James Jones Leaves Suns for NBA Front Office Job

[JCSunsfan]

I put the Durant trade on Sarver not James Jones. But James Jones made some major draft mistakes, the biggest one was Haliburton. If the scenario is like Chris says, that was bad too. Although, I wanted Ayton over Luka, and I still love Mikal.

Jones' coach choices were sus. I would really like to have a coach that we can keep for 10 years. Like Spo in Miami. This team desperately needs some continuity.

 

[Mainstreet]

I put the Durant trade on Sarver not James Jones. But James Jones made some major draft mistakes, the biggest one was Haliburton. If the scenario is like Chris says, that was bad too. Although, I wanted Ayton over Luka, and I still love Mikal.

Jones' coach choices were sus. I would really like to have a coach that we can keep for 10 years. Like Spo in Miami. This team desperately needs some continuity.

I don't know how you can lay the Kevin Durant trade at the feet of Robert Sarver, certainly not as the trade was constructed, because it was never approved until Mat Ishbia became the owner.

 

[leclerc]

There are some facts on Wikipedia, to jog my memory at least.

James Jones (basketball, born 1980) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Superbone]

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

He wasn't perfect (I don't even need to say the H word) but he was an overall huge plus for our team and he helped take us to new heights after the doldrums of Sarver's teams after his inherited Nash/Amare team ended their run. A team Sarver mismanaged, I'll add. Had he not cheaped out on Joe Johnson, we would have had at least one championship.

 

[Mainstreet]

He wasn't perfect (I don't even need to say the H word) but he was an overall huge plus for our team and he helped take us to new heights after the doldrums of Sarver's teams after his inherited Nash/Amare team ended their run. A team Sarver mismanaged, I'll add. Had he not cheaped out on Joe Johnson, we would have had at least one championship.

James Jones made some good moves in hiring Monty Williams, signing Jae Crowder and trading for Chris Paul among others.

However, the bad moves made on his watch, pushed the Suns back down again.

Among these, James Jones passed on drafting Haliburton, traded away the future of the franchise for Kevin Durant and sealed their fate in the trade for Bradley Beal.

And I'm only going to touch on trading a first round pick to move Jusuf Nurkic.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't know how you can lay the Kevin Durant trade at the feet of Robert Sarver, certainly not as the trade was constructed, because it was never approved until Mat Ishbia became the owner.

I meant Ish. You know that. Give us old dudes a bit of a break.

 

[Mainstreet]

I meant Ish. You know that. Give us old dudes a bit of a break.

I took it at face value, sorry about that. None of us are getting younger.

 

[leclerc]

He failed to address team weakness year in year out.

 

[Adrian]

Phoenix Suns' nine-word message to James Jones after major career move

The Phoenix Suns thanked James Jones for his leadership as he departs to become the league's head of basketball operations

clutchpoints.com

 

[Superbone]

Among these, James Jones passed on drafting Haliburton, traded away the future of the franchise for Kevin Durant and sealed their fate in the trade for Bradley Beal.

That is 100% on Mat Ishbia. It's quite obvious. Jones was working on it for many months and then hours after Ishbia takes control, the trade happens? It is beyond obvious.

 

[95pro]

He failed to address team weakness year in year out.

Right.

I'm just not sure why? Did he not have the eye for anyone? Did he not have the negotiating skills? Was he not creative enough in getting deals done?

 

[Superbone]

In fact, all the news shows Ishbia as a control freak. I'm going to put everything on him the moment he took control. James Jones was a lame duck at that point.

 

[Mainstreet]

That is 100% on Mat Ishbia. It's quite obvious. Jones was working on it for many months and then hours after Ishbia takes control, the trade happens? It is beyond obvious.

I don't think it was anywhere near 100% on Mat Ishbia.

As you said, James Jones had been working on the trade for months while Jae Crowder sat home.

Without the legwork, I don't think this trade happens at the 2023 NBA trade deadline.

IMO, Robert Sarver would have never approved the trade, and rightly so, because the Suns overpaid for Durant.

 

[95pro]

In fact, all the news shows Ishbia as a control freak. I'm going to put everything on him the moment he took control. James Jones was a lame duck at that point.

Very concerning when he said he wasn't going to cash checks for specialized personnel and said he would be more active, as if he wasn't already.

 

[GatorAZ]

I don't think it was anywhere near 100% on Mat Ishbia.

As you said, James Jones had been working on the trade for months while Jae Crowder sat home.

Without the legwork, I don't think this trade happens at the 2023 NBA trade deadline.

IMO, Robert Sarver would have never approved the trade, and rightly so, because the Suns overpaid for Durant.

Durant requested a trade to Phoenix during the 2022 offseason. It just so happened that the deal went thru hours within Ishbia taking over. Pretty clearly Ishbia wanted to make a big splash. Wojnarowski reported Ishbia dealt directly with the Nets owner while James Jones was pursuing a different trade for John Collins.

 

[SirStefan32]

It's difficult to judge Jones because he worked under two very meddlesome bosses. I'll always appreciate the fact that Jones ended the era of our Suns being a big joke. He's made some mistakes, but I'll always remember the Rubio season when the Suns stopped being the biggest joke in the NBA. Wish Jones nothing but success in his new role.

 

[Mainstreet]

Durant requested a trade to Phoenix during the 2022 offseason. It just so happened that the deal went thru hours within Ishbia taking over. Pretty clearly Ishbia wanted to make a big splash. Wojnarowski reported Ishbia dealt directly with the Nets owner while James Jones was pursuing a different trade for John Collins.

The trade wouldn't have happened if Mat Ishbia didn't want it, but this doesn't mean they didn't want the same thing.

As I mentioned, James Jones had already laid the groundwork for the trade, all the while Jae Crowder sat at home with the Suns in need of a power forward long before the trade deadline.

 

[GatorAZ]

The trade wouldn't have happened if Mat Ishbia didn't want it, but this doesn't mean they didn't want the same thing.

As I mentioned, James Jones had already laid the groundwork for the trade, all the while Jae Crowder sat at home with the Suns in need of a power forward long before the trade deadline.

The Crowder stuff is on Monty.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Crowder stuff is on Monty.

It was not Monty's job to trade him, though. Clearly, Crowder was not in the Suns plans that season. He was an asset that had value.

 

[Hoop Head]

The Crowder stuff is on Monty.

The feud is on Monty but the fallout is on JJ. Jones sent Crowder home and didn't replace him. Jones also passed on the offer from Washington for Hachimura in exchange for Crowder.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

It was not Monty's job to trade him, though. Clearly, Crowder was not in the Suns plans that season. He was an asset that had value.

Agreed

 

[JCSunsfan]

For guys like Ish, owner a basketball team is a hobby. Its just fun.

 

[SirStefan32]

For guys like Ish, owner a basketball team is a hobby. Its just fun.

I don't think so. He seems extremely competitive, and I think he takes owning a basketball team seriously.

 

[Hoop Head]

I don't think so. He seems extremely competitive, and I think he takes owning a basketball team seriously.

Yeah, for better and worse, Ish is in it for the long haul and for the competition. He was a NCAA walk on. You don't get through Tom Izzo's program if you aren't dedicated to the game.

 

[Superbone]

I don't think so. He seems extremely competitive, and I think he takes owning a basketball team seriously.

I think both can be true. I'm thankful he takes bringing a competitive team to the Valley is something he takes seriously. He struck out big on this first attempt. Here's to much better results this next at bat.