We compiled a group of individuals (programming note: 30 entries, not 30 people total) who mean something special to SLAM and to our audience. Read the full list here and order your copy of SLAM 248, where this list was originally published, here.

I called Chris Paul the “Forrest Gump of the post-2005 NBA” in a 2020 cover story about him. I think that’s pretty self-explanatory but figured I should spend some time here to explain that, because it sets the table for the reason CP3 is on this list.

Let’s quickly run through what earned him that distinction. In 2005, he’s drafted by New Orleans, but due to destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, he spends most of his first two NBA seasons playing home games in Oklahoma City. In NOLA, he becomes homies with Lil Wayne, becomes an All-Star, becomes arguably the best PG in the League, becomes a playoff contender. Then he’s traded to the Lakers, un-traded by David Stern (I can’t emphasize enough how big a deal this was on 2011 NBA Twitter), then traded to the Clippers, becoming the heart of Lob City (another massive part of early 2010s NBA Twitter) and a perpetual postseason contender. He becomes president of the NBA Players Association, signs a long-term contract, and then the Donald Sterling racist audio incident happens, and he’s in the middle of that saga. Eventually he’s traded to Houston, then OKC. Then Covid happens, and Chris is in the middle of setting up the Bubble, lowkey a huge national public health story. Then, while in the Bubble, the Jacob Blake shooting takes place, and Chris—literally on national TV before a Thunder-Rockets game is about to tip—is a part of the group that holds the players off the court, and later as PA president, is the head of the group that figured out how to infuse social justice messaging and action into the NBA’s infrastructure. He leads the Thunder on an impressive run in the Bubble, then later joins the Suns, where he leads the team to the Finals, and is on the team when there’s another racist owner situation with Robert Sarver, who later sells the franchise.

A couple years pass and then CP3 joins the Warriors, where he’s currently attempting to help push the Steph-Klay-Dray group toward another ring. Along the way he played an iconic commercial character (Cliff Paul), amassed 22,000+ points and 11,000+ assists, made 12 All-Star teams and the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team and dropped 13 signature sneakers with Jordan Brand. And he was on the banana boat, because of course he was. The guy is everywhere.

“Forrest Gump of the post-2005 NBA”—undeniably accurate. But that’s not alone enough to make it to this list, because this is the “30 Players Who Defined SLAM’s 30 Years,” and if there wasn’t a direct SLAM connection, Chris would just be a guy who was around the NBA universe for a while, paying us no mind. But CP3 paid us plenty mind. He was first featured in SLAM in April 2003 as a high schooler with a one-page PUNKS article in the back of the mag; his brother CJ once told me that his family had that page framed in their house.

He was on his first SLAM cover in 2006, his second in 2008, his third in 2009, his fourth in 2011, his fifth in 2012 (alongside Blake Griffin), and his sixth in 2020. In his prime, he had a fun, uptempo point guard game that a magazine like SLAM was practically created to celebrate, and in his veteran years, he’s been a methodical game manager who almost exclusively plays on teams we cover deep into the playoffs. He was always relevant in the sneaker world—the aforementioned 13 sigs—and he was early in the tunnel fit game, becoming an @LeagueFits regular during our fashion account’s salad days. (The three hoodies he wore in his most recent cover shoot were produced in collaboration with SLAM and LeagueFits and sold on slamgoods.com, with the profits going to charity.)

A player who’s seemingly everywhere, finding his way into every crevice of basketball culture and NBA happenings for almost two decades, and a publication that covers every crevice of basketball culture and NBA happenings for exactly three decades. It makes perfect sense that the two would have a great, symbiotic relationship.

So, of course Chris was going to be on this list. The guy is everywhere. 

Photo via Getty Images. Portrait by Kyle Hood.

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BREAKING: Billionaire mortgage lender Mat Ishbia is finalizing a purchase of the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. The deal, expected to be completed in the near future, would end the tumultuous tenure of owner Robert Sarver.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 20, 2022

The deal is reportedly worth $4 billion per Woj. Ishbia will be bringing in his brother, Justin, as a significant investor and alternate governor for the Suns, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

ESPN Sources: Ishbia’s purchase price is in the neighborhood of $4 billion. https://t.co/HzH2XSspHp

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 20, 2022

Sarver and Ishbia also released their own official statements. Sarver called Ishbia “the right leader to build on franchise legacies of winning and community support,” while Ishbia said that he’s “honored” to be the “next stewards of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury.”

Official: Mat and Justin Ishbia reach agreement to buy majority stake of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury from Robert Sarver: pic.twitter.com/dEe6QGfZJP

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 21, 2022

Sarver has been looking to sell the Suns since he was suspended for a year and fined due to the League investigating allegations of a hostile workplace within the Phoenix front office. The fine and suspension were met with many mixed emotions from players, the players union, and even a chairman of the Suns’ ownership group.

Ultimately, Sarver’s decision to sell won’t go down as infamously as Donald Sterlings’ ouster, but it does clarify that the NBA won’t stand down to allegations of racism and allegations within franchise front offices in the League.

The post REPORT: Robert Sarver Set to Sale Suns to Billionaire Mat Ishbia appeared first on SLAM.

The Sun-Mavs season opener nearly brought up still-fresh and painful memories from Game 7 for Phoenix as they fell behind by 22-points in the first half. However, the Suns fought back in the second half and rallied for a monumental win to start the season on a high note.

“If you get your asses kicked, you want to get your get-back,” Devin Booker told ESPN’s Jorge Sedano while reminiscing about losing his first Game 7. “That’s just life.

“We still have 81 games to go. I said that before the game. It’s a good start. I think it’s a good start to show our team if we’re down early that, we can come back in games.”

2⃣2⃣-PT COMEBACK.

Tonight marked our largest comeback since 2017. pic.twitter.com/2oqt671FK9

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 20, 2022

Phoenix’s ability to rally and win a closeout of a tight game late in the fourth should come as no surprise when you remember why they became the overall last season. The Suns went 33-9 in clutch games, defined by the score being within five points in the final minutes.

The comeback effort can also serve as a rallying point after a dramatic offseason full of front-office chaos due to team owner Robert Sarver’s season-long suspension and decision to put the Suns and Mercury up for sale. Not to mention the tense negotiations and apparent cold feelings Deandre Ayton has towards Coach Monty Williams. The starting lineup also had some turnover after Jae Crowder decided not to play out the final season of his contract while the front office seeks a trade partner.

