Suns fire McD

[AzStevenCal]

I only heard Booker and Ayton referenced to being elite.

Me too. But he also said what I mentioned about the rest of the young guys. He didn't necessarily promise greatness, just included them generically as a part of the Suns future.

 

[Mainstreet]

Me too. But he also said what I mentioned about the rest of the young guys. He didn't necessarily promise greatness, just included them generically as a part of the Suns future.

As I started out, I was disappointed Jackson was not named when McDonough mentioned Booker and Ayton as becoming elite.

It doesn't mean the other young guys can't become good or even elite.

 

[AzStevenCal]

As I started out, I was disappointed Jackson was not named when McDonough mentioned Booker and Ayton as becoming elite.

It doesn't mean the other young guys can't become good or even elite.

I agree, I was just pointing out that he wasn't completely writing off Jackson and the other young guys. I think we'd mostly all agree that Ayton and Booker are fairly sure things and the rest remain to be seen. Bridges will be good but I have no idea what his ceiling will be. JJ is an enigma, I could see it going either way with him, boom or bust. Okobo is promising but I don't think he's Chris Paul promising but who knows?

 

[Mainstreet]

I agree, I was just pointing out that he wasn't completely writing off Jackson and the other young guys. I think we'd mostly all agree that Ayton and Booker are fairly sure things and the rest remain to be seen. Bridges will be good but I have no idea what his ceiling will be. JJ is an enigma, I could see it going either way with him, boom or bust. Okobo is promising but I don't think he's Chris Paul promising but who knows?

The Suns need just one of the above mentioned players (besides Booker and Ayton) to be special to give the Suns that third star they need. It could happen. It's too early to know though.

 

[Hoop Head]

As I started out, I was disappointed Jackson was not named when McDonough mentioned Booker and Ayton as becoming elite.

It doesn't mean the other young guys can't become good or even elite.

He was fired less than a month ago and is now a GM without a job. Why would his feelings on what players become stars matter? If he really knew, he wouldn't have been fired. His words don't carry much weight at this point either way when it comes to evaluating our talent.

The only reason to see his segment was to see if he talked about why he was fired and it seems like he knows and admits he had the time to improve this team more than he actually did.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Above video was region locked for me, I think this i the same video for any others out there not in the US

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Fired over the phone? You have been working as a team with your GM for five years and then you fire him over the phone? Robert, you are a jerk. There is no way around.

BTW, McD seems relaxed, energetic, and not so awkward in this interview. He recently got an extension so it seems that he is getting paid to do nothing. Relax young man, assess, enjoy yourself. Get a good gig.

 

[Phrazbit]

The "over the phone" aspect makes me lean a little more towards McD having been fired during an argument or having been given an ultimatum, rather than Sarver having decided a move needed to be made before them speaking.

He had more whiffs than misses... and some terrible whiffs and only Booker as his obvious home run, but he was young and I liked the direction of the team. I wouldn't be surprised if he is much more successful if he's given another shot running a team in the future.

His firing had merit, I just don't really trust Sarver to find someone better. James Jones will probably have far better relations with players but that is about it, I'm not thrilled about having a former player as GM who still is connected to so many active guys, I cannot imagine it won't cloud his judgement. I hope he isn't given the full time job without the Suns at least pretending to interview other candidates or without someone more experienced being brought into the mix to help out.

 

[slinslin]

Fired over the phone? You have been working as a team with your GM for five years and then you fire him over the phone? Robert, you are a jerk. There is no way around.

BTW, McD seems relaxed, energetic, and not so awkward in this interview. He recently got an extension so it seems that he is getting paid to do nothing. Relax young man, assess, enjoy yourself. Get a good gig.

Telepresence calls are normal in business.

 

[overseascardfan]

I am beginning to wonder if McD was working on a trade that involved Jackson in attempt to get a PG and Sarver fired him before it could happen. According to McD the timing was odd because he was in the middle of working on possible trades and then the firing over the phone, makes me agree with Phrazbit. Sarver must hold JJ in high esteem and thinks he is a core piece and McD disagreed.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Telepresence calls are normal in business.

When you work in the same building? I use teleconferencing all the time. I will be running a two hour meeting by teleconference today, but I would never fire one of my employees that works in the same building I do by a phone call. That is right there with breaking up with your girlfriend by text.

The only way I can see that happening reasonably is what Mainstreet said. The call did not start out with that intention but escalated to it.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Telepresence calls are normal in business.

Not at high levels, not when both parties are in the same area, and not for good workplaces.

 

[slinslin]

Not at high levels, not when both parties are in the same area, and not for good workplaces.

it is standard in big companies, I work for one.

Sarver was probably not even in Phoenix if they did it via "phone".

 

[AzStevenCal]

The "over the phone" aspect makes me lean a little more towards McD having been fired during an argument or having been given an ultimatum, rather than Sarver having decided a move needed to be made before them speaking.

He had more whiffs than misses... and some terrible whiffs and only Booker as his obvious home run, but he was young and I liked the direction of the team. I wouldn't be surprised if he is much more successful if he's given another shot running a team in the future.

