James Jones Leaves Suns for NBA Front Office Job

[Raindog]

Goodbye and good riddance. The Suns will be digging out from the mess you helped create for years to come.

NBA names James Jones executive vice president, head of basketball operations

Jones joins the league office after 8 seasons in the Phoenix Suns’ Basketball Operations group.

www.nba.com

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

yeah he only took us to the finals - but we go to the finals all the time so no biggie - not to mention ish killed the future

 

[Raindog]

yeah he only took us to the finals - but we go to the finals all the time so no biggie - not to mention ish killed the future

He was along for the ride because Chris Paul wanted to play here. And he was making that stupid trade that dumped all our draft picks for Durant with or without Ishbia. Ishbia just signed off on it.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

He was along for the ride because Chris Paul wanted to play here. And he was making that stupid trade that dumped all our draft picks for Durant with or without Ishbia. Ishbia just signed off on it.

disagree 1,000,000% but it's whatever my man

 

[leclerc]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out!

 

[Superbone]

No appreciation for what this man accomplished under Sarver. Turned our whole program around. Two games away from our first ever NBA championship. Sigh.

 

[Raindog]

No appreciation for what this man accomplished under Sarver. Turned our whole program around. Two games away from our first ever NBA championship. Sigh.

BS... most of that was put in place by his predecessor, who I am not defending either. The only arguably significant contribution that Jones made was hiring Monty Williams. The Chris Paul trade, which is what really put that team over the top, would have happened regardless of who the GM was. Paul essentially engineered the move to Phoenix on his own.

And almost immediately after that brief flirtation with success, the FO under him made a series of unforced errors to undo just about everything that had set them up for success.

 

[Superbone]

BS... most of that was put in place by his predecessor, who I am not defending either. The only arguably significant contribution that Jones made was hiring Monty Williams. The Chris Paul trade, which is what really put that team over the top, would have happened regardless of who the GM was. Paul essentially engineered the move to Phoenix on his own.

And almost immediately after that brief flirtation with success, the FO under him made a series of unforced errors to undo just about everything that had set them up for success.

We will just have to agree to disagree.

 

[Raindog]

We will just have to agree to disagree.

Okay, well I have no problem with that. Peace!

 

[Phrazbit]

disagree 1,000,000% but it's whatever my man

Yep, if Jones wanted to make that trade he could have done it the previous summer. Ishbia forced it.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

Yep, if Jones wanted to make that trade he could have done it the previous summer. Ishbia forced it.

that's the way i figure it but it's all squatters under the bridge now - sure - jj picked some duds and passed up on some goldmines but he had his moments

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

Yep, if Jones wanted to make that trade he could have done it the previous summer. Ishbia forced it.

It was 99% Ish for sure.

Woj: Owner Mat Ishbia led Suns' trade for Kevin Durant

The Phoenix Suns targeted Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins in a trade before the Brooklyn Nets agreed to trade them Kevin Durant.

arizonasports.com

Wojnarowski adds that owners Ishbia and Joe Tsai of the Nets “cobbled together the final elements” of the deal.

Newly appointed Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia led the charge in the team’s pursuit toward an agreed upon trade with the Brooklyn Nets, ultimately landing 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant, the team announced Thursday.

 

[Hoop Head]

Yep, if Jones wanted to make that trade he could have done it the previous summer. Ishbia forced it.

Could he? Mikal was a Sarver favorite and the deal also expanded the luxury tax bill. Sarver was suspended and his ego wouldn't allow a KD trade to go down without being front and center to bask in the spotlight. Sarver wasn't signing off on a higher tax bill either, especially not after his suspension. This idea the deal could have been done ignores all we know of Sarver's time as owner.

Ishbia deserves some blame but James Jones deserves equal blame at a minimum. I'd say JJ deserves more blame but no less than half.

