KTAR Reporting: Steve Kerr Not Returning as GM.

[joshstmarie]

Kerr steps down and now the suns are moving to San Diego? Get a frickin grip.

 

[Cheesebeef]

If this situation keeps deteriorating, maybe Stern will step in and hel--

Ah hell, who am I kidding?? We're screwed.

lol. welcome to the dark-side Chap. I'd tell you it's fun... but it's not.

Seriously, please, someone on the board, just post-up at Hava Java this weekend during the mornings. He's ALWAYS there at least one of the weekend days. Drop a coffee on him by accident for me. I'll paypal you the buck fifty once the deed is done!

 

[Sunburn]

You don't think he could have said that as leverage to get more money out of a TV deal. Not saying which side is true or not just that there is easily a legit reason for Kerr to say what he said and still want to leave for TV.

You really think they were banging down Kerr's door that hard to get him back on tv?

 

[Chaplin]

You really think they were banging down Kerr's door that hard to get him back on tv?

He could probably get more money then he was making as GM. That's all he really needed to know.

 

[Chaplin]

lol. welcome to the dark-side Chap. I'd tell you it's fun... but it's not.

I figure that, but I'm immersed in World Cup now, so this hasn't affected me much. I want to wait until mid-July to see what the hell is going on. By then the draft and summer league will be done and we'll have a clearer picture of how bad of a situation we're in.

 

[Cheesebeef]

He could probably get more money then he was making as GM. That's all he really needed to know.

I was wondering about that. Just how much do people think NBA announcers make versus appropriately paid GMs?

 

[Chaplin]

I was wondering about that. Just how much do people think NBA announcers make versus appropriately paid GMs?

Not sure, but your key word is "appropriately". Obviously Doug Collins is getting a lot of money to coach the 6ers, but when he was dangled other head coaching jobs, he said no. My guess is that the money wasn't that good. Of course, that's coaching, not GM. I wonder how comparable those two jobs are salary-wise.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Not sure, but your key word is "appropriately". Obviously Doug Collins is getting a lot of money to coach the 6ers, but when he was dangled other head coaching jobs, he said no. My guess is that the money wasn't that good. Of course, that's coaching, not GM. I wonder how comparable those two jobs are salary-wise.

Danny Ferry was getting 2 million per year as a GM. I would think that's probably a contract Kerr commensurate with what Kerr deserved. There's NO WAY that an announcing gig pays anywhere close to that much... is there? I'm thinking a decent paying GM salary is higher than being a color-commentator who's not a superstar.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Well there's a moronic point. If you aren't alive when something happens, you can't comment on it. I wish that excuse would've worked in Middle School when I didn't feel like doing my report on Pearl Harbor. "Sorry teach, I wasn't alive then, how could I know anything about it?"

Not even close to the same thing, but I'm sure you understand that.

Amare is replaceable, but there's almost no way to replace him currently since Kerr didn't trade him earlier. Unless the Suns get real lucky and do a sign and trade with him, theyre going to be hurting next year.

He's very replaceable with a sign and trade which both Amare's camp and the Suns (other than Sarvs) wanted.

Please find me a 4 year span in Suns history where they won as many games. Let me help you, it doesn't exit. Sure they didn't win a title, but thats not the only measure of success. Success can be defined in many ways, sure a title would be the ultimate success but every time your team doesn't win one doesn't make the season a failure or an under achievement.

Winning championships is the only measure of success in sports. Sorry, but that's the reality. Nobody remembers the losers.

The D'Antoni era Suns entertained millions of people and brought the community together, they made game nights an event and must see TV, I have a hard time finding any qualms with that.

Of course you don't, you're the guy who thinks that our 44 year championship drought is okay because there's other measures of success.

You've made this point numerous times and I've corrected you on it numerous times but like a petulant child you keep coming back with the same retort.

That's because what I said is true.

Sarver likely said to Kerr "cut payroll" how Kerr chose to do that was his call. He dropped the ball by giving up two picks, he carried out that plan and due to his inexperience got screwed. I'm not in anyway defending Sarver, I hate him and wish JC never sold the team. But Kerr made the deal, his name was on the GMs door when it happened, he takes the blame.

