Sarver has said he would support any league inquiry to the allegations made against him. 6/29/22 Qualifying offer deadlines for Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet. 7/1/22 Start of the 2022-23 calendar year and moratorium. This was the second best single-season turnover percentage in NBA history, behind Jones's own record of 5.23 from the 200506 season. As a result, Jones finished as the top general manager in the NBA, and the second best across all major sports. [63][64] The Suns wound up making the 2021 NBA playoffs for the first time since 2010. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. You always have respect for guys who come the hard way, Williams said to The Undefeated about Jones in 2019. Theres only so many of those spots, only so many of those positions in the league, and to be able to fill those spots, and to be able to be a part of it, its special. He was also a DNP-CD (did not play - coach's decision) in ten games. That season was the only time in Jones's NBA career that he missed the playoffs. I cant wait to see how it all turns out. On July 19, 2017, Jones was named the Director of Player Personnel for the Phoenix Suns, effectively ending his 14-year NBA career. He has done a great job.. The 49th overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, Jones carved out a 14-year career in the league as a sharpshooter and became a three-time champion while playing for the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. Landry Shamet is struggling. We can tell stories and I can just listen to a story hes telling and Ill be like, Yep, been there. . He dealt T.J. Warren and the 32nd overall pick to the Indiana Pacers in a three-team trade for cash. [1] During his time at Miami, he majored in finance, was a member of the National Honor Society, and had a 3.41 grade point average. He also earned Big East All-Academic honors all four seasons and was the Hurricanes' first Verizon Academic All-American selection. Jones joined the Suns as the vice president of basketball operations in 2017 before being named interim general manager and eventually the permanent general manager in 2019. Why would the outgoing owners care, if theyre about to sell the team? Phoenix Suns general manager James Jones (left) presents the NBA Cares Community Assist Award to Devin Booker (right). Thats where our joy comes from here, is that every day we get a chance to go out there and compete, and try to build the resiliency, the habits and the capacity to win a title. It has improved, and it will continue to improve and evolve, and therell be more diversity in that space, Jones said. [22] He played in forty games, starting one, for the Heat during the 200809 season, averaging 4.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 15.8 minutes per game. Johnson has also become a valuable scorer off the bench. Center of the Sun: The Rubio mentality, next-level Booker, and respect. email. Immediately afterward, the Suns general manager departed to his private suite in the arena to watch the game. Jones was a four-year letterman in basketball at American High School in Hialeah, Florida. By using this website you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. Something went wrong. In 2009-10, Bower served as New Orleans head coach for the final 73 games of the season, posting a 34-39 record. 8/1/21 Chris Paul opted out of his final season. Note: Two-Way Contracts pay $462,629 for the full 2021-22 season, pro-rated based on in-season signing date. Facing the Golden State Warriors, the Cavaliers lost the series in six games. Note: Players can waive their trade bonuses. It led to some bozo on this website questioning exactly that. Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images. Taking a risk, taking a swing for the fences to move the needle, etc. Terms of Jones new contract arent known Spears described it only as a multiyear deal. [2], On June 29, 2010, he was released to clear salary cap space worth $400,000. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. This trade deadline they couldve done the same, and they once again did not. and "JHoops" (pronounced Joops). I do think he has botched the job, really. Several of the most important players in the Suns lineup including Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Mikal Bridges were acquired by the previous front office regime. The talent, the people here are amazing. PHOENIX The Phoenix Suns announced today they have named James Jones as general manager. The club has also added Jeff Bower as senior vice president of basketball operations and retained Trevor Bukstein as assistant general manager. James Jones knows a thing or two about that. The Suns have been up for sale since before the 2022-23 season started and, while a sale is pending the team will remain officially on the market until after the February 9 midseason trade deadline. Hes made a lot of the glorified 2kers running teams right now look as clueless; although most didnt need his help. Suns team owner Robert Sarver announced ahead of Phoenix's first Western Conference Finals game in 11 years that general manager James Jones has won the NBA's Executive of the Year award for the 2020/21 season, Gina Mizell of Suns.com tweets.. Surrounding your star players with the right complementary pieces both from a basketball and character perspective is what cultivates a winning culture. 8/6/21 Renounced the rights to Cheick Diallo and Tariq Owens. Its really unreal when I think about it. Its the type of thing, you dont think about it until you have to think about it.. 8/6/21 Re-signed Chris Paul to a partially-guaranteed four-year $120 million contract. Hes one of three best GMs in the NBA, Please login to leave a reply. The Suns defeated the Lakers 117-105. Deandre Ayton thrived against back-to-back league MVP Nikola Jokic in the second round two years ago. He once believed he could replace Amare Stoudemire with the collection of Hakim Warrick, Josh Childress and Hedo Turkoglu. [37] He played in 20 games, starting 6, during the season, averaging 4.9 points, 1.2 rebounds and 11.8 minutes. Suns stars Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton have said it means a lot to them to have an African American coach and general manager who have also played in the league. He went on to play for the Pacers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. [7] Jones was a DNP-CD in seven games. 7/19/21 Jalen Lecque trade exception ($898,310) expired. That points towards them having the utmost confidence in the Payne train. And in this league, if you dont win, you go home. Its not like this is a unique concept, one many front offices have tried and failed, but Jones knew the kind of people he needed around to achieve this. The NFL Veterans Who Could Get Traded During the NFL Draft James should be really credited for the job he has done. [2][34] He was on the inactive list for 21 games. [23] He completed two four-point plays in a span of eleven seconds in a playoff loss to the Atlanta Hawks on April 29, 2009. Boy, were already in the clouds we never could have imagined reaching, huh? They currently own a league-best 37-9 record. Jones, who suggested in the fall that he hadnt witnessed the abusive behavior described in ESPNs report, told Spears that the investigation into Sarver didnt give me pause in accepting the extension offer from the team. Phoenix Suns general manager James Jones has long been one of the best at his position since taking over duties. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images), (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images). Imagine not only giving the Ishbias the current $30+ million bill to pay, but also adding to it with deadline trades that might not pan out. Furthermore, he is instilling the same championship culture and standard that he experienced on multiple occasions as a player. Depth Chart The Phoenix Suns dropped from best odds to win the West to 3rd best, despite still being 2nd best to win the whole league. The question I ended with was how high it would take them. Its no surprise he was the perfect person to do that after Jones nickname in the veteran stages of his playing career was Champ. The nickname was bestowed to Jones by LeBron James and company for Jones consistent, professional presence and work rate, the true conduct of a champion. He finished third place in the 2012 Three-Point Shootout in Orlando. In any case, the little moves have been just as important as the big ones when discussing the Phoenix Suns success. The club has also added Jeff Bower as senior vice president of basketball operations and retained Trevor Bukstein as assistant general manager. But just as those types of criticisms begin to float to the surface, they get drowned out by reaching for Johnson in what looks to be a bad draft class, the Paul trade, getting Torrey Craig for nothing, revitalizing Cam Payne, signing Jae Crowder, bringing in Bismack Biyombo and on and on. Windhorst: Sarver has veto power on any trade for player making over