Powering through. pic.twitter.com/t1C1MPyFO9

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 20, 2022

All the offseason theatrics were a backdrop to the fact that NBA scheduled Phoenix and Dallas for their season-openers after the Mavericks not only embarrassed but ended the Suns’ season with a debilitating Game 7 loss for the ages.

“I think any time you win in the NBA, it’s cool,” Williams said. “But to beat the team that knocked you out, it doesn’t erase that feeling, that hurt, but it does help you grow.”

The Suns’ comeback bid began with Booker (28 points and nine assists) checking back into the game with his team down 15 points. The two-time All-Star scored seven points and handed out six dimes during the fourth quarter. However, the true hero of the game was Damion Lee, who scored 11 of his points in the final frame, including his game-winning fadeaway with 9.7 seconds left in the game.

Damion Lee!!! Tuff shot. pic.twitter.com/tUST6cKmQn

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 20, 2022

Lee, a championship veteran, was a casualty of the Warriors’ decision to invest in their future this summer. He signed a veterans minimum deal during the League’s free agency period and has immediately made an impact as a reserve guard. The 29-year-old guard more than made up for giving up a game-tying and-1 layup to Doncic by hitting his game-winner.

Lee was also given a boost of confidence by Williams during Phoenix’s ensuing timeout.

“Coach just looks at me, and he said: ‘Hey, go make a play. Go make a play,”‘ said Lee, who is now 2-of-9 on tying or go-ahead field goals in the final minute during his career, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. “That’s what you want — a coach that’s always going to instill that confidence in you, no matter what happens.”

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“It’d probably be disrespectful to say it,” O’Neal told CNN’s Becky Anderson. “But I would like to go back home. I’ll leave that to the viewers to figure out [what it means]. I would like to go back home.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DR. SHAQUILLE O’NEAL Ed.D. (@shaq)

Home can mean many places for O’Neal as he played for six NBA franchises, played college basketball at LSU, and was born in Newark, NJ. O’Neal’s first professional “home” was with the Orlando Magic, where he was selected number one overall in the 1992 NBA Draft. He established himself in just four seasons averaging 27.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game.

O’Neal and his crew brought the Magic to its first NBA Finals appearance in 1995 but couldn’t get it done against Hakeem Olajuwon’s back-to-back Finals-winning Houston Rockets. Nonetheless, the city of Orlando could still have great respect for their best center of all time, and the fans could settle on him taking over the organization.

O’Neal’s next ‘home’ is where many saw him become the legendary figure he is in the history of basketball, the Los Angeles Lakers. O’Neal won multiple championships in Los Angeles with the late-great Kobe Bryant. The pair blossomed into the most dominant duo of their time, and in the 1999-2000 season, O’Neal won his first season MVP award.

The history of the Lakers would undoubtedly be held in good hands with O’Neal at the helm, but that won’t happen any time soon.

A final team to note as one of Shaquille O’Neal’s ownership probabilities is the Phoenix Suns. Though his time in the desert wasn’t the highlight of his career, he still showed what he had in the late stage of his career — making an All-Star appearance in 2009 and averaging 17.8 points as a 37-year-old.

The Suns have been under media scrutiny recently after team owner Robert Sarver was suspended a year after an independent investigation found he helped foster a toxic workplace culture based on racist and misogynistic behavior. Sarver recently revealed he was planning on putting up the Suns and Mercury for sale due to the investigation.

O’Neal has his options, but for now, he can give back to the community and continue investing in the several businesses he owns. No franchise is a long shot for the four-time champion, but an ownership decision may come sooner than expected.

The post Shaquille O’Neal Talks Buying an NBA Team: ‘I Want to Go Back Home’ appeared first on SLAM.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement: pic.twitter.com/ykBrsEoxc0

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) September 21, 2022

Robert Sarver has announced that he’s “beginning the process” to sell his majority stakes in the Suns and Mercury. Sarver is currently serving a one-year suspension after the NBA concluded its investigation into Sarver’s “workplace misconduct and organizational deficiencies.” during his 18-year tenure as owner of the Phoenix franchises.

“Words that I deeply regret now overshadow nearly two decades of building organizations that brought people together – and strengthened the Phoenix area – through the unifying power of professional men’s and women’s basketball,” Sarver said in a public statement. “As a man of faith, I believe in atonement and the path to forgiveness. I expected that the commissioner’s one-year suspension would provide the time for me to focus, make amends and remove my personal controversy from the teams that I and so many fans love.

But in our current unforgiving climate, it has become painfully clear that that is no longer possible – that whatever good I have done, or could still do, is outweighed by things I have said in the past. For those reasons, I am beginning the process of seeking buyers for the Suns and Mercury.

BREAKING: In a statement, Robert Sarver writes, in part:

“I am beginning the process of seeking buyers for the Suns and Mercury.”https://t.co/fMhWdDIM5M

— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) September 21, 2022

Sarver’s stunning announcement comes after the NBA players union, LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Draymond Green expressed disappointment in varying degrees about his punishment. Green specifically called for the owners to vote Sarver out; James believed the League “definitely got this wrong,” while CP3 tweeted that “the sanctions fell short.”

“I do not want to be a distraction to these two teams and the fine people who work so hard to bring the joy and excitement of basketball to fans around the world,” Sarver said.

“I want what’s best for these two organizations, the players, the employees, the fans, the community, my fellow owners, the NBA, and the WNBA. This is the best course of action for everyone. In the meantime, I will continue to work on becoming a better person and continuing to support the community in meaningful ways. Thank you for continuing to root for the Suns and the Mercury, embracing the power that sports has to bring us together.”

There were always concerns that Sarver’s stubbornness and desire to paint himself as the victim would make him willing to continue as a pariah in the NBA community, but his decision to sell the Suns and Mercury bails out the league and his ownership peers. https://t.co/LD7o1OYhQ0

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 21, 2022

Suns vice chairman Jahm Nafaji also came out and called for Sarver to resign as the owner of the Suns and Mercury. Commissioner Adam Silver let it be known that despite the precedent he set in 2015 when the NBA banned Donald Sterling due to his racist remarks, he didn’t “have the right to take away” Sarver’s ownership stakes.

Ownership in Phoenix should be more attractive after back-to-back brilliant seasons where the Suns recorded the best record in the League. According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, League execs believe Phoenix could be a monster free agent destination with the proper ownership due to its warm weather climate

The post Robert Sarver ‘Beginning the Process’ of Selling Suns and Mercury appeared first on SLAM.

