Which players deserved investigation for the Phoenix Suns’ problems in 2023-24?
Sep 27, 2023 — Mat Ishbia
The decision this board surrounds ultimately brought in Grayson Allen. Later outcomes never rewrite the board.PHX on 2023-09-27: the governed pre-decision team-need layer did not support a target-fit conclusion. no source-clocked open candidate route was available. 0 open-market candidate(s) matched at least one listed need. Market access, basketball fit, price, salary route, and legality remain separate.
Team-need evidence unavailable3 candidates — ordered by team link, then need match, then evidence. No target score.
OG Anunobycap charge $18.6MMarket route
Not open to this team at the decision date
Need addressed
Withheld Team-need evidence unavailable
Observed functions
event creation · rim protection · interior finishing
Strength overlap
No major overlap with an identified team strength
Availability history
Established pre-decision availability report history
Acquisition price
Withheld No public price evidence before the decision
Contract & salary
Minimum outgoing-salary screen available
Exact legality
Withheld A salary screen is not a full transaction-legality determination.
+Why is he here?
OG Anunoby: the reported route for OG Anunoby was rejected, expired, agreed elsewhere, or otherwise not open. The team-need comparison was not supported. The minimum outgoing-salary screen was available for a $18,642,857 incoming charge. Exact transaction legality remains withheld without a complete package and exception ledger.
Minimum-outgoing salary screen (2023 CBA transition-year rules)
Incoming salary: $18.6MTeam position proxy: At or above the second apron (proxy)Cap-room lane (+$250K): minimum outgoing $18.6MStandard lane (100% + allowance): minimum outgoing $18.6MExpanded lane (200% / scaled buffer / 125%): minimum outgoing $11.0MTransition lane (110% + allowance): minimum outgoing $16.9M
era-correct salary lane screen only; exact apron team salary, post-trade salary, aggregation, exception inventory, guarantees, bonuses and full package remain required for legality
prior-season impact context: 0.9 per 100 (O 0.4 / D 0.5) — Prior impact context is separate from team fit, price, and transaction value.
James Hardencap charge $35.7MMarket route
Linked only to another team
Need addressed
Withheld Team-need evidence unavailable
Observed functions
passing · creation · shooting
Strength overlap
No major overlap with an identified team strength
Availability history
Established pre-decision availability report history
Acquisition price
Public offer-shape evidence available
Contract & salary
Minimum outgoing-salary screen available
Exact legality
Withheld A salary screen is not a full transaction-legality determination.
+Why is he here?
James Harden: sources linked James Harden to another team, not PHX. The team-need comparison was not supported. The minimum outgoing-salary screen was available for a $35,680,595 incoming charge. Exact transaction legality remains withheld without a complete package and exception ledger.
Minimum-outgoing salary screen (2023 CBA transition-year rules)
Incoming salary: $35.7MTeam position proxy: At or above the second apron (proxy)Cap-room lane (+$250K): minimum outgoing $35.7MStandard lane (100% + allowance): minimum outgoing $35.7MExpanded lane (200% / scaled buffer / 125%): minimum outgoing $28.1MTransition lane (110% + allowance): minimum outgoing $32.4M
era-correct salary lane screen only; exact apron team salary, post-trade salary, aggregation, exception inventory, guarantees, bonuses and full package remain required for legality
prior-season impact context: 1.3 per 100 (O 1.5 / D -0.1) — Prior impact context is separate from team fit, price, and transaction value.
Damian Lillardcap charge $45.6MMarket route
Linked only to another team
Need addressed
Withheld Team-need evidence unavailable
Observed functions
creation · passing · shooting
Strength overlap
No major overlap with an identified team strength
Availability history
Established pre-decision availability report history
Acquisition price
1 asking-price report(s): [object Object]
Contract & salary
Salary screen available; contract-control evidence unavailable
Exact legality
Withheld A salary screen is not a full transaction-legality determination.
+Why is he here?
