Phoenix Suns GM search

Post #1 » by **lilfishi22** » Mon Apr 1, 2019 6:00 am

Haven't heard much about who we've considered aside from McHale and Paxon a few weeks ago but with the news today that the Pels have started their GM search and received approval to interview a number of executives from other teams (including the solid front offices of Brooklyn, Houston and Golden State), I'm getting a bit worried about what we're doing and where we're looking.

According to ESPN, the Pelicans were granted permission to speak with Brooklyn’s Trajan Langdon, Houston’s Gersson Rosas and Golden State’s Larry Harris.

This thread is a place to discuss our GM search news, your candidates and anything in between.

As I mentioned before, I'm worried that the only names tied to the Suns so far(aside from the two currently sitting in the GM chair) is McHale and Paxon, two guys that haven't held a front office position (afaik) in over a decade.

https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2019/3/21/18276242/promise-experience-phoenix-suns-kevin-mchale-jim-paxson-gm-search

Read on Twitter

WeekapaugGroove · Post #2 » by **WeekapaugGroove** » Tue Apr 2, 2019 6:27 pm

Read on Twitter

Don't even **** think about it Sarver....

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m1chal · Post #3 » by **m1chal** » Tue Apr 2, 2019 6:57 pm

WeekapaugGroove wrote:

Read on Twitter

Don't even **** think about it Sarver....

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Lol, I just came to say that Ernie's free

Post #4 » by **bwgood77** » Tue Apr 2, 2019 7:07 pm

m1chal wrote:
WeekapaugGroove wrote:

Read on Twitter

Don't even **** think about it Sarver....

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Lol, I just came to say that Ernie's free

Wizards fans must be jumping for joy. They've been waiting for this for years.

Crives · Post #5 » by **Crives** » Tue Apr 2, 2019 7:16 pm

Wonder if new Wiz GM blows things up and puts Beal on the block this summer

Revived · Post #6 » by **Revived** » Tue Apr 2, 2019 7:34 pm

I think whoever is hired will be a “yes man” to James Jones.

Most qualified guys with experience as an assistant GM won’t be okay with that I assume.

WeekapaugGroove · Post #7 » by **WeekapaugGroove** » Tue Apr 2, 2019 8:24 pm

Revived wrote:I think whoever is hired will be a “yes man” to James Jones.

Most qualified guys with experience as an assistant GM won’t be okay with that I assume.

Who knows with this weird organization but my assumption is if they hire someone that person would be on top of the chain of command and they would decide if Jones and others stick around. If they keep Jones in charge then I assume that only fill in the scouting staff type hires are made. But again the suns do weird **** all the time so anything is possible.

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Post #8 » by **bwgood77** » Tue Apr 2, 2019 8:30 pm

WeekapaugGroove wrote:
Revived wrote:I think whoever is hired will be a “yes man” to James Jones.

Most qualified guys with experience as an assistant GM won’t be okay with that I assume.
Who knows with this weird organization but my assumption is if they hire someone that person would be on top of the chain of command and they would decide if Jones and others stick around. If they keep Jones in charge then I assume that only fill in the scouting staff type hires are made. But again the suns do weird **** all the time so anything is possible.

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I don't think they are really seriously looking. You can tell these other teams are serious looking at real candidates, while we hear nothing about what we are doing. I like those candidates mentioned by other teams but I know many here don't want anyone who hasn't been a GM before. I prefer not to go that route as most of those guys fizzled out or didn't do so well like McHale, Thibs or SVG...or the game has passed them by. I would always prefer the young innovative minds like I mentioned in Trajan Langdon.

Anyway, I imagine we stick with Jones/Bukstein, who I'd prefer over some of those older previous GMs but hopefully they make some good scouting hires.

WeekapaugGroove · Post #9 » by **WeekapaugGroove** » Tue Apr 2, 2019 9:15 pm

bwgood77 wrote:
WeekapaugGroove wrote:
Revived wrote:I think whoever is hired will be a “yes man” to James Jones.

