NBA Finals' Biggest Loser: Phoenix Suns Owner Robert Sarver

[Brian in Mesa]

NBA Finals' Biggest Loser: Phoenix Suns Owner Robert Sarver

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news...ser-phoenix-suns-owner-robert-sarver-8393965#!

For the second straight year, the epic battle between LeBron James and Steph Curry in the NBA Finals wowed American sports fans.

And for the second straight year, Suns fans could only watch with remorse.

Both teams have key figures who were jettisoned by Suns owner Robert Sarver.

Steve Kerr coached the Warriors to the title last year, won the NBA's Coach of the Year award this season with a team that won a record-setting 73 victories, then came within one win of another championship.

For the Suns, he did a bang-up job as general manager.

But in 2010, shortly after expressing his enthusiasm for staying in the job, he departed. This was at least in part because he wasn't offered a raise when his contract expired. Kerr also wanted more money for Suns coaches.

Then there's the case of David Griffin, a local kid (Brophy Prep, Arizona State University), who rose from media relations to the video room to the front office, where he served as right-hand man to GMs Bryan Colangelo and Kerr.

His departure was a morale wrecker for the rest of the Suns staff.

Now, he's the general manager for the Cavaliers. He helped rebuild King James' supporting cast on the fly, then made the harrowing (and ultimately rewarding) decision to change coaches in midseason, even though the Cavs had a 30-11 record at the time.

 

[Covert Rain]

Wow. There once a time I thought there would never be an owner in town that let more talent go and would be more critsized than Bill Bidwill.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Um. I like Griff and all, but he really hasn't done anything brilliant. LeBron fell in his lap. He has not drafted well.

 

[Russ Smith]

Um. I like Griff and all, but he really hasn't done anything brilliant. LeBron fell in his lap. He has not drafted well.

And saying he rebuilt them on the fly and changed coaches is funny, everyone knows LeBron is the Gm of the Cavs.

 

[devilalum]

I remember the first time Jerry Colangelo talked about Sarver. It wasn't what he said it was what he didn't say that immediately threw up red flags. No experience. Not really all that wealthy...

Of course Sarver was new to sports ownership and the only reason he was sold the team is because he paid Jerry what he wanted. But immediately it came out that he wasn't a mega gazillionaire like a lot of other owners. And then there was the "transition period." As part of the deal Jerry and Brian agreed to stay on and teach Sarver and guide the transition.

In the end it seemed more like Jerry just walked away frustrated knowing there was nothing more he could do. Not long after that Brian was gone mainly because Sarver wanted no impression that he was not completely in control.

Sarver has earned his status among the worst owners in sports. He took one of the most successful franchises in US sports and turned it into a national joke. Phoenix is a great place to live and for years was a desired destination for players. The Suns were one of the most winning franchises in sports history and have now missed the playoffs 6 years and counting. There is no light at the end of the tunnel.

Its a train. The Sarver Express.

 

[slinslin]

That article is a joke. Cleveland is all about Lebron, it has nothing to do with Sarver or the Suns.

 

[devilalum]

That article is a joke. Cleveland is all about Lebron, it has nothing to do with Sarver or the Suns.

But it is another opportunity for the press to lay into Sarver. He's become the NBA's whipping boy.

 

[CardsFan88]

I remember the first time Jerry Colangelo talked about Sarver. It wasn't what he said it was what he didn't say that immediately threw up red flags. No experience. Not really all that wealthy...

Of course Sarver was new to sports ownership and the only reason he was sold the team is because he paid Jerry what he wanted. But immediately it came out that he wasn't a mega gazillionaire like a lot of other owners. And then there was the "transition period." As part of the deal Jerry and Brian agreed to stay on and teach Sarver and guide the transition.

In the end it seemed more like Jerry just walked away frustrated knowing there was nothing more he could do. Not long after that Brian was gone mainly because Sarver wanted no impression that he was not completely in control.

