Sarvers future as owner

[Hoop Head]

The much hyped and sensationalized article was released by ESPN today allegeding Sarver is an immature, racist, misogynist, buffoon. I don't think anyone is very surprised by any of the report given his history here as Suns owner. Now the big question is whether there is enough evidence to have him removed as the managing general partner of the Suns.

Here's a link for that article.

I don't believe anyone wants him to remain as the owner but that's a different story. What I'm asking is there enough evidence at this point to have him removed?

Please vote on what you think will happen rather than what you want to happen. I'm pretty sure if we had a choice then it'd be that he sells.

 

[Dback Jon]

There is enough for the ownership group to force him out.

 

[Hoop Head]

There is enough for the ownership group to force him out.

That is entirely possible. Im hesitant to lean that way because of how the agreement was deemed sort of bulletproof in that article. It'll probably take the league office offering assistance to the ownership group or something else to make enough of a case to break it.

I do believe the ownership group will try to push him out. That's much more likely than the league doing so. I'd say theres probably an 80-90% chance the ownership group tries to force him out. What keeps me from going higher is the recent success of the team. There is a complacency with success, especially after such a miserable stretch.

If the players tried rallying the ownership group then that would probably be enough to make the push successful.

 

[Finito]

How the Suns players react will be huge.

 

[Chaplin]

I'll be surprised if the league does anything other than recommend a course of action.

 

[Covert Rain]

I chose other. I think his contract with the ownership group only gives grounds to remove him if he committed a major criminal act. That's out. Evidently, there was no moral clause (at least not reported). I question if the League has the appetite after the Sterling incident. So, I am not confident there.

I still think he is out if the other Owners will refuse to do business with him, free agents will refuse to come here and advertisers/sponsors start jumping ship. Like with the Clippers if the Suns refuse to play for him?

It's a done deal. To me that is the most likely catalyst.

 

[Rab]

I think it just depends on what they find. The league could oust him if they find any concrete evidence of racism. That just won’t be tolerated by the league.

 

[Dr. Jones]

How the Suns players react will be huge.

This and the attached video are the correct takes IMO.

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[JerkFace]

I voted “other” because I think there needs to be more to oust him, but I think there is a chance that the NBA finds that “more” during their investigation. I think more people will be willing to come forward and talk to investigators now that blood is in the water than they were to talk to a reporter.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

There is enough for the ownership group to force him out.

My response to that is: I guarantee there’s nothing in that article that they didn’t already know. I mean, one of co-owners is quoted in the story. If they didn’t do anything before it was either because (a) they didn’t want to; or (b) they realized they couldn’t; or likely (c) a combination of both.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

How the Suns players react will be huge.

They want no part of getting in the middle of this. I’ll be shocked if any of them comment substantially on this story.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm thinking the NBA investigation will lay the groundwork for the owners to force Sarver out.

If not, the players will do it and I'm including the NBPA. It doesn't have to be Suns players.

I'm hoping somewhere along the line Sarver sees the light and resigns.

IMO, the other owners will have to make it worthwhile financially for Sarver to leave of his own volition.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I'll be surprised if the league does anything other than recommend a course of action.

This

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I think it just depends on what they find. The league could oust him if they find any concrete evidence of racism. That just won’t be tolerated by the league.

Doesn’t sound like any of that exists. If it did it surely would’ve made the story.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

This and the attached video are the correct takes IMO.

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Couldn’t state my opinion any better than Elle Duncan just did.

 

[Covert Rain]

Doesn’t sound like any of that exists. If it did it surely would’ve made the story.

I didn't get that at all. The story referenced incidents. They were not going to list statements of 70 people. The article would have been 5 times as big. Plus, I am sure the league can look into these "settlements" the former head of HR (who was not fired) referenced. I am sure there is plenty for the league to investigate. I just don't think they have an appetite for Sterling 2.0.

 

[Mainstreet]

I voted "other" because I don't think Sarver survives this. Too much mud on the wall. Some will stick.

It will probably be a combination of factors: owners, league and players that does it.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I voted “other” because I think there needs to be more to oust him, but I think there is a chance that the NBA finds that “more” during their investigation. I think more people will be willing to come forward and talk to investigators now that blood is in the water than they were to talk to a reporter.

This is certainly possible. I doubt there’s still a smoking gun, but if the testimonials become overwhelming in number (and the article tries to make it seem that way, but without names they could just be using the same 6-10 people over and over again for stories) the league might not need the smoking gun.

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

I hope he is removed, but really can't predict what will happen

 

[Hoop Head]

This and the attached video are the correct takes IMO.

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Couldn’t state my opinion any better than Elle Duncan just did.

She really hit that out of the park. That video should be placed at the end of the article.

 

[Proximo]

They want no part of getting in the middle of this. I’ll be shocked if any of them comment substantially on this story.

I would too, unless one of them has experienced something with Sarver themselves - and that probably would have already come out.

 

[SirStefan32]

I wish he would get removed, but there isn't enough here for the league to do anything, and the ownership group is well-aware of whatever may have happened. This is literally the worst case scenario- enough alleged misconduct for the Suns to take a hit to their reputation, but there isn't enough for Sarver to go away.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I didn't get that at all. The story referenced incidents. They were not going to list statements of 70 people. The article would have been 5 times as big. Plus, I am sure the league can look into these "settlements" the former head of HR (who was not fired) referenced. I am sure there is plenty for the league to investigate. I just don't think they have an appetite for Sterling 2.0.

You’re falling for a ruse by the writer. They interviewed 70 people. That could still mean they got bupkis from 65 of them. As I mentioned before, the stories could all be from 6-10 people. And if they’re mostly former employees, and there are opposing stories from other employees, it’s just he said/she said, which won’t fly to oust an owner. The other owners of other franchises wouldn’t stand for it. It’s got to be either undeniable hard evidence (tape or writings) or overwhelming testimonials (like if 50 of the 70 came out in agreement).

Look, I 99% believe the stories. I also think most reporters and players and execs and nba officials believe the stories. And he’s likely “that guy.” But it takes more to oust an owner. You have to remember it’s an old boys network. And they support one and other bc they want the others’ support when the scrutiny turns on them. And ultimately the owners control the league.

 

[Western Font]

I put other as well. I think the ownership groups and/or league will push for something, but I don’t know what or whether it will be successful.

But there for sure could be developments, and player repercussions. Not just free agents and trades. What of Ayton wants to test the waters more after this, for example?

 

[Covert Rain]

She really hit that out of the park. That video should be placed at the end of the article.

I think most of us are not convinced the NBA does anything. It will be the owners who seem to hate him across the league (which you need 3/4th vote), advertisers/sponsors or players that force him out. To me that is the only way. Again, assuming that the NBA doesn't uncover more details or additional stories (a la settlements).