Sarver was caught using several offensive languages around his respected organizations. With reports coming out stating he used the ‘N-Word’ frequently, as well as misogynistic comments, Draymond Green opened up about how this makes a representation of the NBA.

“That’s bulls–t. You can’t continue to represent way more people than yourself with those views,” said Green. “With speaking to people the way he did, with treating African Americans and women the way he has. That’s not OK.”

The NBA has been able to address racial justice matters pretty seriously; however, this recent polemic on behalf of Sarver has the basketball community believing he should be removed from his position and banned for life.

The support of the Black Lives Matter movement since 2020, and the termination of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling back in 2015 make this case look rather simple for League commissioner Adam Silver. However, he ponders the idea that removing the rights to Sarver’s ownership of the teams is too much to get behind. Essentially, Silver believes the $10 million fine and one-year suspension will serve as a lesson for the inappropriate acts caused by Sarver.

“What it would take to remove that team from his control is a very involved process,” said Silver. “and it’s different than holding a job. It just is. When you actually own a team, it’s just a very different proposition.”

Green called on League governors to vote on Sarver’s position. A vote is required from at least three-quarters of the board to remove him, per Baxter Holmes of ESPN. Draymond Green continues to shed light on matters that need to be discussed around the League, and his input will certainly re-adjust the decision of Adam Silver.

The post Draymond Green Reacts to Robert Sarver’s Suspension on His Podcast appeared first on SLAM.

Per the Arizona Republic, Najafi wrote, “in accordance with my commitment to helping eradicate any form of racism, sexism and bias, as vice chairman of the Phoenix Suns, I am calling for the resignation of Robert Sarver.”

In response to both the NBA’s punishment and the report released by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, the law firm that carried out Sarver’s investigation, Najafi stated, “the conduct [Sarver] is alleged to have committed has stunned and saddened me and is unacceptable.”

The Suns’ minority owner “has no interest in becoming a managing partner,” but he cannot “sit back and allow our children and future generations of fans to think that this behavior is tolerated because of wealth and privilege.” 

Alongside vice chair Sam Garvin, who will serve as the Sun’s interim Governor during Sarver’s one-year suspension, Najafi wrote that they will “will work tirelessly to ensure the next team steward treats all stakeholders with dignity, professionalism, and respect.”

Najafi went on to apologize to “all whose lives and professions have been impacted” and reiterated his personal commitment to helping “eradicate any form of racism, sexism, and bias, which is unacceptable anywhere in our society.” Nafaji’s open letter joined the chorus of several NBA figures who expressed that Sarver’s actions have no place in the League and that his punishment didn’t fit his crimes.

Najafi’s resolute call for Sarver’s resignation joins the sentiments of statements from LeBron James, Chris Paul, and NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio. 

The post Suns Vice Chair Jahm Najafi Calls for Robert Sarver’s Resignation in Open Letter appeared first on SLAM.

In the wake of the NBA’s judgment, LeBron James, Suns point guard and former players union president Cris Paul, and the NBPA all issued their own statements about the suspension and fine. Paul said he was “horrified and disappointed” by the report from the Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz law firm that conducted the investigation.

I am of the view that the sanctions fell short in truly addressing what we can all agree was atrocious behavior. My heart goes out to all of the people that were affected.

— Chris Paul (@CP3) September 15, 2022

Although James “loves this League” and “deeply respects our leadership,” he believes that the “League definitely got this wrong.” James went on to say that “there is no place in this League for that kind of behavior,” explicitly rallying against “misogyny, sexism, and racism in any workplace.”

behavior. I love this league and I deeply respect our leadership. But this isn’t right. There is no place for misogyny, sexism, and racism in any work place. Don’t matter if you own the team or play for the team. We hold our league up as an example of our values and this aint it.

— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 14, 2022

The NBPA, led by Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio, also released a statement. Like James, Tremaglio said Sarver’s “reported actions and conduct are horrible” and that Sarver’s workplace misconduct “have no place in our sport or any workplace for that matter.” Tremaglio took over leadership as the players union leader after Michele Roberts retired in September 2021.

Yesterday the NBA released the findings from the independent investigation by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz involving Suns Governor Robert Sarver.

Mr. Sarver’s reported actions and conduct are horrible and have no place in our sport or any workplace for that matter.

— Tamika Tremaglio (@ttremaglioNBPA) September 15, 2022

All issues that led to a toxic work environment for well over a decade.

I have made my position known to Adam Silver regarding my thoughts on the extent of the punishment, and strongly believe that Mr. Sarver should never hold a managerial position within our league again.

— Tamika Tremaglio (@ttremaglioNBPA) September 15, 2022

After the League met with its Board of Governors in New York, League commissioner Adam Silver knew that the NBA’s independent investigation would garner those responses. He’s even admitted to having “private conversations” about what the independent investigators found. He also said he would give players leeway “to speak directly about how they feel.”

“I’d only say disheartening,” said Silver in describing the players’ reaction to the investigation’s findings, per Arizona Central. “Same reaction I’ve had in many cases. I think these are — I think saddened, as I was, I think, for those players to see that we continue to deal with these issues.

“Look, I think it’s no secret this is a league where roughly 80 percent of our players are Black. More than half our coaches are Black. I will say that none of them maybe are as shocked as I am, living their lives, that I don’t think they’re reading this saying, oh, my God, I can’t believe this happens.”

Sarver, the majority owner of the Suns and Mercury, was fined $10 million and suspended for a year for “workplace misconduct and organizational deficiencies” that were found during a 10-month investigation over his 18-year tenure as a Suns team owner. Phoenix has 14 players that are either Black or mixed race out of their 16-man roster. The Suns also employ a Black head coach (Monty Williams) and general manager (James Jones).

In a separate statement Sarver released on Tuesday, Sarver said that he disagreed with “some of the particulars” that the investigators found but ultimately accepts “the consequences” of the League’s decision.

“Good leadership requires accountability,” Sarver said in a statement released by the Suns. “For the Suns and Mercury organizations, that begins with me. While I disagree with some of the particulars of the NBA’s report, I would like to apologize for my words and actions that offended our employees. I take full responsibility for what I have done. I am sorry for causing this pain, and these errors in judgment are not consistent with my personal philosophy or my values.”

Silver also said he didn’t have “the right” to take away the Suns and Mercury from Sarver. While Sarver is banned from participating in any NBA or WNBA team activities, including games, practices, or business partner activity, he will be compelled to complete a training program focused on respect and appropriate conduct in the workplace.

