Meet Brendan Sabean, the Valley Suns' new general manager and his first key moves

The G League’s Valley Suns announced Monday that their general manager will be Austin Spurs assistant general manager Brendan Sabean.

Let’s review some of Sabean’s duties – not necessarily in order – now that he’s leading the subsidiary.

Job #1: Head Coach of the Valley Suns

One of Sabean’s first orders of business will be to find a coach for the team that has made its home at Arizona State Hockey’s Mullett Arena. That move would likely involve Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer to ensure synergy between the G League and NBA levels.

Sabean’s ties to the Spurs and Gregg Popovich should help in that regard, as Popovich gave Budenholzer his first NBA chance and the Austin Spurs were Sabean’s first.

Sabean had been an assistant general manager in Austin since July 2022 and had worked for three years in the organization’s player development and basketball operations department.

His ties to the Valley date back to the 2015-18 period when he worked with the Grand Canyon University basketball team under Suns legend Dan Majerle, who was the head coach of the “Lopes” during their early transition to Division 1 from 2013-20.

Sabean’s role at GCU began as a graduate assistant, then as a special assistant to Majerle before a brief final stint as director of basketball operations.

He also served as student director for Mark Few’s Gonzaga from 2010 to 2014, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education before earning a master’s degree in business leadership while a graduate assistant at GCU.

If there is still any affection for GCU, it’s worth noting that former GCU forward Gabe McGlothan will play for the Denver Nuggets in Vegas, and GCU wing Tyon Grant-Foster was one of my favorite prospects in the class before he opted out late in the process. His age and heart condition could prevent him from being drafted next year when he does graduate and could be in a position to land first with the G League route.

Task #2: Summer League

One of Sabean’s first tasks will be to evaluate the performance of the Summer Suns’ roster, which was announced on Sunday.

It included one player from the Valley’s expansion draft, Quinndary Weatherspoon. But it also included each of the rookies, Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro and Jalen Bridges, all of whom will likely spend at least some time in Tempe.

And just below that group is a plethora of interesting talent, including Isaiah Wong, an athletic 6-foot-4 guard with creativity who spent last year with the Pacers’ G League Mad Ants after they selected him 55th overall.

There’s also a prolific college scorer and playmaker in Boo Buie of Northwestern fame, where he scored 31 points and made the game-winning free throws in overtime to upset No. 1 Purdue and Zach Edey in Big Ten play last season.

Of the bigger players we’ll see in purple and orange this year in Vegas, I’m most interested in seeing former Florida center Tyrese Samuel, who has exceptional tools, standing at 6-foot-10 with a wingspan of over 7-foot-3.

He has a chance to really set up those talented guards well in Vegas, which could give him a chance to do the same in Tempe.

Which Summer Sun are you most looking forward to seeing in Tempe on Saturday night at 8 p.m. against the Golden State Warriors? Which potential Valley Suns are you most looking forward to seeing in Tempe?