Sarver has earned his status among the worst owners in sports. He took one of the most successful franchises in US sports and turned it into a national joke. Phoenix is a great place to live and for years was a desired destination for players. The Suns were one of the most winning franchises in sports history and have now missed the playoffs 6 years and counting. There is no light at the end of the tunnel.

Its a train. The Sarver Express.

We had the 3rd highest winning percentage for an NBA team. Now we're fourth.

Remember Jerry honored his part of the contract, where he had an office and was willing to help in whatever way. But $arver didn't want to utilize it. $arver's stupid ego.

Since then he's helped with USA basketball and now the 76ers. It's clear he wasn't done, $arver made him done with the Suns.

The NBA isn't a bank. You can't create money out of thin air, get bailouts, and bribe people. You actually have to be GOOD at what you do to be successful. $arver thought he was hot stuff, but he was just on the gravy train. Talented players and chemistry aren't as fungible as money created out of thin air. When he actually had to run something real, like the Suns, he sucks.

What's really bad is there was probably no team ever sold in NBA history which had as much going for it as what $arver bought into. Tons of talent. Much of it young. Most 1st round picks stockpiled. It's like the Suns as a franchise were at their pinnacle and $arver has taken us to rock bottom.

I'm not too optimistic about our future with $arver, but you never know. At least he's taken the step to stop selling off great assets to save money, only to then panic trade more assets for a band-aid that doesn't cover the whole wound, only to then sell off more assets to save money, only to panic and make more bad moves. Rinse and repeat.

He may still be pressing too hard to be competitive and funnel McD into bad choices, or maybe both are equal offenders.

I said at the time something along these lines. That I hope $arver's learning curve as owner doesn't hamper the Suns. Now I'm hoping all these years later, maybe we're halfway along that curve. Pretty sad.

Hopefully McD can pick right and keep $arver out of screwing up the team. But yeah it's pretty clear who the problem has always been for us. $arver.

It's funny though, all throughout the playoffs I've been like... there's a former sun... and another... and another... and another....like 20 or more times. All these players on other teams in the playoffs. It seemed like just about every team had one or two of our former players.

So with that, let's have a great draft.

 

[frdbtr]

We had the 3rd highest winning percentage for an NBA team. Now we're fourth.

Remember Jerry honored his part of the contract, where he had an office and was willing to help in whatever way. But $arver didn't want to utilize it. $arver's stupid ego.

Since then he's helped with USA basketball and now the 76ers. It's clear he wasn't done, $arver made him done with the Suns.

The NBA isn't a bank. You can't create money out of thin air, get bailouts, and bribe people. You actually have to be GOOD at what you do to be successful. $arver thought he was hot stuff, but he was just on the gravy train. Talented players and chemistry aren't as fungible as money created out of thin air. When he actually had to run something real, like the Suns, he sucks.

What's really bad is there was probably no team ever sold in NBA history which had as much going for it as what $arver bought into. Tons of talent. Much of it young. Most 1st round picks stockpiled. It's like the Suns as a franchise were at their pinnacle and $arver has taken us to rock bottom.

I'm not too optimistic about our future with $arver, but you never know. At least he's taken the step to stop selling off great assets to save money, only to then panic trade more assets for a band-aid that doesn't cover the whole wound, only to then sell off more assets to save money, only to panic and make more bad moves. Rinse and repeat.

He may still be pressing too hard to be competitive and funnel McD into bad choices, or maybe both are equal offenders.

I said at the time something along these lines. That I hope $arver's learning curve as owner doesn't hamper the Suns. Now I'm hoping all these years later, maybe we're halfway along that curve. Pretty sad.

Hopefully McD can pick right and keep $arver out of screwing up the team. But yeah it's pretty clear who the problem has always been for us. $arver.

It's funny though, all throughout the playoffs I've been like... there's a former sun... and another... and another... and another....like 20 or more times. All these players on other teams in the playoffs. It seemed like just about every team had one or two of our former players.

