Demise since Sarver purchased team

[SnoBrdrRob]

Since it was announced Robert Sarver was purchasing the Phoenix Suns, the team has held playoff seeds every year. While it looks great on paper, the details are more puzzling at how the team would have been better, had he not been stingy.

You started off in his first season as owner with the following roster:

PG: Nash/Barbosa
SG: Johnson/JimJackson
SF: QRich/McCarty
PF: Marion/Shirley/Outlaw
C: Stoudemire/Voskuhl/Hunter

This team roster was looking very good. It was an exciting team to watch and they dominated the regular season. However, the team decided to trade its #7 draft pick of Luol Deng, to Chicago for future pick.

The next year the team trades QRich, 1st round pick (Nate Robinson) for Kurt Thomas. Excellent trade. It fills a need the team has. However, the team failed to keep Joe Johnson after he asks Sarver not to match his contract offer he received from the Hawks (he was traded to Atlanta for Diaw and 2 1st round picks). HUGE disappointment.

The 2006 draft, Suns select Rajon Rondo, the pick they get in return for Deng two years prior. Of course to save a couple bucks he gets traded to Boston. Not to forget Sergio Rodriguez, he was traded to Portland for money reasons, odd considering he wasnt going to play in the USA the following season.

In the 2007 draft, the Suns select Rudy Fernandez. Of course, he is traded to Portland to save on money. In an odd decision, they decided to keep 1st round pick Alando Tucker.

During the 2007-2008 season, Shawn Marion is traded Miami for Shaquille O'Neal. Although the team hoped the quickly aging Shaq would be the presence in the paint against Duncan, it blew up in their face.

Had the organization just kept their assets instead of trading them, the team would have the following roster in this years playoffs:

PG: Nash/Rodriguez
SG: Johnson/Barbosa/Fernandez
SF: Deng/Tucker/GHill
PF: Marion/
C: Stoudemire/KThomas

Somebody please tell me this roster is worse than the Lakers or Celtics. Its impossible. You get a mix of defense in there too with Thomas, Marion, Deng and Johnson. There are points across the board. This is really a travesty. Now the Suns are left with Nash, Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal. Oh, and Seattle has their draft pick in 2010, which could likely end up being a lottery pick. Ouch. Robert Sarver, please sell the Suns to a SUNS FAN!!

[rsavaj]

This isn't new information, but I appreciate your empathy...?

And I'm not against the JJ trade. He didn't want to be here, and Diaw saved our 05/06 season. It sucks that he decided to retire after that, but oh well.

[Radiohead311]

How about trading away the Knicks 2010 pick to Utah to unload Tom Gugliotta? Suns had just aquired it 1 month before. It's definately going to be a lottery pick.


Not to mention how the 2010 pick to Seattle will also be a lotto pick.

[TASTIC]

Kick to the nuts #432....

We know.

[chrice]

Sarver is a douche. If we had Cuban, the team would have bling bling already. On one hand, I can understand not wanting to pay tax on Kurt Thomas, but handing away picks for him? Jesus. We got into the mess because we keep trading our picks away. We don't need cheap rookie contracts, to balance out our roster, payroll, and keep our future going...that would make too much sense apparently for Sarver. Let's sell them for short term cash gains, and at the same time screw us over in the long run. After all, it's not like you can make trade packages or bundles to upgrade your roster with First rounders, right? Douche. I'm still upset that he wouldn't open up his wallet for Artest either. Keeping James Jones and grabbing Artest with the pick would have turned us from Pretender to Insta-Contender. But then again, this isn't the first mistake we've made.

