Happy Thursday! I hope you’re having a great week.

I’ll get to Jordan Ott below, but first, as if on cue, the Diamondbacks have flipped the script, completing a three-game sweep over the Seattle Mariners yesterday afternoon. Arizona has won seven of its last 10 games and continues to hang around in both the division and Wild Card races despite a recent parade of injuries that have threatened to derail a season that began with championship aspirations.

This weekend’s series against NL West rival San Diego will be a solid litmus test for a team that needs to understand the direction it’s heading before the July 31 trade deadline.

On to the show!

Ott Preaches Work Ethic But Results Must Follow

New Suns coach Jordan Ott won the proverbial press conference, but as he gets set to be the team’s fourth coach in as many seasons, something needs to differentiate him from his predecessor.

Talk is cheap, but early indications are promising.

Yes, we are all well aware of Ott’s Michigan State ties, but it’s starting to feel like anyone who so much as drove through East Lansing would have taken a credibility hit. Owner Mat Ishbia and general manager Brian Gregory both have ties to Sparty, but Ott was a video coordinator at MSU long after both had already departed.

To his credit, Ott didn’t shy away from questions about his roots, nor did he hide from anything. He was steadfast, but not defensive, in his response, stating, “I’ve earned the right to be here.”

Yes, he has.

Ott Targeting a Culture of Hard Work and Accountability

Ott covered a lot of ground during his introductory press conference, but there was a consistent undertone to the majority of his answers.

Character.

The 40-year-old coach reflected upon the journey to his first gig as a head coach, often recalling how his work ethic helped him excel at every level, and how he expects the same from both staff and players. The resounding opinion from throughout the league, including Suns icon Steve Nash, is that Ott is ready for this assignment.

Gregory also sung his praises about his work ethic.

Ott shared a high-level overview of his philosophy during the presser, indicating fans can expect a fast-paced, aggressive style that looks for opportunities early during a possession.

His input as an assistant in Cleveland this past season helped the Cavs to the second-best record in the league (64-18, behind only Oklahoma City), though Phoenix’s roster will almost assuredly look very different next year. The rumor mill is swirling non-stop around players like Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, but Ott seemingly squashed any rumors regarding Devin Booker’s status, speaking highly of the young star during the press conference.

“We’re gonna try to build this thing to help Devin Booker in every way,” he said.

We’ll know a lot more in the coming weeks and months, but you can’t fault Ott for having about as good of an intro as one could hope for.

Now let’s just hope he builds on it.

Take a Deeper Dive: This high-level overview doesn’t even scratch the surface, but Gerald has you covered, highlighting the five major takeaways from Ott’s first press conference as a head coach.

Baseball Hat Trick: Eugenio Suárez blasted his third grand slam of the season (something I could only accomplish at Denny’s), helping the Diamondbacks to a 5-2 win over the Mariners. Arizona swept Seattle to claw back to .500 on the season (34-34), and now has a critical three-game set against division rival San Diego that kicks off tomorrow.

It’s Getting Drafty: Make sure to check out the NBA Diehard Draft Guide — Led by ALLCITY draft analysts Derek Bodner of PHLY and Will Gottlieb of CHGO, this guide is your one-stop-shop as teams across the league gear up to reshape their rosters!

Note the Diehard draft guide is best viewed on desktop or tablet!

More Accoldates: Wildcats closer Tony Pluta has another feather to put in his cap, as he was named an NCBWA First-Team All American, becoming just the second Wioldcats relief pitcher to earn that honor. The righty has allowed only two runs in 28 appearances, posting a 1.26 ERA while recording a school-record 14 saves.

Striking: ASU reliever Cole Carlon earned NCBWA Third-Team honors, the only Sun Devils player to make an appearance on this year’s list. He’s expected to play in the prestigious Cape Cod league this summer, bolstering his skills as he prepares for his junior season.

Flying High: The Mercury improved to 7-4 with a 93-80 Commissioner’s Cup win over the Dallas Stars last night. Satou Sabally — who else — led the team with 20 points, and flirted with a double-double by pulling in nine rebounds. Phoenix kicks off a four-game road trip in Vegas on Sunday; Tip-off is scheduled for 3 pm AZ time, and the game will be broadcast on Arizona’s Family / 3TV.

Tip Of The Hat By Branded Bills

Join us at the pool!