Cutting payroll means getting rid of salary for nothing. The guys making big money at that point were KT, Nash, Amare, and Marion. Guys like Raja and Marcus Banks (not tradeable) were also making decent cash. Who else did you suppose he get rid of in the offseason to cut salary?

Pretty easy to say looking back on things. At the time they thought he was the answer to Dwight Howard and the piece they needed to get them over the hump to a title.

They never thought that. Cleveland traded for Shaq to appease Lebron. After flaming out in Miami and Phoenix nobody in the NBA GM or owner wanted him especially at his salary.

Acting as if getting the last pick in the 1st round for what they perceived to be the missing piece is some sort of ludicrous goal is ludicrous itself.

We were cutting salary (again) and the last pick in the 1st round was seen to be more of a albatross than anything. Guaranteed salary for three years and a player that nobody was sure about.

Nope. If the Suns don't have Amare next year for nothing (which is what I was talking about) they likely won't be talented enough to get to the WCF.

If Kerr was allowed to operate without handcuffs this team would be back in the WC hunt as we would replace Amare via sign-and-trade with what the personnel department deem better fits.

I just think its laughable that D'Antoni wins more regular season games and gets to the WCF (x2) and he sucks. Kerrs teams win less regular season games, miss the playoffs, and get to the WCF once, and he's great, a visionary, had the team headed in the right direction, heck he made them better defensively (which of course isn't true, but shhh lets not bring in facts!)

Sorry, it's pretty tough to argue with D'Antoni defenders. It's so blatantly obvious he's a fraud, don't know what to tell you.

D'Antoni had his faults (he was an awful GM and unqualified to be one, it was a bad hire) and Kerr really ham strung the team for a few years with some of his early moves.

Haha. D'Antoni was the coach for exactly one year after Kerr become GM. Kerr's moves (Porter & Shaq) only really hamstrung the 2008-2009 team which even he would tell you was a necessity to figure out the right pieces into place which quickly turned into a WCF team.

I hope the Suns can hire someone more qualified but Sarvers reputation precedes him and its unlikely. Not many qualified candidates are going to want to come work in this environment where there's not a lot of pieces for the future and a cheap skate owner.

This is true. Draft is a week away, free agency in two weeks. Who's going to sign up for that?

Sure, I think thats a huge part of it. Im not making up some wild consipracy theories, Id likely do the same if I was Kerr.

Look at his situation "this job makes me live in a city I dont want to live in, I work with a cheapskate boss who's clueless, the pieces I have going forward don't set me up for success (partially my own fault) and Id like to see my family more...ok Ill quit." It all makes sense and Im not blaming the guy at all.

That's not why he quit/was forced out (depending who you ask, I heard he was more or less fired). He was tired of being Bob Sarver's hatchet-man with so many opportunities out there for him in the basketball world.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Not sure, but your key word is "appropriately". Obviously Doug Collins is getting a lot of money to coach the 6ers, but when he was dangled other head coaching jobs, he said no. My guess is that the money wasn't that good. Of course, that's coaching, not GM. I wonder how comparable those two jobs are salary-wise.

Braodcasting money is good money, but nowhere close to a big front office job or even assistant coaching gig. Majerle was making under 100k annually when he announced for the Suns including all his stupid endorsements.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

What I can't say in many words I am saying in choice words is that Sarver doesn't measure up to either of those guys. Not even close. I'm sitting here amazed that Kerr would go so far as to still protect him, but I get that Kerr is leaving instead of raising a stink because Sarver is a friend.

It's more because he knows if you throw your owner under the bus you largely get blackballed by that good old boy network. Kerr is a smart guy and knows that he can easily get a job somewhere else in the NBA soon if the mood strikes him. See Golden State and their new ownership group for example. And he will get to do it his way without D'Antoni's arrogance and Sarver's meddling and penny-pinching.

 

[Chaplin]

Braodcasting money is good money, but nowhere close to a big front office job or even assistant coaching gig. Majerle was making under 100k annually when he announced for the Suns including all his stupid endorsements.

But we're talking about Sarver and the Suns here.

First, Kerr wants to spend more time with his family. We've heard that before, but considering he has teenagers now, it's understandable that he wants to spend more time with them.

