Suns 2019 GM/Front Office Search

[Carolinacacti]

I think the Suns just drafted bad not run bad. Well I guess they where run bad,

 

[SirStefan32]

I'm surprised by how many of you think that the league wouldn't step in.

Maybe I'm wrong, hopefully we'll turn it around and we'll never have to know if I was right, but the 3 examples I gave, while not specific to our situation, also never had prior precedence either. The league has forced sales, forced management changes and even altered rules (see the "Stepien Rule") to protect terribly run franchises from themselves. If the Suns have yet another miserable season next year I honestly think the league will either force Sarver out or force Sarver to change the management structure of the franchise.

I think you are overestimating how bad the Suns are. Having several losing seasons while rebuilding is really not that unusual. What's happening to the Suns is normal. If not normal, then not very unusual.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I think you are overestimating how bad the Suns are. Having several losing seasons while rebuilding is really not that unusual. What's happening to the Suns is normal. If not normal, then not very unusual.

I think this is true. Our problem was that we did not start rebuilding soon enough. We should have started as soon as Nash was traded, but that first year under McD was fools gold and set us back.

 

[SirStefan32]

I think this is true. Our problem was that we did not start rebuilding soon enough. We should have started as soon as Nash was traded, but that first year under McD was fools gold and set us back.

They half-assed the first rebuild attempt, though some of it wasn't their fault. That Dragic/ Bledsoe team over performed. Then they screwed up with drafting in a couple of drafts. This offseason is very important. They have got to find at least two legitimate NBA rotation players at PG and PF. I love the wing rotation, I think they are set at Center as well (I am very high on Ayton), but they really need help at PG and they have to have a bigger 4 when small ball doesn't work. That run they had while Johnson and Oubre were starting and everyone was healthy really gave me a lot of hope for next year.

 

[Hoop Head]

I'm surprised by how many of you think that the league wouldn't step in.

Maybe I'm wrong, hopefully we'll turn it around and we'll never have to know if I was right, but the 3 examples I gave, while not specific to our situation, also never had prior precedence either. The league has forced sales, forced management changes and even altered rules (see the "Stepien Rule") to protect terribly run franchises from themselves. If the Suns have yet another miserable season next year I honestly think the league will either force Sarver out or force Sarver to change the management structure of the franchise.

What needs to happen for the league not to get involved, in your opinion? Surely there is a measure for success. Is it the playoffs? If that's it then why hasn't the league stepped in and made Sacramento take on new management? Their drought is longer than ours? You can even compare this season of theirs to our Bledsoe/Dragic year where we won 48 games. Rumors have started the Kings are going to fire their coach, which will likely set them back and kill the progress they made this year. Will the league tell them they can't? Why or why not?

That's the problem with thinking the league will step in, there are worse teams out there when it comes to playoff droughts so the measure for success is difficult to label. The reasons you mentioned are so different from the Suns situation though that you not seeing the differences is really amazing to me. A racist owner disparaging his own players, a team openly admitting they aren't trying to win, and a team that fell so far in debt the league had to take over to keep them from going bankrupt are not close to a team with an owner who makes bad decisions and can't get out of his own way.

 

[Ronin]

Duane Rankin‏ @DuaneRankin 3m3 minutes ago
Official: #Suns name James Jones general manager.

 

[Ronin]

Shams Charania‏Verified account @ShamsCharania 3m3 minutes ago
The Phoenix Suns have named James Jones as the general manager. Jones has been the interim GM.

 

[Ronin]

Jack Magruder‏ @JackMagruder 2m2 minutes ago
#Suns officially make James Jones GM after adding Jeff Bower as VP/basketball operations. Trevor Bukstein also remains in the front office.

 

[Ronin]

Gina Mizell‏Verified account @ginamizell 3m3 minutes ago
Official: #Suns promote James Jones to general manager, hire Jeff Bower as senior VP of basketball operations and retain cap guru Trevor Bukstein as assistant GM. Bower and Bukstein will report to Jones.

 

[Hoop Head]

Gina Mizell‏Verified account @ginamizell 3m3 minutes ago
Official: #Suns promote James Jones to general manager, hire Jeff Bower as senior VP of basketball operations and retain cap guru Trevor Bukstein as assistant GM. Bower and Bukstein will report to Jones.