[Sarlonus]

Sarver is a douche. If we had Cuban, the team would have bling bling already. On one hand, I can understand not wanting to pay tax on Kurt Thomas, but handing away picks for him? Jesus. We got into the mess because we keep trading our picks away. We don't need cheap rookie contracts, to balance out our roster, payroll, and keep our future going...that would make too much sense apparently for Sarver. Let's sell them for short term cash gains, and at the same time screw us over in the long run. After all, it's not like you can make trade packages or bundles to upgrade your roster with First rounders, right? Douche. I'm still upset that he wouldn't open up his wallet for Artest either. Keeping James Jones and grabbing Artest with the pick would have turned us from Pretender to Insta-Contender. But then again, this isn't the first mistake we've made.

How many championships have Cuban and the Mavs won? That's right zero. You can't buy championships with overpaid players. That's the problem with rich owners. They overvalue their talent.

As for selling the draft picks go, I adhere to the policy that you don't draft players that you don't like. That is plain and simple. Why put somebody on your team that you don't want on your team? It has nothing to do with Sarver but if Griff does not like the players on the board, then I don't want to draft any player. I have huge respect for Griff as our draft guru. In 2006, the Suns were pursuing two players. The first was Rudy Gay. To get Rudy, they were going to trade with Boston. The trade fell through when they went with the other trade. The second trade fell apart too. We were going to trade to number 14 to get Thabo Sefolosha. Chicago was also targeting him so they traded up with Philly to get him at 13. That is when we pulled out of the draft.

[lilfishi22]

Thanks for letting us know how bad our owner is, although I am quite sure the majority of Suns fan don't want to go through it all again, and what coulda, shoulda, woulda, been the Suns today.

However, some of the "mistakes" you pointed out, have been reasonable moves made by him. Obviously with the JJ trade, the Suns did lose out, but there's no point in keep JJ if he didn't even want to play for Suns. AND imagine if we had matched a ridiculous offer and he turned out to be a Marbury and sat on the bench to collect his cheques. I'd rather we get a half decent player and 2 1st.

KT trade i didn't personally agree with, but with 8mil in lux tax to pay, i understand.

What I can't stand is the selling of 1st round picks for cash, especially when there are ways around not paying a salary to the drafted rookie (draft euro players). Giving away picks is just as bad, and worse when you're trading away decent role players because you wanna save a bit of dough (Jr. trade)

I'm just hoping Kerr could make some good trades this off season and hire a good coach who can get us back as a contender, because right now, I honestly think we're going to have problems even making playoffs, with the competitiveness of the west and all.

[raff]

Sarver is a businessman, right? I never understood why he sold those picks. Wouldn't a successful team (had we taken advantage and used those picks) bring in more money in the long run for him, rather than gamble away the future of the team for some short term gains?

[Suns_fan_2007]

Geez everyone piling on Sarver.

Ever wonder how much the selling of picks was influenced by "we're not here to develop players" D'Antoni? Why draft players that will never see bench time under MD, especially when MD had a rich contract with 2 more years left, and was not willing to adjust to use the bench more?

[Frank Lee]

There is no denying his desire for operating capital has lessened our ability to improve, as well as our chances this past yr. Just imagine if tightass kept Rondo instead of 'selling' him for 3 mill. but hey.... we resurrected Pike's career and lengthened the Surprising Sean Marks'...so we got that going for us...that and ever lasting enlightenment.

I firmly believe when RSarver dropped his pants with that GD chicken flappin scene, he became an instant **** in the eyes of the other owners. They would like nothing better than to see him take some lumps. I just don't think we are getting any favors. We are the fat girl that everyone bangs but no one loves. Thanks Robbert

and that big F'n foamfingar needs to go....(even though it matches his bigfoamwallet and his bigfoamhead)

[lilfishi22]

Sarver is a businessman, right? I never understood why he sold those picks. Wouldn't a successful team (had we taken advantage and used those picks) bring in more money in the long run for him, rather than gamble away the future of the team for some short term gains?

Actually winning it all would make him the most money. But, I don't think Sarver ever believed that MD could bring him a championship, but Sarver was satisfied with the winning record and so he just cut anything he can to save money since he couldn't see more money coming in anyway.