Second, not only is he Steve Kerr the 6-time world champion, but he is now a former GM in the NBA.

And third, Dan Majerle was already rich when he took the broadcasting gig--he had already made more money than Kerr ever will.

 

[Folster]

Here's a theory as to why Sarver will most liekly let Stoudemire walk: He saw first hand what a real max player looked like in Kobe Bryant. Watching game 6 and being able to compare Stoudemire's less than inspiring performance to Kobe hitting shots with players draped all over him would definitely help him define what a max player is.

 

[jandaman]

I thought 80% of the board would feel happy that Sarver weren't gonna to keep Amare for the financial reason they have been preaching here.

thats one of the potential good things in the outcome of Kerr not continuing as GM and Sarver sounding to cut more salaries down.

But most of us people who doesnt want Stoudemire signed long term at max, is that we are banking on the Suns (ahem Kerr) to make a sign and trade deal... and or if Stoudemire do walk... that they sign another player.


Guess if Stoudemire walks... and no one gets signed..

that frees up about 30 Minutes for Clark.... geez talk about teaching a new swimmer in the deep end without a floating device.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

You know deep down I think Sarver truly loves the team. But it is also possible that the man is really struggling financially, everyone wants to get paid, but Sarver might have been taking losses. Sarver wants to recapture some of the loss he has taken over the past few years. Greed usually takes precedent over winning.

I look at my own company, we cut 6500 jobs, paid out 1.25 billion to AMD, we work extra hours and profits soar in the worst economy in decades, yet we all get 1.5% raise.. butthe CEO a 13 million dollar raise. So yeah was I kinda pissed? sure, but I don't have the options Kerr has, Kerr can say "hey I have money, I don't need this BS, I can make a great living at $200K salary and spend time with my family, see ya." How many of us have said, oh man if I win the powerball I am out of here? Same deal.

Juat my opinion, Sarver is a true CEO owner, he is out to make money for himself first and secondly he is there to enjoy his toy, Los Suns. Like many talented employees who feel they aren't getting a fair shake they move on. I am almost certain it's that simple.

 

[Cheesebeef]

You know deep down I think Sarver truly loves the team. But it is also possible that the man is really struggling financially, everyone wants to get paid, but Sarver might have been taking losses. Sarver wants to recapture some of the loss he has taken over the past few years. Greed usually takes precedent over winning.

Business was a booming for him EVERYWHERE in 2004... when he balked at paying JJ what he was worth... it was booming for him in 2006 when he balked at paying BC what he had earned and was still booming for him in 2007 when he mortgaged our present and future with the KT deal.

I don't believe Sarver deep down truly loves anything except for money.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

thats one of the potential good things in the outcome of Kerr not continuing as GM and Sarver sounding to cut more salaries down.

But most of us people who doesnt want Stoudemire signed long term at max, is that we are banking on the Suns (ahem Kerr) to make a sign and trade deal... and or if Stoudemire do walk... that they sign another player.


Guess if Stoudemire walks... and no one gets signed..

that frees up about 30 Minutes for Clark.... geez talk about teaching a new swimmer in the deep end without a floating device.

IMO Clark will be fine, the Suns will be decent as long as Nash plays, when he retires that's when it will really start to hurt. Now if JC was running the Suns, I would be totally confident he would pull off something like CP3, but I don't think anyone on trhe suns staff including Kerr could do that. Kerr was basicaLLY screw up soft GM for two years, this year he was starting to really come into his own, but I still don't think Kerr's strength is dealing, his model is to draft and develop, with or without Kerr I think the Suns are only as good as Steve Nash.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Business was a booming for him EVERYWHERE in 2004... when he balked at paying JJ what he was worth... it was booming for him in 2006 when he balked at paying BC what he had earned and was still booming for him in 2007 when he mortgaged our present and future with the KT deal.

I don't believe Sarver deep down truly loves anything except for money.

Personally I think JJ was a rookie mistake. Yeah it was a royal F up, but remember BC was still the shot caller, hindsight I am sure Sarver would have said no to Q and yes to JJ at 50M. Not an excuse I just think he made a noob mistake....which IMO cost the team 2 titles.