“In terms of future behavior, there’s no question he is on notice,” Silver continued. “He knows that. I also think, though, if you look at the chronology of the report, most of this activity goes back, most of the inappropriate activity goes back many years.”

The Suns begin their season against the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 19.

The post NBPA Reacts to Robert Sarver’s Fine and One-Year Suspension For ‘Deplorable Behavior’ appeared first on SLAM.

Basketball fans hope he’d be terminated altogether, but NBA commissioner Adam Silver believes he has ‘no right’ to remove Sarver from his position in ownership of the teams.

“I don’t have the right to take away his team,” said Silver. “I don’t want to rest on that legal point because, of course, there could be a process to take away someone’s team in this League. It’s very involved, and I ultimately made the decision that it didn’t rise to that level. But, to me, the consequences are severe here on Mr. Sarver.”

The NBA has faced racial misconduct amongst ownership in the past, most notably from Donald Sterling, former Los Angeles Clippers owner. The racist comments he made to his mistress on a leaked audio recording forced the NBA to take action and ban Sterling from any NBA events for life. Many feel that Sarver’s comments have been just as bad, if not worse than Sterling’s, and the League is now facing questions about whether or not they are handling ethical guidelines solemnly.

When asked why termination wouldn’t apply to an owner but would to an average employee of the League, Silver said: “What it would take to remove that team from his control is a very involved process, and it’s different than holding a job. It just is. When you actually own a team, it’s just a very different proposition.”

Further investigation of the case revealed that Sarver had been using the N-Word pretty openly and allegedly used it ‘five times’ around the workplace.

Although Sarver has already pledged to take complete accountability and practice ethical values, many fans and leadership across the League will not condone the moral decision to give him a one-year suspension. A suspension of that nature and donations to organizations addressing race and gender-based issues shouldn’t overcome the harassment tolerated by employees in Phoenix. Further action may be in store from Commissioner Silver.

The post Adam Silver: ‘I Don’t Have the Right to Take Away’ Suns From Robert Sarver appeared first on SLAM.

The investigation found that Robert Sarver was guilty of many offenses, including sexual harassment, racial prejudice, unequal treatment of female employees, and verbal abuse.

The NBA said Sarver “engaged in instances of inequitable conduct toward female employees, made many sex-related comments in the workplace, made inappropriate comments about the physical appearance of female employees and other women, and on several occasions engaged in inappropriate physical conduct toward male employees.”

The NBA found that Sarver “engaged in demeaning and harsh treatment of employees, including by yelling and cursing at them.”

The independent investigation from the NBA also revealed that Sarver was guilty of saying the N-Word “on at least five occasions” when recounting the statements of others. 

Most of the Phoenix Suns employees under investigation for engaging in workplace misconduct over the last 18-years were no longer employed by the Suns organization by the beginning of the NBA’s independent investigation. The terms of Sarver’s suspension dictate that he is barred from being present at any NBA or WNBA facility and that he may not attend or participate in any NBA or WNBA event or activity. 

The Phoenix Suns released a press release last October before the investigation into their workplace practices to deny any allegations of workplace misconduct by anyone in the Phoenix Suns front office.

The investigation was based on information gathered from 320 individual interviews and over 80,000 documents. Sarver’s suspension is the latest in the NBA’s effort to hold owners accountable for their actions. 

The post NBA Suspends Suns and Mercury Owner Robert Sarver For One Year appeared first on SLAM.

The Suns’ results over the last two seasons have led to management deciding to sign general manager James Jones to sign a multi-year contract extension, per Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.

Exclusive in @TheUndefeated: Suns general manager James Jones signed to contract extension. #nba @espn https://t.co/WPq8iO5aYC

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) January 25, 2022

Jones joined the Suns as the VP of basketball operations in 2018 before being named interim GM and permanently named to the position in 2019. He is one of 10 Black GM’s in the NBA, winning Executive of the Year last year, hired 2020 Coach of Monty Williams as head coach, building a competitive roster that reached the 2021 NBA Finals after acquiring and re-signing All-Star guard Chris Paul

Jones has agreed to an extension despite a bombshell report from ESPN that Robert Sarver allegedly created a sometimes toxic and hostile workplace of racism and sexism during his tenure as Suns owner. Since then, Sarver has been under NBA investigation. The 18-year owner said that he would support an inquiry into the allegations made against him.

Jones told The Undefeated that the League’s investigation “didn’t give me pause” and said, “None of what’s been said describes the Robert Sarver I know, respect and like — it just doesn’t.” after ESPN’s report was published.

“This organization, business, and basketball, it’s good. The talent, the people here are amazing. I have such a great team that I work with on the basketball side,” Jones told Spears on taking the extension while Sarver is under investigation. “But just as well equally, and sometimes even more on the business side. Because we’re the Suns, right? This is entertainment. And you don’t do the things that we do in a vacuum. That’s what I tell people a lot of times: You don’t do this in the vacuum; it takes everyone.

“And if you have the right mix of people, if you have common goals and you’re aligned, it makes working, coming to work every day exciting. It creates an awesome experience for everyone involved. And so that’s been my experience since I’ve been here. It’s been awesome.”

With the Suns re-emerging as a threat to return to the Finals, and the Suns front office and players squarely behind Jones and Williams, it only makes sense for the franchise to award the architect of their success. Phoenix takes on the Utah Jazz (30-18) on Wednesday in Utah.

The post Suns GM James Jones Signs Contract Extension appeared first on SLAM.

Per CNBC’s Jabari Young, the Phoenix Suns will make their first appearance in the NBA Playoffs for the first time since the 2009-10 season.

Back in those days, Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire were a deadly pick-and-roll duo for the ‘7 Seconds or Less’ Suns in an offense as exciting as any had been seen to that point.

You just had to be there.

That being said, Phoenix is no stranger to having a hot-shot roster. Nowadays, a different high IQ point guard — Chris Paul — is leading the charge, with rising stars in Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton making an indelible impact for the franchise.

Booker has averaged 25.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists so far this season, while Paul has averaged 16.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game. Ayton, now in his third season, is averaging 14.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting a career-high .620 percent from the field.

Currently the second seed in the Western Conference, the Suns ended their 10-season playoff drought (the fifth-longest in NBA history) following a 109-101 victory over against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

While this is CP3’s 11th postseason appearance, Booker will have his first career playoff experience in a stretch that will be invaluable to his evolution into superstar player.