[scootfu602]

I miss the Collangelo's

At least they cared about the fans and community. DAMN Sarver

[rsavaj]

Since it was announced Robert Sarver was purchasing the Phoenix Suns, the team has held playoff seeds every year. While it looks great on paper, the details are more puzzling at how the team would have been better, had he not been stingy.

You started off in his first season as owner with the following roster:

PG: Nash/Barbosa
SG: Johnson/JimJackson
SF: QRich/McCarty
PF: Marion/Shirley/Outlaw
C: Stoudemire/Voskuhl/Hunter

This team roster was looking very good. It was an exciting team to watch and they dominated the regular season. However, the team decided to trade its #7 draft pick of Luol Deng, to Chicago for future pick.

The next year the team trades QRich, 1st round pick (Nate Robinson) for Kurt Thomas. Excellent trade. It fills a need the team has. However, the team failed to keep Joe Johnson after he asks Sarver not to match his contract offer he received from the Hawks (he was traded to Atlanta for Diaw and 2 1st round picks). HUGE disappointment.

The 2006 draft, Suns select Rajon Rondo, the pick they get in return for Deng two years prior. Of course to save a couple bucks he gets traded to Boston. Not to forget Sergio Rodriguez, he was traded to Portland for money reasons, odd considering he wasnt going to play in the USA the following season.

In the 2007 draft, the Suns select Rudy Fernandez. Of course, he is traded to Portland to save on money. In an odd decision, they decided to keep 1st round pick Alando Tucker.

During the 2007-2008 season, Shawn Marion is traded Miami for Shaquille O'Neal. Although the team hoped the quickly aging Shaq would be the presence in the paint against Duncan, it blew up in their face.

Had the organization just kept their assets instead of trading them, the team would have the following roster in this years playoffs:

PG: Nash/Rodriguez
SG: Johnson/Barbosa/Fernandez
SF: Deng/Tucker/GHill
PF: Marion/
C: Stoudemire/KThomas

Somebody please tell me this roster is worse than the Lakers or Celtics. Its impossible. You get a mix of defense in there too with Thomas, Marion, Deng and Johnson. There are points across the board. This is really a travesty. Now the Suns are left with Nash, Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal. Oh, and Seattle has their draft pick in 2010, which could likely end up being a lottery pick. Ouch. Robert Sarver, please sell the Suns to a SUNS FAN!!

Also, if we had kept Deng, then we wouldn't have signed Q, and we wouldn't have traded for KT.

[walkingart]

How many championships did Colangelo bring to the valley?
0

How much more money did Sarver shell out on payroll then Colangelo?
$30 million per year

Who made the basketball decisions in Phoenix, that saw the #7 pick get traded, JJ not locked up earlier, and Marion on a max deal that he was not worth? The answer to all these questions is Bryan Colangelo

You all talk as if Sarver is the Anti-Christ, yet he is the one that has signed on to pay Shaq, Diaw, and Barbs. All the while, over the cap and flirting with the lux tax. Not to mention that everyone fails to realize that unlike other teams with high payroll, our overall debt is huge.

You want Cuban, look at Stacks and Terry's contracts and then he goes and trades Devon Harris for Kidd. There basketball decisions are a joke.

[scootfu602]

How many championships did Colangelo bring to the valley?
0

How much more money did Sarver shell out on payroll then Colangelo?
$30 million per year

Who made the basketball decisions in Phoenix, that saw the #7 pick get traded, JJ not locked up earlier, and Marion on a max deal that he was not worth? The answer to all these questions is Bryan Colangelo

You all talk as if Sarver is the Anti-Christ, yet he is the one that has signed on to pay Shaq, Diaw, and Barbs. All the while, over the cap and flirting with the lux tax. Not to mention that everyone fails to realize that unlike other teams with high payroll, our overall debt is huge.