That's interesting. I thought VP or P of Basketball Operations was above General Manager, it may be that way with some teams but I guess it's not with the Suns.

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

That's interesting. I thought VP or P of Basketball Operations was above General Manager, it may be that way with some teams but I guess it's not with the Suns.

Nothing this team does makes any sense.

 

[SirStefan32]

My guess is that Jones is the Suns' de facto President of Basketball Operations just like McD was once Babby left.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Huh? I reacted to posts condoning Suns leadership. That is as close as I get to personal.

Must be someone I have on ignore. Apologies.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Duane Rankin‏ @DuaneRankin 3m3 minutes ago
Official: #Suns name James Jones general manager.

Well I think this was dumb.

 

[1tinsoldier]

hope, and no real change for a team going in the wrong direction. not happy.

 

[1Sun]

Gina Mizell‏Verified account @ginamizell 3m3 minutes ago
Official: #Suns promote James Jones to general manager, hire Jeff Bower as senior VP of basketball operations and retain cap guru Trevor Bukstein as assistant GM. Bower and Bukstein will report to Jones.

So the hiring of Bower is a hoax meant to deceive the fans. It's still a ridiculously inexperienced and ill-prepared Jones at the top, which really means it is Sarver still making the decisions. We're screwed.

 

[1tinsoldier]

So the hiring of Bower is a hoax meant to deceive the fans. It's still a ridiculously inexperienced and ill-prepared Jones at the top, which really means it is Sarver still making the decisions. We're screwed.

well, i'd put it this way
the Bower hiring and Fitz being there for it seems more of a symbolic move for show rather than an indication of any change -- effectively putting lipstick on a turd

at best, Jones should be just part of the team. He has not earned any decision making power for an NBA franchise, and probably still doesn't have it, and that's the way Sarver wants it. SOS

 

[Cheesebeef]

well, i'd put it this way
the Bower hiring and Fitz being there for it seems more of a symbolic move for show rather than an indication of any change -- effectively putting lipstick on a turd

at best, Jones should be just part of the team. He has not earned decision making power for an NBA franchise, and probably still doesn't have it, and that's the way Sarver wants it. SOS

kinda got the same feeling. i mean... how weak of a candidate or job market was there for a two time GM to have to take a subordinate position to Jones, who has no business whatsoever being the GM of any team that actually cares about winning.

 

[BC867]

I think you are overestimating how bad the Suns are. Having several losing seasons while rebuilding is really not that unusual. What's happening to the Suns is normal. If not normal, then not very unusual.

When is the last time we made the playoffs?

Saying several losing seasons is downplaying the situation.

Why condone that? Fans have a right to expect better.

 

[BC867]

well, i'd put it this way
the Bower hiring and Fitz being there for it seems more of a symbolic move for show rather than an indication of any change -- effectively putting lipstick on a turd

at best, Jones should be just part of the team. He has not earned any decision making power for an NBA franchise, and probably still doesn't have it, and that's the way Sarver wants it. SOS

SOS-DS. *** - Different Season. For a decade.

 

[SunsTzu]

Well I think this was dumb.

And entirely predictable.

 

[Hoop Head]

When is the last time we made the playoffs?

Saying several losing seasons is downplaying the situation.

Why condone that? Fans have a right to expect better.

NOBODY is condoning that. Why do you always assume that people are condoning the actions of the team? What choice do we have in the matter? We could all quit watching and by not doing so you are condoning their actions, so am I since I'm still a fan and will continue to follow them.

You can expect better but again, your expectations mean nothing. Why do you believe fan expectations matter?

 

[Errntknght]

How many minutes did Sarver take to strip his new appointee of all power?

 

[1tinsoldier]

hey, maybe the conciliatory soothsayers are right
everything's fine -- Larry Fitzgerald was there

 

[Mainstreet]

I look at the Bowers hire as basically two things. He lightens the GM load for James Jones and he upgrades the Suns public image.

Personally I was content to go forward with James Jones after the moves he made last season (Crawford, Oubre and Johnson) but he needed someone in the front office to help with other aspects of the job. I'm hopeful Crawford will be better than McDonough in evaluating talent and player relations.