The post Suns Set to Make First Playoff Appearance Since 2010 appeared first on SLAM.

If you’re expecting that to have given him a favorable impression of the Suns, you’re wrong.

Starting his career with the Washington Wizards after being drafted in 2015, Oubre was traded to Phoenix last December. He’s played 96 games in that time and seen all but four of his teammates change.

On the outside looking in, the Suns looked like a respectable if struggling franchise; one that had promise because of players like Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. However, the picture that Oubre paints of Phoenix one where the appearance of an earnest desire to build the best possible team is just a facade.

Making a radio appearance on 95.7 The Game’s “Damon, Ratto & Kolsky” in San Francisco, Oubre was asked about the difference between playing for an owner like Joe Lacob and one with an unsavory reputation like Robert Sarver.

Per ESPN’s Nick Friedell, Oubre had this to say in response to the question:

“I can play for an owner — somebody who actually cares about the organization and not just the perception of the organization on the media end of it. It’s all about the foundation for me, man. You have a beautiful foundation, can build a beautiful [future].”

With Oubre’s perspective in mind, fun facts like Booker — now the franchise’s longest-tenured player at 24-years-old — having had 80 different teammates in just five seasons now looks like the byproduct of dysfunction more than Phoenix trying to find players to keep long-term.

That said, even though the Suns made a solid move in acquiring future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul by trading Oubre, perhaps ‘Tsunami Papi ‘is lucky that he wasn’t cast away earlier.

The post Kelly Oubre Jr. Takes Shot At Suns After Being Traded To Warriors appeared first on SLAM.

Fitgerald’s ties to the city and state run deep after 16 years of employment with the local football club. Fitzgerald’s philanthropy has reverberated throughout the community and his 11 All-Pro nods certainly contribute to his reputation among fans.

“Larry has been a great ambassador for our organization for years,” majority owner Robert Sarver said in a statement. “He is an Arizona icon and a businessman, passionate philanthropist, and leader. He brings a unique perspective from outside basketball but still grounded in sport, and we welcome him as a valued partner and investor.“

The other active NFL player with a share of an NBA franchise is, of course, Aaron Rodgers, who is frequently spotted supporting his own investment, the Milwaukee Bucks.

John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM adds that Fitzgerald has already formed solid relationships with Suns players and can offer them money management advice and connections to corporate America.

The post Larry Fitzgerald Buys Minority Stake In Suns appeared first on SLAM.

The executive will join Phoenix’s front office with 11 years of experience as a general manager and will work in conjunction with current interim general manager James Jones.

News of the pairing doesn’t come as a total surprise, as Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN detailed franchise owner Robert Sarver’s affinity for the ex-Detroit Pistons executive over the weekend.

The installation of Bower in the position will close the vacancy left open when Phoenix fired previous general manager Ryan McDonough last October.

Bower will join a team that’s won, on averaged, 22.8 games over the course of the past four seasons.

He, alongside Jones and head coach Igor Kokoskov will have the challenge of turning a handful of intriguing draft assets – including a 2019 pick with a 52.1% chance of falling in the top-four – into a competitive basketball team.

The post Suns To Hire Jeff Bower As VP Of Basketball Ops appeared first on SLAM.

UPDATE: City official tells me Suns owner Robert Sarver is threatening to take Suns to Seattle or Las Vegas. https://t.co/SLHEwpbpL7 via @azcentral

— Laurie Roberts (@LaurieRoberts) December 12, 2018

Councilwomen Laura Pastor and Debra Stark reportedly asked to postpone this afternoon’s 2:30 p.m. vote. It is noted that there are three city officials that are not in favor of the $150 million upgrade to Talking Stick Arena, and Williams has asked to postpone the vote until next month to allow for two public hearings.

If the Suns were in fact to move, where would be best: Las Vegas or Seattle?

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Story soon on ESPN: Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver is leaning toward the eventual hiring of interim general manager James Jones as the franchise’s full-time GM, league sources tell ESPN. Jones had been VP of Basketball Operations under former GM Ryan McDonough.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 9, 2018

As Wojnarowski states, Jones served as the VP of Basketball Operations under Ryan McDonough, who was fired by the organization on Monday.

The 38-year-old Jones played 14 seasons in the League (including two with the Suns from 2005-07) and won three NBA titles.

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Boogie, who is recovering from a torn achilles, will hit unrestricted free agency and naturally demand a big contract. But according to ESPN‘s Zach Lowe, it might not be AS big as you’d think:

Only a half-dozen or so teams have max-level space this season, and most won’t pursue Cousins at that level, sources say. He doesn’t make sense for rebuilding teams. Even bad teams hungry for a big jump in wins next season — say, the Suns — can’t be confident Cousins will be ready to produce at his usual All-Star level until 2019-20, anyway. (Still: Never underestimate Robert Sarver’s July 1 exuberance in the name of short-term gain.) Some teams are afraid of his baggage.

Lowe suggests there may be only two suitors for Cousins – The Mavericks and the Lakers -, which would give New Orleans leverage in negotiations:

The Pelicans have broached internally the idea of offering Cousins a two- or three-year deal at less than the max, per sources familiar with the discussions. I would not expect that to go over well with Cousins’ camp. But the Pelicans have the dual leverage of winning without Cousins and a tepid market for him.

Before suffering his injury in late January, Cousins was averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game.

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According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, there was “never traction” on reaching an agreement.

Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer has withdrawn from consideration for the Phoenix Suns head coaching job, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 20, 2018

After several days of discussions, Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer is no longer considering the chance to become Phoenix Suns’ next coach, league sources told ESPN.

Budenholzer met with Suns general manager Ryan McDonough and owner Robert Sarver early this week, but there was never traction on reaching a contract agreement as the week wore on, league sources said.

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Hawks Coach Mike Budenholzer Meets With Phoenix Suns

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Budenholzer met with Suns general manager Ryan McDonough and owner Robert Sarver over the two days, league sources said, after Atlanta granted him permission to meet with Phoenix late last week.

The Hawks and Budenholzer are both open to ending their partnership, but there are several hurdles that would need to be cleared before that could happen, including the Suns making an offer and agreeing to a contract and possible compensation to Atlanta.

The Suns are reportedly considering several other candidates, including interim coach Jay Triano, Steve Clifford, David Fizdale, David Blatt, and Frank Vogel. But the organization has “largely been focused on getting to know Budenholzer in recent days,” says Wojnarowski.