 

[Phrazbit]

Could he? Mikal was a Sarver favorite and the deal also expanded the luxury tax bill. Sarver was suspended and his ego wouldn't allow a KD trade to go down without being front and center to bask in the spotlight. Sarver wasn't signing off on a higher tax bill either, especially not after his suspension. This idea the deal could have been done ignores all we know of Sarver's time as owner.

Ishbia deserves some blame but James Jones deserves equal blame at a minimum. I'd say JJ deserves more blame but no less than half.

I'd say its... 99.9% Ishbia.

It seems pretty clear from everything that came out that Jones was offering Bridges and Johnson OR picks, not both, Ishbia entered and totally capitulated.

 

[Mainstreet]

The way I look at it, James Jones gets credit for the good and the bad.

However, not drafting Halliburton in the 2020 draft and the moves he made at the 2023 NBA trade deadline and that summer were a disaster.

 

[Raindog]

I'd say its... 99.9% Ishbia.

It seems pretty clear from everything that came out that Jones was offering Bridges and Johnson OR picks, not both, Ishbia entered and totally capitulated.

My recollection was Bridges OR Johnson plus all the picks, with various throw-ins or replacements including Crowder and/or Ayton (who the Nets apparently wanted no part of).

 

[Phrazbit]

The way I look at it, James Jones gets credit for the good and the bad.

However, not drafting Halliburton in the 2020 draft and the moves he made at the 2023 NBA trade deadline and that summer were a disaster.

That was his major screw up.

Then they draft Smith as a project and give up on him after one year… while also dumping the contract option making him worthless in a trade.

Although, the contact option decline part might have been Sarver penny pinching.

 

[Mainstreet]

Could he? Mikal was a Sarver favorite and the deal also expanded the luxury tax bill. Sarver was suspended and his ego wouldn't allow a KD trade to go down without being front and center to bask in the spotlight. Sarver wasn't signing off on a higher tax bill either, especially not after his suspension. This idea the deal could have been done ignores all we know of Sarver's time as owner.

Ishbia deserves some blame but James Jones deserves equal blame at a minimum. I'd say JJ deserves more blame but no less than half.

How I wish the sell of the Suns to Mat Ishbia didn't go through until after the 2023 trade deadline.

It may not have changed things a lot, but it would have slowed down the decision-making process.

 

[Phrazbit]

How I wish the sell of the Suns to Mat Ishbia didn't go through until after the 2023 trade deadline.

It may not have changed things a lot, but it would have slowed down the decision-making process.

I think we still get Durant at deadline but for less. Minus some picks or minus Mikal.

He was never going to play for them again and our offer even without Mikal was way better than any of the rumored offers at the time. Ishbia caved.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think we still get Durant at deadline but for less. Minus some picks or minus Mikal.

He was never going to play for them again and our offer even without Mikal was way better than any of the rumored offers at the time. Ishbia caved.

I certainly would not have given the Nets their asking price for Durant.

The Suns gave up too much, negating the very reason they traded for him, if they thought he was the missing piece.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

Goodbye and good riddance. The Suns will be digging out from the mess you helped create for years to come.

NBA names James Jones executive vice president, head of basketball operations

Jones joins the league office after 8 seasons in the Phoenix Suns’ Basketball Operations group.

www.nba.com

What an absolute stain of a GM. Gambo has your limo.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

McDonough...

I am going to draft Luka.

James Jones sucks up to Sarver and undermines him attending a Luka game overseas without the then GM

Sarver insists on Ayton cause kitty bros

McDonough pivots and trades for SGA. Jones and Sarver veto it

McDonough then trades for Bridges and is out. Jones takes his job and never...ever comes close to identifying those 3 players in a draft

 

[Adrian]

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[leclerc]

We will just have to agree to disagree.

Someone can put together a timeline with yearly roster changes before and after Jones was hired, so we have historical facts to help our selective memories.

 

[Mainstreet]

We will just have to agree to disagree.

Okay, well I have no problem with that. Peace!

You both can be right. James Jones giveth… James Jones taketh away.