His firing had merit, I just don't really trust Sarver to find someone better. James Jones will probably have far better relations with players but that is about it, I'm not thrilled about having a former player as GM who still is connected to so many active guys, I cannot imagine it won't cloud his judgement. I hope he isn't given the full time job without the Suns at least pretending to interview other candidates or without someone more experienced being brought into the mix to help out.

Yeah, I agree it is likely something along those lines. My guess would be that Robert was upset when he placed the call and that he didn't get the answers/responses he wanted and things escalated as the conversation went on.

As for Jones getting the job, I suspect it's a done deal. I didn't think so when I heard Sarver's initial post-firing interview but his comments shortly thereafter make it seem likely. I wouldn't even be surprised to learn that the firing wouldn't have happened at that time if James hadn't been willing to fill the vacated role given that Robert had talked to him shortly before he fired Ryan.

 

[Suns_fan69]

it is standard in big companies, I work for one.

Sarver was probably not even in Phoenix if they did it via "phone".

I feel like you're being argumentative for the sake of it.

Does it happen out there in the business world? Yes, it does.
Are the Suns a 'big' company? Linkedin suggests they are less than 500, and my guess is that 90% or more are in one location. So no, it is not a big company.
Just because it happens out there, doesn't make it right, and doesn't help the reputation of the organization and/or Sarver when both are low right now within the league.

If Sarver knew he was going to fire McD, and CHOSE to do it over the phone instead of in person, given the circumstances, that says a lot about him.

It's slightly more understandable if it was in the heat of the moment in an argument as Phrazbit suggests, but still isn't a great look.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

it is standard in big companies, I work for one.

Sarver was probably not even in Phoenix if they did it via "phone".

I worked in one of the largest law firms in Phoenix, an international consulting firm with 17,000 employees, and now run service and legal for one of the largest brokerage firms in the country. None of those firms would fire a high level executive via phone. None.

 

[Mainstreet]

He was fired less than a month ago and is now a GM without a job. Why would his feelings on what players become stars matter? If he really knew, he wouldn't have been fired. His words don't carry much weight at this point either way when it comes to evaluating our talent.

The only reason to see his segment was to see if he talked about why he was fired and it seems like he knows and admits he had the time to improve this team more than he actually did.

I think McDonough knew the Suns personnel better than anyone else within the organization so I think his opinion matters.

McDonough knew the inner workings of the team, had ready observation of players, plus the input of the owner, coaches, scouts and connections to other teams.

Also McDonouugh knows why the Suns do not have an experienced point guard. Maybe there was a trade in the works that never happened as some suggest. I don't think McDonough was trusting blind luck to find a point guard. Maybe Sarver was overriding some of his decisions.

My concerns about McDonough mostly relate to issues concerning players relations, too many misses in the draft (scouting), and the handling of free agency (Ariza). It's hard to believe McDonough spent all the Suns free agency money without a trade lined up for a point guard. Something happened here that we may never know.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Based upon the interview, Amin asked the question about the pg and McD said that he thought he had more time. I get the impression that Sarver thinks that McD just moves to slow. It is true, McD is VERY methodical. It seemed like he would negotiate some trade for months before pulling the trigger.

 

[Hoop Head]

Duane Rankin wrote an article about McD's appearance on The Jump. Nothing new really, just nice to see it all broken down here. There's a video of his appearance in the story also, along with some other tidbits about his time as GM. Worth a read, I think, if you were interested in appearance at all.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...cdonough-dishes-firing-regrets-gm/1897821002/

 

[GatorAZ]

As bad as McD has proven to be he shouldn’t have been replaced by James Jones.

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[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

As bad as McD has proven to be he shouldn’t have been replaced by James Jones.

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If true jones should be fired immediately.

 

[Cheesebeef]

As bad as McD has proven to be he shouldn’t have been replaced by James Jones.

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good to see us helping out someone in our division.

not.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

You guys are acting like it wasn't a move that was good for the Suns. Chandler didn't want to be here and the team wasn't benefiting from him being on the floor or in the locker room. The Lakers were willing to take on some of his salary and it saved the team a few million dollars in their buyout agreement.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

You guys are acting like it wasn't a move that was good for the Suns. Chandler didn't want to be here and the team wasn't benefiting from him being on the floor or in the locker room. The Lakers were willing to take on some of his salary and it saved the team a few million dollars in their buyout agreement.

If this was negotiated behind the scenes to lessen the financial impact on the suns, fine. If it was jones doing bron a favor pink slip.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

If this was negotiated behind the scenes to lessen the financial impact on the suns, fine. If it was jones doing bron a favor pink slip.

It was three fold IMO. It was good for Chandler because he wanted out, it helps the Lakers because they wanted him and it helps the Suns a little financially, but even more so by not having a vet on the roster that doesn't want to be here and is just going through the motions on the floor.

 

[JCSunsfan]

You guys are acting like it wasn't a move that was good for the Suns. Chandler didn't want to be here and the team wasn't benefiting from him being on the floor or in the locker room. The Lakers were willing to take on some of his salary and it saved the team a few million dollars in their buyout agreement.

The Suns owe the Lakers no favors. This is malpractice. What Ouchie said.