Budenholzer, the 2015-16 NBA Coach of the Year, has two years and more than $13 million left on his contract.

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Talked to Booker today about the coaching search and the contract extension he's likely to receive this summer: https://t.co/UejWTvl7QS

— scott bordow (@sbordow) March 30, 2018

Booker, 21, sounded a lot more enthused about committing to the Suns long-term back in October, before embarking on a 20-59 campaign (the NBA’s worst record.)

The front-office will ask for Booker’s input in their search for a head coach during the offseason, though he’s a lot more concerned with the roster makeup going forward.

Per the AZ Republic (via PBT):

“I’ve had three coaches since I’ve been here and I’ve never blamed anything on one of the coaches as an individual,” Booker said. “I’ve had great relationships with all the coaches. I think the NBA just overall, when you need somebody to blame the first person that you go to is the coach. But at the end of the day you need the right players that match each other. Not just the best players. Chemistry helps.

“I just don’t think a lot of responsibility is with the coaches. It’s a players’ league.”

Booker said in October that he would be willing to sign the five-year, $156 million contract extension the Suns can offer him this summer. Asked if anything – or everything – that has happened this season has changed his mind, he chuckled and said: “I mean, that’s a whole other discussion. A lot goes into that. When that time comes I’ll have to make a decision.”

But then he added, “I’ve always said this is the place I want to be so if everything works out, yeah.”

The post Devin Booker Willing to Ink Extension With Suns appeared first on SLAM.

Sarver, however, acknowledges that his franchise has a herculean task ahead of it this summer.

#Suns owner Robert Sarver likes his team's talent, but he's looking to add some 'swagger' and 'winning attitude' to start taking the next step https://t.co/yaLrBb6ZNe

— azcentral sports (@azcsports) March 7, 2018

Phoenix (19-47) currently has the NBA’s second-worst record.

Per the AZ Republic:

Would you agree that this will be the most important summer you’ve had in a while?

Sarver: “I think so. Our younger players need confidence. I think there’s a fine line between coming in a game feeling confident you can win and not feeling confident you can win. I think maybe we can add a piece or two next season with some leadership and some experience and some winning and some grit that can help turn that confidence level with some of our younger players. So this offseason is going to be about adding some of that confidence and leadership, and at the same time to get some of our younger players to take a meaningful step forward. I think you’ve seen that a little bit this year. Obviously, Devin (Booker) has shown he’s capable of playing at an All-Star level and can be one of the pillars of the franchise moving forward. The second half of this season for Josh (Jackson) has shown what we saw when we drafted him. At times you’ve seen Marquese (Chriss) and Dragan (Bender) show what they can do, but the two of them haven’t been consistent enough.”

What are your expectations for next season?

Sarver: “I think with a piece or two and a solid year of development, I think we can flip the switch and end up being a team that can have a winning record. But looking at where we stand right now, there’s a long way to go to get to that.”

The post Suns Owner Robert Sarver Looking to ‘Flip the Switch’ appeared first on SLAM.

From ESPN’s Chris Haynes:

The 27-year-old point guard had met with Suns owner Robert Sarver and McDonough during the preseason and requested a trade, sources told ESPN. […]

 

Bledsoe was then told by management, according to sources, that the team had underperformed ever since he was given starting point guard responsibilities.

Bledsoe, of course, was not traded. And after an 0-3 start, he tweeted, “I don’t wanna be here.”

I Dont wanna be here

— Eric Bledsoe (@EBled2) October 22, 2017

Suns GM Ryan McDonough then bashed Bledsoe—questioning his leadership and claiming that he was given “bad advice.”

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Suns and Nuggets have discussed a trade of Eric Bledsoe for Emmanuel Mudiay and other pieces, league sources told @BBallInsiders.

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) October 23, 2017

Update: According to Phoenix’s ABC15Sports, Bledsoe told Suns GM Ryan McDonough that his “I don’t wanna be here” tweet was in reference to a hair salon. McDonough said he “didn’t believe that to be true” and that Bledsoe “won’t be with us going forward.”

McDonough RE: Bledsoe's tweet: "He said he was at a hair salon… I didn't believe that to be true. He won't be with us going forward."

— ABC15 Sports (@abc15sports) October 23, 2017

Original Story: We’re not even a week into the NBA season and the Phoenix Suns are already a mess.

Yesterday afternoon, the Suns fired head coach Earl Watson and point guard Eric Bledsoe tweeted out that he “don’t wanna be here” after an 0-3 start.

According to ESPN, Bledsoe and the Suns met before shootaround earlier this morning and Bledsoe “was sent home at the end of the discussion.”

More from ESPN:

Bledsoe, 27, will not be available for Monday’s home game against the Sacramento Kings, sources said, and rival executives are under the assumption that a trade is looming.

 

Suns general manager Ryan McDonough is actively engaged with several teams in trade talks for Bledsoe, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, and the team hopes to find a deal soon.

 

Interest around the NBA has increased in the past day for Bledsoe, once it became apparent that both sides are motivated to part ways, sources told Wojnarowski.

The report also states that Bledsoe had met with team owner Robert Sarver and general manager Ryan McDonough during the preseason to request a trade.

ESPN’s Ian Begley reports that the Knicks have inquired about Bledsoe:

The Knicks are among the teams who have reached out to Phoenix recently about trading for guard Eric Bledsoe, per league sources. https://t.co/INmuthUPc6

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 23, 2017

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According to FS1’s Chris Broussard, the Suns offered Eric Bledsoe and the No. 4 pick for Kyrie. And the Cavaliers were reportedly going to flip the No. 4 pick for Paul George.

Kyrie thought the trade talks must have been LeBron-approved, and according to Broussard, that became “the final straw” (starting at 3:25):

“The final straw as to why [Kyrie] wants out of Cleveland… I’m told that the Cavaliers had a deal done heading into the draft.” […]

 

“Cleveland would send Kyrie to Phoenix, which does want Kyrie. (Suns owner) Robert Sarver wants Kyrie Irving. […] Phoenix would send Eric Bledsoe and the No. 4 pick back to the Cavaliers.

 

“The Cavaliers would send the No. 4 pick to Indiana for Paul George. So you’re getting Eric Bledsoe and Paul George for Kyrie Irving. Now, that was going to happen.

