Sarver undermining Kerr?

Bufalay

ASFN Lifer
Joined
Jul 21, 2006
Posts
4,679
Reaction score
786
Colangelo was a great owner. He made a lot of mistakes early on (even trying to coach the Suns) but there was no doubt he was in it for the long haul. It was his baby. I feel no such attachment by Sarver.

I watch the Suns to be entertained. If they suck and have a dim future, they are not entertaining, unless Sarver decides to become a coach. That would be fun to watch.
 

chickenhead

Registered User
Joined
Jul 7, 2004
Posts
3,109
Reaction score
77
Colangelo was a great owner. He made a lot of mistakes early on (even trying to coach the Suns) but there was no doubt he was in it for the long haul. It was his baby. I feel no such attachment by Sarver.

I liked Colangelo, too. Although he couldn't realistically have handled all three, the Suns, Diamondbacks, and Coyotes have all suffered from his withdrawal, IMO.
 

BillsCarnage

ASFN Addict
Joined
Dec 2, 2005
Posts
5,827
Reaction score
1,197
Location
The Flip Side
Mark this day ppl. This might be the beginning of the end of the Suns in PHX. The fans have turned on him the way Seattle fans did Schultz. I say might because you never know, but I've always had a bad gut feeling w/ him.

An owner unwilling to commit to sustained success - all about the bottom line
The Arena is almost 20yrs old
Second guessing in the organization

Sarver is the worse thing to happen to this franchise ever and if attendance flounders in the coming years the NBA might look at other markets.

Phoenix w/o the Suns would be a travesty, but we're in the 21st century of Pro sports. I'm sure Seattle would love to have a team.
 
Last edited:

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
119,253
Reaction score
59,866
I'm very down on Sarver as an owner but I'm not convinced he couldn't broker a better trade than Kerr/ Griffin (if he could get some savvy advice from somewhere). Kerr/ Griffin have not impressed me with their smarts. Griffin even sold DA on signing Banks. Also the Suns recent drafts have been pathetic under Kerr. Just watching Lopez sit on the bench hurts. Maybe Sarver is just coming to the realization that his FO personnel are not very good and should be replaced. Sarver must realize what a lousy FO he has in charge. The key is whether Sarver could indeed find someone with basketball knowledge to help him broker a fair trade (who just might become the new GM). I know it's a reach but I wouldn't trust Kerr/ Griffin to get it done if I were the owner. Anyway just another angle to look at why Sarver has become involved in the matter.
 

Espo

Lets Go Suns
Joined
Oct 18, 2003
Posts
1,664
Reaction score
0
Location
Chandler
Honestly I'm sick of Sarver and the way he is running things. If it is true that the Suns want to trim $40 million from next years payroll and have no plan on bringing the salaries back up it is time he sells the team. The goal of fans and this team has been always to win championships not to sneak into the playoffs. It is a sad day that Sarver seems to not share that vision anymore.

This is how I some it up:
http://phoenix.fanster.com/2009/02/11/crazy-robbies-presidents-day-fire-sale-no-trade-will-be-ignored/
 

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
119,253
Reaction score
59,866
Whatever happens in way of a trade before the All-Star game will likely tell which way the Suns future is headed. I have trouble separating Kerr and Griffin from Sarver especially after the last couple of drafts.
 

devilalum

Heavily Redacted
Joined
Jul 30, 2002
Posts
16,776
Reaction score
3,187
Honestly I'm sick of Sarver and the way he is running things. If it is true that the Suns want to trim $40 million from next years payroll and have no plan on bringing the salaries back up it is time he sells the team. The goal of fans and this team has been always to win championships not to sneak into the playoffs. It is a sad day that Sarver seems to not share that vision anymore.

This is how I some it up:
http://phoenix.fanster.com/2009/02/...dents-day-fire-sale-no-trade-will-be-ignored/

Unless he wants to trim salaries so he CAN sell the team.
 

The Commish

youknowhatimsayin?
Joined
Jun 16, 2004
Posts
2,201
Reaction score
11
Location
San Francisco
Mark this day ppl. This might be the beginning of the end of the Suns in PHX. The fans have turned on him the way Seattle fans did Schultz. I say might because you never know, but I've always had a bad gut feeling w/ him.

An owner unwilling to commit to sustained success - all about the bottom line
The Arena is almost 20yrs old
Second guessing in the organization

Sarver is the worse thing to happen to this franchise ever and if attendance flounders in the coming years the NBA might look at other markets.

Phoenix w/o the Suns would be a travesty, but we're in the 21st century of Pro sports. I'm sure Seattle would love to have a team.

Step back from the bridge dude. Sarver from the onset has said that this is not a long term hold for him. He's not going to suddenly jump to another market. Furthermore, US Airways Center was recently renovated and looks pretty damn good. Age of an arena doesn't mean anything. It's all about capacity and luxury suites - USAC has plenty of both.