Damian Lillard: sources linked Damian Lillard to another team, not PHX. The team-need comparison was not supported. The salary screen was available, but contract-control evidence was unavailable. Exact transaction legality remains withheld without a complete package and exception ledger.
Minimum-outgoing salary screen (2023 CBA transition-year rules)
Incoming salary: $45.6MTeam position proxy: At or above the second apron (proxy)Cap-room lane (+$250K): minimum outgoing $45.6MStandard lane (100% + allowance): minimum outgoing $45.6MExpanded lane (200% / scaled buffer / 125%): minimum outgoing $36.3MTransition lane (110% + allowance): minimum outgoing $41.5M
era-correct salary lane screen only; exact apron team salary, post-trade salary, aggregation, exception inventory, guarantees, bonuses and full package remain required for legality
prior-season impact context: 2.0 per 100 (O 2.7 / D -0.7) — Prior impact context is separate from team fit, price, and transaction value.
Historical decision board. A public-market player is not presented as a team target without a named team link. Minimum outgoing salary is not exact legality. Missing asking price is not a zero price. Later outcomes do not alter the decision-date board.
Sep 27, 2023 — Mat Ishbia
The decision this board surrounds ultimately brought in Nassir Little. Later outcomes never rewrite the board.PHX on 2023-09-27: the governed pre-decision team-need layer did not support a target-fit conclusion. no source-clocked open candidate route was available. 0 open-market candidate(s) matched at least one listed need. Market access, basketball fit, price, salary route, and legality remain separate.
Team-need evidence unavailable3 candidates — ordered by team link, then need match, then evidence. No target score.
OG Anunobycap charge $18.6M Market route
Not open to this team at the decision date
Need addressed
Withheld Team-need evidence unavailable
Observed functions
event creation · rim protection · interior finishing
Strength overlap
No major overlap with an identified team strength
Availability history
Established pre-decision availability report history
Acquisition price
Withheld No public price evidence before the decision
Contract & salary
Minimum outgoing-salary screen available
Exact legality
Withheld A salary screen is not a full transaction-legality determination.
+Why is he here?
OG Anunoby: the reported route for OG Anunoby was rejected, expired, agreed elsewhere, or otherwise not open. The team-need comparison was not supported. The minimum outgoing-salary screen was available for a $18,642,857 incoming charge. Exact transaction legality remains withheld without a complete package and exception ledger.
Minimum-outgoing salary screen (2023 CBA transition-year rules)
Incoming salary: $18.6MTeam position proxy: At or above the second apron (proxy)Cap-room lane (+$250K): minimum outgoing $18.6MStandard lane (100% + allowance): minimum outgoing $18.6MExpanded lane (200% / scaled buffer / 125%): minimum outgoing $11.0MTransition lane (110% + allowance): minimum outgoing $16.9M
era-correct salary lane screen only; exact apron team salary, post-trade salary, aggregation, exception inventory, guarantees, bonuses and full package remain required for legality
prior-season impact context: 0.9 per 100 (O 0.4 / D 0.5) — Prior impact context is separate from team fit, price, and transaction value.
James Hardencap charge $35.7M Market route
Linked only to another team
Need addressed
Withheld Team-need evidence unavailable
Observed functions
passing · creation · shooting
Strength overlap
No major overlap with an identified team strength
Availability history
Established pre-decision availability report history
Acquisition price
Public offer-shape evidence available
Contract & salary
Minimum outgoing-salary screen available
Exact legality
Withheld A salary screen is not a full transaction-legality determination.
+Why is he here?
James Harden: sources linked James Harden to another team, not PHX. The team-need comparison was not supported. The minimum outgoing-salary screen was available for a $35,680,595 incoming charge. Exact transaction legality remains withheld without a complete package and exception ledger.