 

“Dan Gilbert goes to LeBron and goes, ‘Look, we’ve got this deal on the table. I’ll do it if you commit long-term to stay in Cleveland.’” […]

 

“But [LeBron] would not commit, so Dan Gilbert would not do the deal.

 

“Now, Kyrie Irving finds out about the deal. […] And he rightly assumed that there’s no way the Cavaliers are doing this unless LeBron gives consent.

 

“That’s why he got mad with LeBron. He thought LeBron was in on it.

 

“LeBron’s take was more, Look, I’m not trying to trade Kyrie Irving. He’s great. But that’s a heck of a deal—Eric Bledsoe and Paul George. So if you do it, hey, that’s a great deal.

 

“But Kyrie took it as LeBron wanted him out of there.”

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According to multiple published reports, the team badly wants to hire the 2-time NBA MVP, but Nash—currently working for the Golden State Warriors as a player development consultant—is said to be unprepared to make such a significant career change at the momment.

ESPN sources say Suns have strong interest in Steve Nash for bench vacancy but Nash not ready at this time to jump into full-time coaching

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 1, 2016

Reportedly, Suns owner Robert Sarver had Nash high on his wish-list before Hornacek’s firing:

In his first full year of retirement, Nash had to be lobbied hard by some of his closest friends — Warriors coach Steve Kerr, Kerr’s assistant Bruce Fraser and Warriors team president Rick Welts — just to consent to the consulting position with Golden State. The arrangement with Golden State, sources say, calls for Nash to spend a few days per month with the league’s reigning champions.

 

Nash and Sarver still have a very strong relationship as well, as evidenced by the partnership they struck recently as part of the Sarver-led consortium that completed the purchase of Spanish Segunda Division soccer team RCD Mallorca earlier this month. Nash serves as a board member at RCD, with input on all soccer decisions. […] Yet sources say Nash, who turns 42 on Sunday, is reticent to take on bigger roles in basketball than he already has because of the time that would require him to be away from his family.

 

In addition to his work with the Warriors, Nash serves as the general manager for Canada’s senior men’s national team, after making his international debut for his country as a player while still in college and ultimately leading Canada to within one win of the medal round at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

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The Suns’ owner blasts Markieff Morris for failing to get over his twin brother’s trade to Detroit, and says the team lacks a winning culture.

Head coach Jeff Hornacek is on the hot seat, and two of his assistants were canned last week.

Per the AZ Republic:

“The reality is, there’s only a half dozen championship-caliber organizations in the NBA over the last 25 years,” Sarver said. “My job is to find the right people and the right culture to eventually be one of those organizations, and it starts with me. I’m not shirking responsibility. […] The blame is to be shared from the top down. Our leadership needs to communicate better. It needs to provide a better culture that provides for more accountability and more motivation. We have a lot of good, young players. They need to be playing hard, aggressively and on the same page whether we win or lose. That’s what I expect going forward.”

 

Last year, the Suns allowed Marcus and Markieff Morris to act like fools without fear of repercussion. While Jerry Colangelo would’ve shipped both of them out of town on the very next flight, Sarver did the opposite. He was extraordinarily patient with the twins. […] Sarver also refused to pick up Hornacek’s option, which allowed him to enter the current season as a lame-duck coach. The ensuing chaos should not surprise anyone. And when (Jerry) Colangelo and former head coach Mike D’Antoni rolled into town together, with a one-win 76ers team that somehow beat the Suns on their home court, the outrage was palpable.

 

“I’m not sure it’s just the NBA,” Sarver said. “My whole view of the millennial culture is that they have a tough time dealing with setbacks, and Markieff Morris is the perfect example. He had a setback with his brother in the offseason and he can’t seem to recover from it. […] I’m not sure if it’s the technology or the instant gratification of being online. But the other thing is, I’m not a fan of social media. I tell my kids it’s like Fantasy Land. The only thing people put online are good things that happen to them, or things they make up. And it creates unrealistic expectations. We’ve had a number of setbacks this year that have taken their toll on us, and we haven’t been resilient. Therefore, it’s up to our entire organization to step up their game.”

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Dragic won in his first meeting with his old squad Monday night, leading the Miami Heat to a 115-98 victory against the visiting Suns.

Markieff Morris was ejected after flagrantly fouling his former teammate on a fastbreak.

Per the Sun-Sentinel:

“It means a lot because you always want to play good against your ex-teammates,” Dragic said. “When I was in Houston I did the same thing.” […] Two weeks ago, Dragic was traded from the Suns to Miami. Six games into his new surroundings, he got the better of the team he played with for five seasons. Dragic finished with 21 points on 5 of 9 shooting in just 15 minutes.

 

Dragic was fouled on a breakaway layup, causing him to take a scary (fall) underneath the basket. He landed on his back and Morris was ejected for the play. Gragic, who was dealing with back pain before the game, was surrounded by his teammates as he lay on the floor for several minutes. After shaking off the pain, he remained in the game. […] “I didn’t watch the play,” Dragic said. “I think I had a wide open layup and he just hit me. It was kind of painful but at the same time [Dwyane Wade] came to me and said, `Please stand up. They want you to be on the floor.’ I said, `Hey, you know I’m standing up.”’

 

Before Monday’s game, Dragic said he regretted some of the things he said publicly while requesting a trade. He never had any ill feelings toward team owner Robert Sarver. A day after the trade, Dragic even phoned Sarver to apologize. […] “I wish it would have gone differently,” Dragic said. “I’m not a guy who is going back in the past. It is what is. I’m always going to be grateful of that organization and Robert and what his family did for me.”

The post Goran Dragic Regrets Calling Out the Suns’ Front-Office appeared first on SLAM.

Pop completely dismissed Sarver’s unhappiness with the San Antonio Spurs sitting out five players for a preseason game last Thursday, and mocked him for the apology he offered to Suns fans.

Popovich also explained why so many of his guys couldn’t play.

Per the Express-News:

“As I said, the silliness begins,” Popovich said. “Most wise individuals would check facts before they made statements. Unless you’re interested in putting on a show. In that case, the facts get in your way, as in this case.

 

“We had five guys we didn’t send. Patty Mills had a shoulder operation over the summer. Tiago Splitter (calf) has been out the whole preseason. Kawhi Leonard (eye infection) was out and is still out for 10 more days. The other two, Duncan and Ginobili, are two of the oldest guys in the league who just came back from a 13-day European trip.

 

“The only thing that surprises me is that he didn’t say it in a chicken suit. I’ll just leave it at that.”