What will happen is that Sarver will strip the team of salary, get the operating costs down and sell the franchise (similar to the circumstances surrounding his acquisition).

He bought the team to make money and promote his real estate ventures downtown (see: W Hotel and Jackson Street Entertainment District). He felt that downtown was underdeveloped and that he could come in, take over, develop and cash out. The economic climate has shifted dramatically and so has his business plan. Personally, I don't think he has the financial patience to ride this thing out. This team will be for sale in the summer of 2010.
 

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
119,253
Reaction score
59,866
Step back from the bridge dude. Sarver from the onset has said that this is not a long term hold for him. He's not going to suddenly jump to another market. Furthermore, US Airways Center was recently renovated and looks pretty damn good. Age of an arena doesn't mean anything. It's all about capacity and luxury suites - USAC has plenty of both.

What will happen is that Sarver will strip the team of salary, get the operating costs down and sell the franchise (similar to the circumstances surrounding his acquisition).

He bought the team to make money and promote his real estate ventures downtown (see: W Hotel and Jackson Street Entertainment District). He felt that downtown was underdeveloped and that he could come in, take over, develop and cash out. The economic climate has shifted dramatically and so has his business plan. Personally, I don't think he has the financial patience to ride this thing out. This team will be for sale in the summer of 2010.

There is no doubt in my mind that Sarver will sell the Suns sooner rather than later. However, it would behoove Sarver to get some value in return when trades are made rather than leave the franchise stripped.
 

Andrew

flamboyantly righteous!
Joined
Feb 6, 2008
Posts
3,538
Reaction score
0
Location
St. Louis, MO
Is Sarver ONLY in it for the money? Because this makes no sense from a basketball standpoint.
 

nowagimp

Registered User
Joined
Nov 2, 2005
Posts
3,912
Reaction score
0
Location
Gilbert, AZ
Two words...


Donald Sterling

He could possibly be worse if given enough time. This is a guy who made his money off real estate, for crap sakes. Its not real business, just a parasite off the banking industry abuses of the financial system. And yes saver has been undermining the team since he became owner, starting with f'ing up with JJ.
 

MigratingOsprey

Thank You Paul!
Joined
Jul 20, 2003
Posts
13,943
Reaction score
6,874
Location
Goodyear
Step back from the bridge dude. Sarver from the onset has said that this is not a long term hold for him. He's not going to suddenly jump to another market. Furthermore, US Airways Center was recently renovated and looks pretty damn good. Age of an arena doesn't mean anything. It's all about capacity and luxury suites - USAC has plenty of both.

What will happen is that Sarver will strip the team of salary, get the operating costs down and sell the franchise (similar to the circumstances surrounding his acquisition).

He bought the team to make money and promote his real estate ventures downtown (see: W Hotel and Jackson Street Entertainment District). He felt that downtown was underdeveloped and that he could come in, take over, develop and cash out. The economic climate has shifted dramatically and so has his business plan. Personally, I don't think he has the financial patience to ride this thing out. This team will be for sale in the summer of 2010.

i don't think this team will move, but also keep in mind that seattle renovated key arena much like phoenix renovated US Airways - within 5 years of seattle putting $70M of public financing into the arena and commish stern stating how lovely it all looked the new owners were complaining that it wasn't good enough

it gets dangerous when the team becomes a pawn in interests of individuals - sarver wanted it to boost his downtown interests - well, what will be the interests of the next owner, or the owner after that?
 

The Commish

youknowhatimsayin?
Joined
Jun 16, 2004
Posts
2,201
Reaction score
11
Location
San Francisco
i don't think this team will move, but also keep in mind that seattle renovated key arena much like phoenix renovated US Airways - within 5 years of seattle putting $70M of public financing into the arena and commish stern stating how lovely it all looked the new owners were complaining that it wasn't good enough

it gets dangerous when the team becomes a pawn in interests of individuals - sarver wanted it to boost his downtown interests - well, what will be the interests of the next owner, or the owner after that?


Key Arena still didn't have the necessary luxury suites and ameneties after the renovation compared to USAC. It was also built 30 years prior to AWA/USAC. Can't compare the two. I've been to both and Key blooooooooows.
 

Bufalay

ASFN Lifer
Joined
Jul 21, 2006
Posts
4,679
Reaction score
786
Is Sarver ONLY in it for the money? Because this makes no sense from a basketball standpoint.

You have much to learn before you can be considered a hardcore SUNS fan.
 

SactownSunsFan

Welcome to the Age of Ayton
Joined
Jun 28, 2005
Posts
1,938
Reaction score
123
Location
Sacramento, CA
Honestly, does this surprise anyone? He wants to make sure salary gets reduced, even if he has to settle for a bad deal and take 50 cents on the dollar in terms of talent and/or potential.
 

Hat

Return of the Dragon!
Joined
May 16, 2007
Posts
1,259
Reaction score
0
Location
SoCal
Honestly, does this surprise anyone? He wants to make sure salary gets reduced, even if he has to settle for a bad deal and take 50 cents on the dollar in terms of talent and/or potential.