Minimum-outgoing salary screen (2023 CBA transition-year rules)
Incoming salary: $35.7MTeam position proxy: At or above the second apron (proxy)Cap-room lane (+$250K): minimum outgoing $35.7MStandard lane (100% + allowance): minimum outgoing $35.7MExpanded lane (200% / scaled buffer / 125%): minimum outgoing $28.1MTransition lane (110% + allowance): minimum outgoing $32.4M
era-correct salary lane screen only; exact apron team salary, post-trade salary, aggregation, exception inventory, guarantees, bonuses and full package remain required for legality
prior-season impact context: 1.3 per 100 (O 1.5 / D -0.1) — Prior impact context is separate from team fit, price, and transaction value.
Damian Lillardcap charge $45.6M Market route
Linked only to another team
Need addressed
Withheld Team-need evidence unavailable
Observed functions
creation · passing · shooting
Strength overlap
No major overlap with an identified team strength
Availability history
Established pre-decision availability report history
Acquisition price
1 asking-price report(s): [object Object]
Contract & salary
Salary screen available; contract-control evidence unavailable
Exact legality
Withheld A salary screen is not a full transaction-legality determination.
+Why is he here?
Damian Lillard: sources linked Damian Lillard to another team, not PHX. The team-need comparison was not supported. The salary screen was available, but contract-control evidence was unavailable. Exact transaction legality remains withheld without a complete package and exception ledger.
Minimum-outgoing salary screen (2023 CBA transition-year rules)
Incoming salary: $45.6MTeam position proxy: At or above the second apron (proxy)Cap-room lane (+$250K): minimum outgoing $45.6MStandard lane (100% + allowance): minimum outgoing $45.6MExpanded lane (200% / scaled buffer / 125%): minimum outgoing $36.3MTransition lane (110% + allowance): minimum outgoing $41.5M
era-correct salary lane screen only; exact apron team salary, post-trade salary, aggregation, exception inventory, guarantees, bonuses and full package remain required for legality
prior-season impact context: 2.0 per 100 (O 2.7 / D -0.7) — Prior impact context is separate from team fit, price, and transaction value.
Historical decision board. A public-market player is not presented as a team target without a named team link. Minimum outgoing salary is not exact legality. Missing asking price is not a zero price. Later outcomes do not alter the decision-date board.
Sep 27, 2023 — Mat Ishbia
The decision this board surrounds ultimately brought in Keon Johnson. Later outcomes never rewrite the board.PHX on 2023-09-27: the governed pre-decision team-need layer did not support a target-fit conclusion. no source-clocked open candidate route was available. 0 open-market candidate(s) matched at least one listed need. Market access, basketball fit, price, salary route, and legality remain separate.
Team-need evidence unavailable3 candidates — ordered by team link, then need match, then evidence. No target score.
OG Anunobycap charge $18.6M Market route
Not open to this team at the decision date
Need addressed
Withheld Team-need evidence unavailable
Observed functions
event creation · rim protection · interior finishing
Strength overlap
No major overlap with an identified team strength
Availability history
Established pre-decision availability report history
Acquisition price
Withheld No public price evidence before the decision
Contract & salary
Minimum outgoing-salary screen available
Exact legality
Withheld A salary screen is not a full transaction-legality determination.
+Why is he here?
OG Anunoby: the reported route for OG Anunoby was rejected, expired, agreed elsewhere, or otherwise not open. The team-need comparison was not supported. The minimum outgoing-salary screen was available for a $18,642,857 incoming charge. Exact transaction legality remains withheld without a complete package and exception ledger.
Minimum-outgoing salary screen (2023 CBA transition-year rules)
Incoming salary: $18.6MTeam position proxy: At or above the second apron (proxy)Cap-room lane (+$250K): minimum outgoing $18.6MStandard lane (100% + allowance): minimum outgoing $18.6MExpanded lane (200% / scaled buffer / 125%): minimum outgoing $11.0MTransition lane (110% + allowance): minimum outgoing $16.9M
era-correct salary lane screen only; exact apron team salary, post-trade salary, aggregation, exception inventory, guarantees, bonuses and full package remain required for legality
prior-season impact context: 0.9 per 100 (O 0.4 / D 0.5) — Prior impact context is separate from team fit, price, and transaction value.