Most qualified guys with experience as an assistant GM won’t be okay with that I assume.
Who knows with this weird organization but my assumption is if they hire someone that person would be on top of the chain of command and they would decide if Jones and others stick around. If they keep Jones in charge then I assume that only fill in the scouting staff type hires are made. But again the suns do weird **** all the time so anything is possible.

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I don't think they are really seriously looking. You can tell these other teams are serious looking at real candidates, while we hear nothing about what we are doing. I like those candidates mentioned by other teams but I know many here don't want anyone who hasn't been a GM before. I prefer not to go that route as most of those guys fizzled out or didn't do so well like McHale, Thibs or SVG...or the game has passed them by. I would always prefer the young innovative minds like I mentioned in Trajan Langdon.

Anyway, I imagine we stick with Jones/Bukstein, who I'd prefer over some of those older previous GMs but hopefully they make some good scouting hires.

Yeah that's the impression I get too. Interview some lackeys then just keep the current combo. I'm actually kind of OK with that route and give them all a year and if it's not working burn this whole thing to the ground. It's Igor's best shot at sticking around because a new person in charge will probably want his own coach. They are in a tricky spot where I'm just not sure they can hire an inexperienced guy like Langdon and the experienced guys out there are not that inspiring of a list. The reason I think this is because I don't think the current duo has done a bad job so the only reason they should be replaced right now is for someone with a proven track record.

The other thing I could potentially see happening is they are quietly interviewing someone like Nash or another big name like that for POBO and we won't ever hear about it until a hire is actually made.

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Flying Colors · Post #10 » by **Flying Colors** » Tue Apr 2, 2019 10:04 pm

I’d be really intrested in Trajan Langdon, The Nets FO has been doing some intresting things to build a team these past few years despite not being to have a high draft pick. Might be just what the Suns need.

Post #11 » by **lilfishi22** » Tue Apr 2, 2019 10:59 pm

Revived wrote:I think whoever is hired will be a “yes man” to James Jones.

Most qualified guys with experience as an assistant GM won’t be okay with that I assume.

Why would they be a yes man to Jones when Jones is likely one of the least experienced among the available candidates?

More likely they'll have to be yes men to Sarver

Revived · Post #12 » by **Revived** » Tue Apr 2, 2019 11:51 pm

lilfishi22 wrote:
Revived wrote:I think whoever is hired will be a “yes man” to James Jones.

Most qualified guys with experience as an assistant GM won’t be okay with that I assume.

Why would they be a yes man to Jones when Jones is likely one of the least experienced among the available candidates?

More likely they'll have to be yes men to Sarver

I agree they shouldn’t be but I think Sarver trusts James Jones quite a bit (who’s basically a yes man to Sarver) and in return, thus my guess at the chain of command.

I see James Jones as our Magic Johnson (decision maker) and whoever the GM is hired as our Rob Pelinka.

Post #13 » by **TASTIC** » Wed Apr 3, 2019 9:23 pm

DAVID G.D. GRIFFIN.

Won't happen but the most obvious answer is staring Sarver in his face, but I doubt either side would go there.

WeekapaugGroove · Post #14 » by **WeekapaugGroove** » Wed Apr 3, 2019 10:19 pm

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Post #15 » by **lilfishi22** » Thu Apr 4, 2019 1:21 am

I'm still worried that despite firing Demps less than 2 months ago, the Pels have already been linked to and gotten approval to interview some very bright minds from some of the best front offices in the league while we're over here with crickets in the background and tumbleweed in the foreground.

We essentially had a head start on everyone else since we've been without a full GM since last off-season and to only have been linked to McHale and Paxson after all this time is hardly confidence inspiring to say the least.

