Anyone that thinks that Sarver is making every basketball decision for this team is delusional.
No, the real culprits are owner Robert Sarver and general manager Steve Kerr, who have turned what was one of the league’s model franchises into a dysfunctional mess.
Sarver’s dirty fingerprints are everywhere:
He declined to pay emerging superstar Joe Johnson an additional $5 million in 2005 – the Suns were offering $45 million, Johnson wanted $50 million – and Johnson bolted to the Atlanta Hawks.
More critically, he refused to extend the contract of general manager Bryan Colangelo in 2006, and Colangelo, rightly angered, defected to the Toronto Raptors. Sarver lost not only one of the bright young minds in the business, he torched his tenuous relationship with Jerry Colangelo.
Then what does Sarver do? Rather than hire an established GM to run the team, he hires his good friend Kerr, who was a great 3-point shooter and broadcaster but had no front office experience.
It was a recipe for disaster, and here the Suns are: In ninth place in the Western Conference, about to peddle Amare Stoudemire and facing a long and steady decline.
Mike D’Antoni never looked so good.
Maybe not every single one, but the major ones - yes. Or perhaps you haven't been reading all the negative press on Sarver.
From EVT today:
bye Porter.
so,
who's next?
Terry Porter is out as the coach of the Suns, just four months into his first season with the team.Porter told the Associated Press on Monday morning that Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr informed him of the decision on Sunday night."I'm going to wait a few days to gather my thoughts before I say anything," Porter said.Assistant coach Alvin Gentry is expected to replace Porter, but the team hasn't made an official announcement.
If this means returning to DA's running system, Shaq is on his way out next few days. Watch out.
No disrespect, but running teams don't win NBA titles. This team is geared to deep Playoff existence. The o keys is our perimeter defense and turnovers. Plain and simple.
I agree, so lets hope gentry does not ignore defense completely. Especially if Amare gets traded for some new guys they should work on that as well.
Especially if Amare gets traded for some new guys they should work on that as well.
Have the Suns ever had a coach (like Porter) that didn't finish his first season with the team? I haven't checked.