James Hardencap charge $35.7M Market route
Linked only to another team
Need addressed
Withheld Team-need evidence unavailable
Observed functions
passing · creation · shooting
Strength overlap
No major overlap with an identified team strength
Availability history
Established pre-decision availability report history
Acquisition price
Public offer-shape evidence available
Contract & salary
Minimum outgoing-salary screen available
Exact legality
Withheld A salary screen is not a full transaction-legality determination.
+Why is he here?
James Harden: sources linked James Harden to another team, not PHX. The team-need comparison was not supported. The minimum outgoing-salary screen was available for a $35,680,595 incoming charge. Exact transaction legality remains withheld without a complete package and exception ledger.
Minimum-outgoing salary screen (2023 CBA transition-year rules)
Incoming salary: $35.7MTeam position proxy: At or above the second apron (proxy)Cap-room lane (+$250K): minimum outgoing $35.7MStandard lane (100% + allowance): minimum outgoing $35.7MExpanded lane (200% / scaled buffer / 125%): minimum outgoing $28.1MTransition lane (110% + allowance): minimum outgoing $32.4M
era-correct salary lane screen only; exact apron team salary, post-trade salary, aggregation, exception inventory, guarantees, bonuses and full package remain required for legality
prior-season impact context: 1.3 per 100 (O 1.5 / D -0.1) — Prior impact context is separate from team fit, price, and transaction value.
Damian Lillardcap charge $45.6M Market route
Linked only to another team
Need addressed
Withheld Team-need evidence unavailable
Observed functions
creation · passing · shooting
Strength overlap
No major overlap with an identified team strength
Availability history
Established pre-decision availability report history
Acquisition price
1 asking-price report(s): [object Object]
Contract & salary
Salary screen available; contract-control evidence unavailable
Exact legality
Withheld A salary screen is not a full transaction-legality determination.
+Why is he here?
Damian Lillard: sources linked Damian Lillard to another team, not PHX. The team-need comparison was not supported. The salary screen was available, but contract-control evidence was unavailable. Exact transaction legality remains withheld without a complete package and exception ledger.
Minimum-outgoing salary screen (2023 CBA transition-year rules)
Incoming salary: $45.6MTeam position proxy: At or above the second apron (proxy)Cap-room lane (+$250K): minimum outgoing $45.6MStandard lane (100% + allowance): minimum outgoing $45.6MExpanded lane (200% / scaled buffer / 125%): minimum outgoing $36.3MTransition lane (110% + allowance): minimum outgoing $41.5M
era-correct salary lane screen only; exact apron team salary, post-trade salary, aggregation, exception inventory, guarantees, bonuses and full package remain required for legality
prior-season impact context: 2.0 per 100 (O 2.7 / D -0.7) — Prior impact context is separate from team fit, price, and transaction value.
Historical decision board. A public-market player is not presented as a team target without a named team link. Minimum outgoing salary is not exact legality. Missing asking price is not a zero price. Later outcomes do not alter the decision-date board.
Sep 27, 2023 — Mat Ishbia
The decision this board surrounds ultimately brought in Jusuf Nurkic. Later outcomes never rewrite the board.PHX on 2023-09-27: the governed pre-decision team-need layer did not support a target-fit conclusion. no source-clocked open candidate route was available. 0 open-market candidate(s) matched at least one listed need. Market access, basketball fit, price, salary route, and legality remain separate.
Team-need evidence unavailable3 candidates — ordered by team link, then need match, then evidence. No target score.
OG Anunobycap charge $18.6M Market route
Not open to this team at the decision date
Need addressed
Withheld Team-need evidence unavailable
Observed functions
event creation · rim protection · interior finishing
Strength overlap
No major overlap with an identified team strength
Availability history
Established pre-decision availability report history
Acquisition price
Withheld No public price evidence before the decision
Contract & salary
Minimum outgoing-salary screen available
Exact legality
Withheld A salary screen is not a full transaction-legality determination.
+Why is he here?
