, but fans hope it wasn't a sign of what's coming. It's hard to be optimistic, given how the past couple of years have played out. Ishbia made an unconventional choice by choosing Gregory as GM, and Ishbia's track record since taking over as the majority owner isn't reassuring.
Gregory can't escape the reality of his new situation, as the Suns search for their next head coach. A Kevin Durant trade is likely on the horizon, and Gregory needs to get Phoenix the best haul possible for the 36-year-old star. The GM has entered a completely different stratosphere than the one he was in while coaching in college. He made it sound like he's up for the challenge, but is he?