So with that, let's have a great draft.

^This^
It doesn't matter who is the coach, or who is the GM or who is in charge of player personnel, the Suns are going to continue to lose and continue to farm good players all over the NBA and continue to fire coaches who go on to be successful elsewhere until Sarver is no longer the owner. He bought a team that was loaded, he has destroyed the team and made Phoenix a place where good players don't even consider coming. Under Colangelo, it was exactly the opposite. Everyone knew he would do whatever he thought was necessary to win a championship. Everyone knows that Sarver will not, he is all about the bottom line and saving a buck. He is the worst owner in the NBA right now.

 

[Chaplin]

^This^
It doesn't matter who is the coach, or who is the GM or who is in charge of player personnel, the Suns are going to continue to lose and continue to farm good players all over the NBA and continue to fire coaches who go on to be successful elsewhere until Sarver is no longer the owner. He bought a team that was loaded, he has destroyed the team and made Phoenix a place where good players don't even consider coming. Under Colangelo, it was exactly the opposite. Everyone knew he would do whatever he thought was necessary to win a championship. Everyone knows that Sarver will not, he is all about the bottom line and saving a buck. He is the worst owner in the NBA right now.

What exactly did he "destroy" on that loaded team that he bought? I seem to remember the opposite was true, we ended up holding onto Nash more than we should have, and while there were problems with draft decisions and selling draft picks, getting rid of Amare when we did was probably the right move. We can also argue till the cows come home about the Joe Johnson situation, but even that has been misconstrued--JJ was going to leave no matter what--he didn't want to be 3rd banana behind Amare and Nash. This fallacy about how Sarver is all to blame for the Suns troubles is such horse hockey. He is somewhat to blame, but not all to blame. D'Antoni not wanting to play rookies and his disastrous stint as GM was a failure. Steve Kerr's time as the GM wasn't nearly as great as everyone here seems to think it was.

Accusing Sarver of not doing what is necessary to win a championship is short-changing the organization when we actually were in great position to compete for the championship, yes, when Robert Sarver was the owner. Nobody like the guy, fine, but don't make stuff up to fit a narrative that doesn't exist.

And for the last time, Robert Sarver is not CHEAP!! He's just stupid.

 

[TJ]

Um. I like Griff and all, but he really hasn't done anything brilliant. LeBron fell in his lap. He has not drafted well.

Griffin rode the coattails of LeBron. Dan Gilbert handled that deal. Griff just filed the contract in the file cabinet. LeBron's charisma and recruiting landed the other talent.

Griffin is a glorified intern.

 

[devilalum]

If the Dbacks had never existed do you think JC would still be the owner of the Suns?

Regardless Jerry wanted out and he sold to the highest bidder. Sarver has been bad but its not like he committed a hostile take over. Jerry knew he was unqualified but didn't care. He did try to help with the transition but I think he was eager to wash his hands of Arizona.

sent from a fone

 

[BC867]

Just out of curiosity, I wonder why is Goran Dragic is
pictured in the upper right at the top of the page representing the Suns.

 

[Mainstreet]

Just out of curiosity, I wonder why is Goran Dragic is
pictured in the upper right at the top of the page representing the Suns.

There is actually a thread about it.

Shaggy writes:

The header design was done almost 2 years ago. We are going to have the changed soon.

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/forum/threads/dragic-in-the-forum-header.236628/#post-3356243

 

[frdbtr]

What exactly did he "destroy" on that loaded team that he bought? I seem to remember the opposite was true, we ended up holding onto Nash more than we should have, and while there were problems with draft decisions and selling draft picks, getting rid of Amare when we did was probably the right move. We can also argue till the cows come home about the Joe Johnson situation, but even that has been misconstrued--JJ was going to leave no matter what--he didn't want to be 3rd banana behind Amare and Nash. This fallacy about how Sarver is all to blame for the Suns troubles is such horse hockey. He is somewhat to blame, but not all to blame. D'Antoni not wanting to play rookies and his disastrous stint as GM was a failure. Steve Kerr's time as the GM wasn't nearly as great as everyone here seems to think it was.