OG Anunoby: the reported route for OG Anunoby was rejected, expired, agreed elsewhere, or otherwise not open. The team-need comparison was not supported. The minimum outgoing-salary screen was available for a $18,642,857 incoming charge. Exact transaction legality remains withheld without a complete package and exception ledger.
Minimum-outgoing salary screen (2023 CBA transition-year rules)
Incoming salary: $18.6MTeam position proxy: At or above the second apron (proxy)Cap-room lane (+$250K): minimum outgoing $18.6MStandard lane (100% + allowance): minimum outgoing $18.6MExpanded lane (200% / scaled buffer / 125%): minimum outgoing $11.0MTransition lane (110% + allowance): minimum outgoing $16.9M
era-correct salary lane screen only; exact apron team salary, post-trade salary, aggregation, exception inventory, guarantees, bonuses and full package remain required for legality
prior-season impact context: 0.9 per 100 (O 0.4 / D 0.5) — Prior impact context is separate from team fit, price, and transaction value.
James Hardencap charge $35.7M Market route
Linked only to another team
Need addressed
Withheld Team-need evidence unavailable
Observed functions
passing · creation · shooting
Strength overlap
No major overlap with an identified team strength
Availability history
Established pre-decision availability report history
Acquisition price
Public offer-shape evidence available
Contract & salary
Minimum outgoing-salary screen available
Exact legality
Withheld A salary screen is not a full transaction-legality determination.
+Why is he here?
James Harden: sources linked James Harden to another team, not PHX. The team-need comparison was not supported. The minimum outgoing-salary screen was available for a $35,680,595 incoming charge. Exact transaction legality remains withheld without a complete package and exception ledger.
Minimum-outgoing salary screen (2023 CBA transition-year rules)
Incoming salary: $35.7MTeam position proxy: At or above the second apron (proxy)Cap-room lane (+$250K): minimum outgoing $35.7MStandard lane (100% + allowance): minimum outgoing $35.7MExpanded lane (200% / scaled buffer / 125%): minimum outgoing $28.1MTransition lane (110% + allowance): minimum outgoing $32.4M
era-correct salary lane screen only; exact apron team salary, post-trade salary, aggregation, exception inventory, guarantees, bonuses and full package remain required for legality
prior-season impact context: 1.3 per 100 (O 1.5 / D -0.1) — Prior impact context is separate from team fit, price, and transaction value.
Damian Lillardcap charge $45.6M Market route
Linked only to another team
Need addressed
Withheld Team-need evidence unavailable
Observed functions
creation · passing · shooting
Strength overlap
No major overlap with an identified team strength
Availability history
Established pre-decision availability report history
Acquisition price
1 asking-price report(s): [object Object]
Contract & salary
Salary screen available; contract-control evidence unavailable
Exact legality
Withheld A salary screen is not a full transaction-legality determination.
+Why is he here?
Damian Lillard: sources linked Damian Lillard to another team, not PHX. The team-need comparison was not supported. The salary screen was available, but contract-control evidence was unavailable. Exact transaction legality remains withheld without a complete package and exception ledger.
Minimum-outgoing salary screen (2023 CBA transition-year rules)
Incoming salary: $45.6MTeam position proxy: At or above the second apron (proxy)Cap-room lane (+$250K): minimum outgoing $45.6MStandard lane (100% + allowance): minimum outgoing $45.6MExpanded lane (200% / scaled buffer / 125%): minimum outgoing $36.3MTransition lane (110% + allowance): minimum outgoing $41.5M
era-correct salary lane screen only; exact apron team salary, post-trade salary, aggregation, exception inventory, guarantees, bonuses and full package remain required for legality
prior-season impact context: 2.0 per 100 (O 2.7 / D -0.7) — Prior impact context is separate from team fit, price, and transaction value.
Historical decision board. A public-market player is not presented as a team target without a named team link. Minimum outgoing salary is not exact legality. Missing asking price is not a zero price. Later outcomes do not alter the decision-date board.