I didn't know it would go this far. This is just ridiculous. Selling draft picks I can see, but a star player for nothing??
 

SactownSunsFan

Welcome to the Age of Ayton
Joined
Jun 28, 2005
Posts
1,938
Reaction score
123
Location
Sacramento, CA
I didn't know it would go this far. This is just ridiculous. Selling draft picks I can see, but a star player for nothing??

Why trade away a high talent for Amare to get high talent back? He'll just have to pay that high talent a big contract at some point down the road. :sad:
 

MigratingOsprey

Thank You Paul!
Joined
Jul 20, 2003
Posts
13,943
Reaction score
6,874
Location
Goodyear
Key Arena still didn't have the necessary luxury suites and ameneties after the renovation compared to USAC. It was also built 30 years prior to AWA/USAC. Can't compare the two. I've been to both and Key blooooooooows.

for an arena today it does - but keep in mind things can change pretty quickly and at the time it was done it was a really good arena

the main difference is that USAC was renovated after a lot of the newer arenas were built while the key was renovated right before they were built

the renovated key arena would be more on par with the original america west arena
 

BillsCarnage

ASFN Addict
Joined
Dec 2, 2005
Posts
5,827
Reaction score
1,197
Location
The Flip Side
Step back from the bridge dude. Sarver from the onset has said that this is not a long term hold for him. He's not going to suddenly jump to another market. Furthermore, US Airways Center was recently renovated and looks pretty damn good. Age of an arena doesn't mean anything. It's all about capacity and luxury suites - USAC has plenty of both.

What will happen is that Sarver will strip the team of salary, get the operating costs down and sell the franchise (similar to the circumstances surrounding his acquisition).

He bought the team to make money and promote his real estate ventures downtown (see: W Hotel and Jackson Street Entertainment District). He felt that downtown was underdeveloped and that he could come in, take over, develop and cash out. The economic climate has shifted dramatically and so has his business plan. Personally, I don't think he has the financial patience to ride this thing out. This team will be for sale in the summer of 2010.

I wasn't trying to imply that Sarver would move the team, but if/when he puts it up for sale all offers will be heard. When he's ready to sell it'll be alla Memphis and clearing salary off the books... Oh wait...

Just saying that as fans we need to be very cautious with the direction Sarver is taking this franchise.
 

jandaman

Hall of Famer
Joined
Feb 24, 2005
Posts
1,263
Reaction score
3
To be honest, some here underestimate the business side of sports.
Owners do not just BUY a team because they like the team. They propose partnership with other BILLIONAIRES proposing to them the advantages and pros of owning a franchise. When the business advantages becomes bad... very bad... in this case.... there is a massive pressure to cut cost. A few things can happen [1] Reduce losses by cost cutting, [2] Ride it out somehow and hopefully you make the losses back in the future (rare) [3] Trim all the "do-able" costs and sell.

No such thing as owners owning a team for JUST the sake of owning. Some owner's stake are 80% for business and thats like with Sarver/Sterling..

Other like Cuban are more 50/50... he is passionate about the team but he also benefits from it business wise. I'm sure once he sees enough "red" in his financial balances he won't just say "Oh, but I love the team, a couple of billion dollars down the drain is okay".... thats B.S...

But I agree that Sarver isnt fit to own a team, because he is 80% in it for the money...

A Cuban-like owner is what most fans want.
 

thegrahamcrackr

Registered User
Joined
Nov 19, 2002
Posts
6,168
Reaction score
0
Location
Scottsdale, Az
I wasn't trying to imply that Sarver would move the team, but if/when he puts it up for sale all offers will be heard. When he's ready to sell it'll be alla Memphis and clearing salary off the books... Oh wait...

Just saying that as fans we need to be very cautious with the direction Sarver is taking this franchise.


I think its important to point out that any team sale has to be approved by the NBA board of governors. With the good, long standing fan base in Phoenix and a good arena there is zero chance that the board would approve a sale that result in a team move anytime in the near future.
 

Andrew

flamboyantly righteous!
Joined
Feb 6, 2008
Posts
3,538
Reaction score
0
Location
St. Louis, MO
You have much to learn before you can be considered a hardcore SUNS fan.
Actually I know he has a reputation for the money side of things, I just heard in an interview by him (after the Shaq trade) that he was doing what was best for the team...
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

I'm better than Mulli!
Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Posts
64,109
Reaction score
59,085
Location
SoCal
let's face it, sarver sucks. the suns as we've known them for their entire existence have ceased to exist. we now have the Phoenix Suck until he decides to unload the franchise, and then WHO KNOWS who becomes the owner . . . sigh. so saddened and angy about this.

we're clearing cap room . . . for what??? in trading amare we're getting rid of one of the top 4 or 5 targets in the 2010 bonanza. yeah . . . that makes sense.
 
Top