You want Cuban, look at Stacks and Terry's contracts and then he goes and trades Devon Harris for Kidd. There basketball decisions are a joke.

I don't believe the Colangelo's EVER had the tight wad label. So what JC didn't bring a title...from where I sit Sarver and puppet Kerr just got us further away. Lets not forget...the Colangelos built this empire.

[walkingart]

Yeah, you are right. The Colangelos never had a tight wad label. Yet all the facts say that Sarver is more willing to spend money. He has done so by spending $30 million more per season the last four years. That is over a $100 million dollars more that Sarver has spent in comparison to Colangelo and he has done it a time when the luxury tax exists which makes it that much more impressive.

Empire? Are you joking? Colangelo never conquered anything. He was always and will always be an also ran. Sarver has conquered everything he has ever attempted and this will be no different.

I can only look at the facts, if you want to buy into some propaganda that the Phoenix media has perpetrated against all who will listen go ahead and revere Colangelo as some sort of JC then go ahead. But he is no Emporer or Messiah. A good owner? Absolutely. But that is it. Sarver has proved himself by signing checks and putting a winning product on the floor. He will prosper in the end.

Stop the hate!

[rsavaj]

Yeah, you are right. The Colangelos never had a tight wad label. Yet all the facts say that Sarver is more willing to spend money. He has done so by spending $30 million more per season the last four years. That is over a $100 million dollars more that Sarver has spent in comparison to Colangelo and he has done it a time when the luxury tax exists which makes it that much more impressive.

Empire? Are you joking? Colangelo never conquered anything. He was always and will always be an also ran. Sarver has conquered everything he has ever attempted and this will be no different.

I can only look at the facts, if you want to buy into some propaganda that the Phoenix media has perpetrated against all who will listen go ahead and revere Colangelo as some sort of JC then go ahead. But he is no Emporer or Messiah. A good owner? Absolutely. But that is it. Sarver has proved himself by signing checks and putting a winning product on the floor. He will prosper in the end.

Stop the hate!

I don't care how much Sarver has spent, I simply care about selling the effing picks for cash.

[walkingart]

If you want to complain about selling picks, I completely understand. I am not a big fan of that method of balancing your books either.

However, to call Sarver a tight wad and say he sold the picks because he is cheap is not accurate. They set a budget, and in order to sign FA's; traded and or sold picks to stay within that budget. I don't see other teams signing up to go millions over the Luxury Tax.

Let's all remember that we traded #7 to ChiTown with the idea that we would win the Kobe sweepstakes and couldn't make a max deal for him with the $3 million on the books for the pick. Then when Kobe stayed pat we moved on to Nash and Q. Had BC and Sarver expected Kobe to stay in LA, they would have kept the pick. But why add Iggy or Deng to a roster that you anticipated having Marion, JJ, and Kobe on.

Mike D didn't think players in the draft would see anytime, HE chose to spend the alloted money on veterans who inevitably, nevers saw time either. Don't kid yourselves guys, Sarver sets the budget, but he lets his guys (whether that be BC or Mike D or Kerr) make the basketball decisions on who comes and goes.

You guys can knock his philosophy all you want, but he is giving as much or more financially then all but 8 teams in the league.

[Frank Lee]

blah blah blah

apologize for Robbet all you want. He has put his financial needs and restrictions above the good of the team.

and you want to pat him on the fanny for his frugalness. Go ahead. Just don't hit Lil Kerr on the cheek during the process. Too bad niether is a fan first and owner second.

[Amen316]

This is so off you cant compare salary numbers whatsoever!!! TV contracts and gauranteed money play apart in all of these decisions. Colangelo and Sarver both played it to the max, the difference is that many believe that Sarver has made some poor decisions.

Firing Bryan C
Hiring Mike D as a GM
Hiring Steve Kerr as a GM

Sarver may be a great guy, I would love to meet him one day, but the fact is his choices in GMs may turn this proud franchise upside down in a hurry.