Prove me wrong, Sarver

babyjax13 · Post #16 » by **babyjax13** » Thu Apr 4, 2019 1:39 am

WeekapaugGroove wrote:
bwgood77 wrote:
WeekapaugGroove wrote:Who knows with this weird organization but my assumption is if they hire someone that person would be on top of the chain of command and they would decide if Jones and others stick around. If they keep Jones in charge then I assume that only fill in the scouting staff type hires are made. But again the suns do weird **** all the time so anything is possible.

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I don't think they are really seriously looking. You can tell these other teams are serious looking at real candidates, while we hear nothing about what we are doing. I like those candidates mentioned by other teams but I know many here don't want anyone who hasn't been a GM before. I prefer not to go that route as most of those guys fizzled out or didn't do so well like McHale, Thibs or SVG...or the game has passed them by. I would always prefer the young innovative minds like I mentioned in Trajan Langdon.

Anyway, I imagine we stick with Jones/Bukstein, who I'd prefer over some of those older previous GMs but hopefully they make some good scouting hires.
Yeah that's the impression I get too. Interview some lackeys then just keep the current combo. I'm actually kind of OK with that route and give them all a year and if it's not working burn this whole thing to the ground. It's Igor's best shot at sticking around because a new person in charge will probably want his own coach. They are in a tricky spot where I'm just not sure they can hire an inexperienced guy like Langdon and the experienced guys out there are not that inspiring of a list. The reason I think this is because I don't think the current duo has done a bad job so the only reason they should be replaced right now is for someone with a proven track record.

The other thing I could potentially see happening is they are quietly interviewing someone like Nash or another big name like that for POBO and we won't ever hear about it until a hire is actually made.

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Igor is pretty widely respected and is a good coach, the clear problem is talent. Obviously I watch less Suns games than all of you, but that's my hot take. I don't think it's all that common to hire a new GM and have them immediately fire a recently hired coach. For example, Tyrone Corbin got two years after we hired Dennis Lindsey.

YouTube · Post #17 » by **Kerrsed** » Thu Apr 4, 2019 1:53 am

I had to laugh at the BSoS headline i came across on Google News.

Quickly? We've been without a GM for the entire season! How is that quickly?

I had to actually click it and read that the headline is kinda a click bait. It does kinda scare me with the recent GM's being fired and all of a sudden NOW we are saying within the next week........but then again didnt we say something similar in December.....and also in February?

Revived · Post #18 » by **Revived** » Thu Apr 4, 2019 9:04 pm

The fact that James Jones is making these decisions on the GM seem pretty telling that he’s going to be the President of Basketball Ops or some type of role like that.

Whoever the GM is will have to report to both Jones and Sarver.

I don’t think the best candidates will run to a situation like that. The Pelicans are getting guys from the Rockets, Warriors etc front offices to interview while the best the Suns have had has been....Kevin McHale and Jim Paxson.

That’s pretty telling.

ImNotMcDiSwear · Post #19 » by **ImNotMcDiSwear** » Thu Apr 4, 2019 9:48 pm

Revived wrote:The fact that James Jones is making these decisions on the GM seem pretty telling that he’s going to be the President of Basketball Ops or some type of role like that.

Whoever the GM is will have to report to both Jones and Sarver.

I don’t think the best candidates will run to a situation like that. The Pelicans are getting guys from the Rockets, Warriors etc front offices to interview while the best the Suns have had has been....Kevin McHale and Jim Paxson.

That’s pretty telling.

Then make Bukstein GM. If Jones is okay with it, I'm okay with it.

If Trajan Langdon wants to come in here and be sandwiched between Jones and Bukstein, that's fine, but I don't expect that's what these guys want.

Post #20 » by **lilfishi22** » Thu Apr 4, 2019 10:56 pm

bwgood77 wrote:
BobbieL wrote:Griffin interviewing with the Pelicans. Suns have been very quiet.

Watch on YouTube

Despite all these young players and a legit star in Booker, it's a real shame if we can't attract a good GM while less attractive jobs (imo) like the Pels GM role is getting more looks which is reflection on this franchise/owner