The post Gregg Popovich Clowns Suns Owner Robert Sarver appeared first on SLAM.

Sarver offered an apology to the paying customers for what they’d just sat through – the Spurs sat out six players and their head coach Gregg Popovich, due to various maladies.

13,552 was the game’s listed attendance, and Suns fans who showed up are eligible for a gift certificate for tickets, merchandise or food. This was San Antonio’s first preseason game since returning from last week’s trip to Germany and Turkey.

Per the AZ Republic:

“Hey, everybody, I want to thank you for coming out tonight,” Sarver said. “This is not the game you paid your hard-earned money to watch. I apologize for it. And I want you to send me your tickets if you came tonight with a return envelope and I’ve got a gift for you on behalf of the Suns for showing up tonight. Thank you.”

 

“I just felt that the fans paid good money for the game and they didn’t see the players that they anticipated seeing,” Sarver said. “It was just a gesture to let them know that we appreciate their support and want to do something to compensate for that.”

 

It was not the first time that Sarver had a reaction to the Spurs holding out Duncan and Ginobili. In 2005, he flapped his arms like chicken wings at the Spurs bench when San Antonio chose to hold out their two stars from a regular-season game. He again drew negative social media reaction Thursday night from Spurs fans. […] “It’s not really about them (the Spurs),” Sarver said. “They control what they do. We have to control what we do.”

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According to Phoenix sportscaster Jude LaCava, Bledsoe is now on the trading block. Per Suns blog Bright Side Of The Sun (via Fox Sports 910):

“I’ll tell you this, and I think this is the first time it’s reported,” LaCava said on Tuesday. “I do believe in my NBA sources. You can take this to the bank, so to speak, the Suns are now discussing trade possibilities for Eric Bledsoe. … That’s the new chapter to this and I wouldn’t back off of that information. I think it’s 100% correct.”

 

“I think it’s safe to say ‘open for business’,” LaCava said. “The decision makers, [managing partner Robert] Sarver and [PBO Lon] Babby and hopefully [GM] Ryan McDonough, they are open to that possibility. It’s got to be right. It’s got to be the right return in what they are looking for. It’s to the point that if they can accommodate Bledsoe and get something they want in return, trade possibilities are very, very real and they have been discussed.”

 

“That’s where the relationship went south in the early weeks last year,” LaCava said. “The guys at the top made a decision that we’re not going to extend you right away, we want to see you play first. And I think that was a bit of an affront, at least from Eric Bledsoe’s perspective. And I don’t think it ever recovered after that.”

The post Phoenix Suns Reportedly Attempting to Trade Eric Bledsoe appeared first on SLAM.

Increasingly though, it seems as though both sides will have to settle for a $3.7 million qualifying offer (making Bledsoe an unrestricted free agent next summer.) Per the AZ Republic:

“We value Eric as a player,” Sarver said. “I hope at some point we’ll be able to sit down and meet with those guys and make a deal.”

 

“Maybe that’s just posturing and negotiating,” Sarver said of the reports. “We haven’t heard from the guy in four months, so I couldn’t tell you. I do know that when he played here, he felt good about the organization, his coaching staff and his teammates at the end of the season. We had the same feelings toward him.”

 

“Hopefully, at the end of the day, Eric comes here and does a contract,” Sarver said. “If that doesn’t happen, then he’ll be here for a year and we’ll have a year to figure it out on both sides.”

The post Phoenix Suns Owner Says Team Hasn’t Spoken to Eric Bledsoe in 4 Months appeared first on SLAM.

Paul has reportedly been in contact with the Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and [cue drumroll …] the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Free agency has now truly begun, folks.

Per ESPN:

Sources said that Suns owner Robert Sarver met with Paul on Wednesday and pitched the idea of luring James from the Miami Heat to the desert by trying to sign Carmelo Anthony or Chris Bosh as well.

 

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert met with Paul on Thursday, a source said.

 

A picture that appeared to be Mavericks owner Mark Cuban in Cleveland circulated via Twitter on Thursday, but Cuban denied that he was there to meet with Paul. “I was there for a ‘Shark Tank’ commitment,” Cuban said, referencing his TV show.

Heat president Pat Riley knows he must bolster a roster that has reached the NBA Finals the last four years, but he has yet to make a splash.

LeBron James and his representatives have kept things quiet so far during this crazy time of the year, but of course, even that relative silence has once again created a circus-like atmosphere.

The post LeBron James’ Agent Meeting With Multiple Teams appeared first on SLAM.

Donald Sterling’s 33-year ownership of the LA Clippers was stopped dead in its tracks this week, as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling for life after his racist comments came to light. The League’s advisory/finance committee met on Thursday to work out the process of booting Donald Sterling out. Per the AP:

The 10-member committee held a conference call to discuss “the process for termination of Donald T. Sterling’s ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers,” NBA executive vice president Mike Bass said in a statement.

“The committee unanimously agreed to move forward as expeditiously as possible and will reconvene next week.”

Silver banned Sterling for life and fined him $2.5 million Tuesday for making racist comments. Sterling can have no association with the league or the team, but Silver wants more.

A forced sale would require approval by three-fourths of the league’s 30 owners. Silver said he was confident he would get the votes.

Minnesota owner Glen Taylor chairs the committee that also includes Miami’s Micky Arison, the Lakers’ Jeanie Buss, Oklahoma City’s Clay Bennett, New York’s James Dolan, Boston’s Wyc Grousbeck, San Antonio’s Peter Holt, Phoenix’s Robert Sarver, Indiana’s Herb Simon, and Toronto’s Larry Tanenbaum.

According to the league’s constitution and bylaws, Silver or an owner would have to file a written charge against Sterling, who would have five days to respond. Silver would then call a hearing of the board of governors, which would vote after hearing the evidence against Sterling.

Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive hopes it doesn’t come to that.

“I don’t want to talk about kind of the legal side of it because I can’t really comment on it, but my feeling is that I have faith in people,” he said. “And I would hope that at some point Mr. Sterling would come to his senses and do the right thing. That he would apologize to Magic Johnson, that he would apologize to the fans, the league, the black community and he would do the right thing and he would accept what Commissioner Silver has suggested, he would put the team up for sale and perhaps even take a very small portion of the substantial profits and donate them to a good cause.

“It’s not going to be easy to own a team where the fans don’t welcome you, where the sponsors shun you and where you’re not welcomed by the other owners. And I think he can do the right thing and hopefully good sense will prevail at some point.”