Accusing Sarver of not doing what is necessary to win a championship is short-changing the organization when we actually were in great position to compete for the championship, yes, when Robert Sarver was the owner. Nobody like the guy, fine, but don't make stuff up to fit a narrative that doesn't exist.

And for the last time, Robert Sarver is not CHEAP!! He's just stupid.

Robert Sarver is the only consistent during the decline of the Suns. We have gone through many coaches, many GM's and many players. When he bought the team, we had a championship contending team, now we have been out of the playoffs for 6 years. When I say that Sarver has destroyed the team, I am referring to the fact that the Suns are one of the worst teams in the NBA today and when he bought the team, they were one of the most exciting young teams in the NBA. When was the last time Phoenix lured a High level free Agent? My guess is it would be Nash and that was During the Colangelo years. Which puts Sarvers record at 0. You guys can Blame D'antonio for the Suns decline all you want but he hasn't been the coach in years and Phoenix has done nothing but get worse. Like I said above, Sarver is the only common denominator for the suns decline. My opinion is that the Suns are going to continue to be bad as long as this idiot owns the team.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Robert Sarver is the only consistent during the decline of the Suns. We have gone through many coaches, many GM's and many players. When he bought the team, we had a championship contending team, now we have been out of the playoffs for 6 years. When I say that Sarver has destroyed the team, I am referring to the fact that the Suns are one of the worst teams in the NBA today and when he bought the team, they were one of the most exciting young teams in the NBA. When was the last time Phoenix lured a High level free Agent? My guess is it would be Nash and that was During the Colangelo years. Which puts Sarvers record at 0. You guys can Blame D'antonio for the Suns decline all you want but he hasn't been the coach in years and Phoenix has done nothing but get worse. Like I said above, Sarver is the only common denominator for the suns decline. My opinion is that the Suns are going to continue to be bad as long as this idiot owns the team.

I won't put much effort into trying to change your opinion about Sarver or our future, you're certainly not alone on either count. But your facts are just wrong. We did not have a championship contending team when Sarver bought the Suns and Sarver was already the owner when Nash was brought in. Colangelo was still involved and was certainly a key reason we got Nash but it was already the Sarver era.

Although it's arguable, I don't believe we're one of the worst teams in the NBA. We did have one of the worst records in the NBA last season but we also lost most of our talent to injuries. We've missed the playoffs for 6 straight years and we've had a couple of really bad years during that stretch but even still, we're probably somewhere near the middle of the pack record-wise over those 6 years.

And the rules about free agency have changed dramatically since the days when Jerry was able to bring in big name free agents seemingly every season. It's doubtful that JC would have had much more luck in free agency today than we've had under Sarver.

Sarver gets far too much blame but he's earned plenty of it, that's for sure. If Jerry was still here I think it's safe to say that he'd have run the organization better, he'd have made fewer penny pinching blunders, his court-side behavior would have been less embarrassing, his media interviews would have been far less damaging and we'd have better standing in the public's eye. But, IMO, Sarver has learned considerably along the way and I'm far more comfortable in the direction of this franchise today than I was 6 years ago.

 

[AzStevenCal]

If the Dbacks had never existed do you think JC would still be the owner of the Suns?

Regardless Jerry wanted out and he sold to the highest bidder. Sarver has been bad but its not like he committed a hostile take over. Jerry knew he was unqualified but didn't care. He did try to help with the transition but I think he was eager to wash his hands of Arizona.

I thought Jerry was motivated to sell because of some health problems at the time?

 

[Superbone]

I thought Jerry was motivated to sell because of some health problems at the time?

That's how I remember it too.

