After reading the article that was textbook GM speak. The connotation of that conversation is that they didn’t pay him because Sarver was cheap. You’re obviously going to say you wanted him and bring up wanting him for less years or because the rookie max designation limits getting another player (which Duffy denies ever hearing). You can’t take what either side says publicly at their word.
I don't know really know (or care) which article you're talking about, I was talking about what was said back then by JJ and by Duffy.
JJ initially said that they had a meeting and the agent told him there was nothing to discuss unless there was a max 5 year offer on the table. James also said (or implied) that they'd offered DA a 3 or 4 year max but then immediately retracted it when Duffy entered the picture and said that was the first they'd heard of a shorter max offer. JJ rephrased and acknowledged the offer hadn't been made, said it was actually just a phone call and that they weren't given the chance to make their intended offer. That "no actual meeting" and "no actual offer from JJ" was supported by Duffy.
JJ said the only reason they didn't offer the max right off was they wanted to avoid having 2 players on the designated rookie scale because it could handcuff them in adding players down the road. Over the next few weeks, on more than one occasion, JJ re-affirmed what he said about willing to give them a shorter term max deal and also mentioned they were surprised that the agent came in unwilling to discuss anything but the 5 year max because the upcoming TV deal meant hitting FA earlier could benefit a player. None of that is GM speak, it's too direct, it's too specific.
I'm not saying you can't dismiss some of the things JJ said as GM speak. When a GM speaks in flowers and rainbows, that's GM speak. When he talks for 5 minutes and says nothing that's GM speak. But what JJ said is either the truth or he's flat out lying. Lying happens but rarely in a situation where it's unnecessary, that's the kind of thing that can haunt a leader for years to come.