 

[Cheesebeef]

And third, Dan Majerle was already rich when he took the broadcasting gig--he had already made more money than Kerr ever will.

how do you figure this? Kerr played 15 years in the NBA versus Majerle's 14 years and probably made more in his last 7 years than Thunder did in his first 7 to probably equate to the same amount of money that Kerr made considering escalating salaries and the fact that Kerr was a much bigger commodity towards the end of the his career whereas Majerle was just playing out the string. Not to mention, Kerr's TNT gigs had to be paying Majerle more than his local gigs were.

I mean, Kerr was REALLY rich as well, maybe as much or even more than Thunder.

 

[Gaddabout]

You know deep down I think Sarver truly loves the team. But it is also possible that the man is really struggling financially, everyone wants to get paid, but Sarver might have been taking losses. Sarver wants to recapture some of the loss he has taken over the past few years. Greed usually takes precedent over winning.

I'm not even certain Sarver owns half the team. There are 15 partners in Suns Legacy Group, one of which is Steve Kerr. If Sarver were hurting that much, I'm certain Jenny Craig, Steven Hilton, or any number of others could bail him out and help him divest his interest in the team.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

@ Cheese I personally agree with you about BC, I don't think Sarver wanted to share any glory with BC or JC, Sarver wanted things his way, I am not defending him, he is an average owner, not great not horrible just average. Despite all the bad moves we have to face the fact that he has produced good teams. So we can't label him horrible.

Now deep down, I truly think it would be best if he was not the owner. I just don't know what a new owner would bring to the table.....it's all uncertain. Foamy is average, the alternative could be better or much much worse.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

I'm not even certain Sarver owns half the team. There are 15 partners in Suns Legacy Group, one of which is Steve Kerr. If Sarver were hurting that much, I'm certain Jenny Craig, Steven Hilton, or any number of others could bail him out and help him divest his interest in the team.

I doubt it, usually a majority owner is the face, there is nothing extrodinary about Sarver that would allow a board to choose him as the face of the franchise. Of course I could be dead wrong, but I would guess that Sarver is the majority owner. JC did hand pick him iirc.

 

[Gaddabout]

I doubt it, usually a majority owner is the face, there is nothing extrodinary about Sarver that would allow a board to choose him as the face of the franchise. Of course I could be dead wrong, but I would guess that Sarver is the majority owner. JC did hand pick him iirc.

Actually it is important, because the NBA has a say in ownership, as well. Colangelo sold Sarver, the second wealthiest man in the ownership group, to the NBA. Only Sam Garvin exceeds him, I think.

 

[Tyler]

And you and Hoover agree because you're not very informed.

Sarver is a clown regardless of college affiliation. Kerr re-built this team on the fly into an NBA Championship contender despite being forced to cut salary and release solid veterans every year. The guy should've been given a raise, he brought this team closer to an NBA Championship than any team since '93.

So you are informed? You have a Suns front office job?

Sure Kerr did a decent job but by no means is he a great GM.

I hope your wrong Matt.

 

[Irish]

I have not had time to read the zillion posts done on this topic. so my thoughts are probably repeating other posts.

1. SARVER WANTED KERR TO TAKE A SALARY CUT: I don't know what he was making nor what Sarver asked. But if what I'm hearing, Kerr was just insulted and decided to go to go to TNT because of Sarver.

2. IT IS NOT CLEAR THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH STAT: Maybe it does, but it not clear that Kerr and Sarver disagree on Stat or even if they do, which is wants to keep Amare and which doesn't.

3. TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WILL BE LIMITED FOR A WHILE: Sarver has not proven he knows anything about making trades and even less about sign and trade deals. His decision to hire Kerr after D'Antoni proved to be a disaster as a GM suggests he knows this.

4. GRIFFIN LIKELY TO RUN THE SUNS DRAFT: The draft is generallly a "collective" activity for the Suns. The strategy is likely to continue whatever ranking they currently have, so Griffin may have only a limited voice in this.

5. THE FREE AGENTS SEARCH MAY BE VERY LIMITED. As much as guys like Morrow or Tolliver might be good pickups for the Suns, not having a GM may mean the opportunity will be lost.