I still think we'd have at least one championship had Colangelo stayed on board. We would have resigned JJ. We would have drafted Igoudala. We wouldn't have made the KT blunder trade. I'm also pretty sure Colangelo regrets selling the team.

 

[Covert Rain]

I won't put much effort into trying to change your opinion about Sarver or our future, you're certainly not alone on either count. But your facts are just wrong. We did not have a championship contending team when Sarver bought the Suns and Sarver was already the owner when Nash was brought in. Colangelo was still involved and was certainly a key reason we got Nash but it was already the Sarver era.

Although it's arguable, I don't believe we're one of the worst teams in the NBA. We did have one of the worst records in the NBA last season but we also lost most of our talent to injuries. We've missed the playoffs for 6 straight years and we've had a couple of really bad years during that stretch but even still, we're probably somewhere near the middle of the pack record-wise over those 6 years.

And the rules about free agency have changed dramatically since the days when Jerry was able to bring in big name free agents seemingly every season. It's doubtful that JC would have had much more luck in free agency today than we've had under Sarver.

Sarver gets far too much blame but he's earned plenty of it, that's for sure. If Jerry was still here I think it's safe to say that he'd have run the organization better, he'd have made fewer penny pinching blunders, his court-side behavior would have been less embarrassing, his media interviews would have been far less damaging and we'd have better standing in the public's eye. But, IMO, Sarver has learned considerably along the way and I'm far more comfortable in the direction of this franchise today than I was 6 years ago.

The Sarver era may have started when he bought the team but Jerry was still running things and was responsible for bringing in Nash. I have posted Sarver's comments about Jerry being responsible for Nash before. That was a Jerry fielded team that Sarver inherited that competed for so many years.

I would say after that contending team was broken up and Jerry was gone....from that point on that's all Sarver his FO which hasn't done much for the franchise reputation. The last couple drafts make you optimistic about our future though.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The Sarver era may have started when he bought the team but Jerry was still running things and was responsible for bringing in Nash. I have posted Sarver's comments about Jerry being responsible for Nash before. That was a Jerry fielded team that Sarver inherited that competed for so many years.

I would say after that contending team was broken up and Jerry was gone....from that point on that's all Sarver his FO which hasn't done much for the franchise reputation. The last couple drafts make you optimistic about our future though.

Sarver had the final say on the financial decisions. I agree Colangelo was the key reason we got Nash, even said so in the post you're responding to. But no matter how it's spun, that was during Sarver's tenure. Every owner has someone functioning as a GM, Jerry was ours at the start of the Sarver era and taking away all credit from Sarver for that era makes zero sense.

 

[devilalum]

I thought Jerry was motivated to sell because of some health problems at the time?

Well running Team USA and all the other stuff he's doing he seems fine to me.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Well running Team USA and all the other stuff he's doing he seems fine to me.

Yeah, but at the time they were worrisome. It would have been nice if Sarver had brought him back in after his health scare was behind him but we can't always get what we want.

 

[devilalum]

Sarver gets far too much blame but he's earned plenty of it, that's for sure. If Jerry was still here I think it's safe to say that he'd have run the organization better, he'd have made fewer penny pinching blunders, his court-side behavior would have been less embarrassing, his media interviews would have been far less damaging and we'd have better standing in the public's eye. But, IMO, Sarver has learned considerably along the way and I'm far more comfortable in the direction of this franchise today than I was 6 years ago.

Once you've established yourself as incompetent its very hard to change public opinion. If some other owner had said the whole millennial thing it probably wouldn't have been that big a deal.

Even if the Suns win 50 games next year Sarver probably won't get any credit.

 

[devilalum]

Yeah, but at the time they were worrisome. It would have been nice if Sarver had brought him back in after his health scare was behind him but we can't always get what we want.

NO WAY Jerry would accept a subordinate role to Sarver.

 

[devilalum]

I think JC no longer cares for Arizona because of what happened with the Dbacks.