Is Robert Sarver prepping to sell the Suns?

Clue Number One: Salaries

This happens all the time when owners are considering – or attempting – to sell their franchise. They move all of the more expensive contracts off the roster in return for cheaper (or free in the way of draft picks) assets which makes the team more palatable for a prospective buyer. Especially when the team is currently performing very poorly (like the Suns are) if the roster was full of high-price low-return players, potential buyers of the franchise might thumb their nose at the opportunity of buying the Suns because the new owner would know that they would immediately inherit bad contracts that they will not only have to make the tough decisions on, but possibly pay in full.

Now, getting rid of high-cost low-performing salaries is not only good business, but it’s good business.  Whether Sarver is thinking – or actually looking – into selling the team or not, General Manager Ryan McDonough would be right to attempt to trade away Eric Bledsoe, Jared Dudley, Tyson Chandler, Brandon Knight, et al for cheaper, younger players and draft picks. The elder players do not have a long-term role with the franchise, so if they can get something or someone who will be with the franchise long-term, they might as well make an effort to make such a trade.

But financially there is also this caveat: the Suns didn’t sign anyone in free agency this offseason. Sure they appeared to give it the ‘ol college try for the fan’s and media’s sake, but did they actually have any intention of doing so? McDonough also made a public pronouncement that he wasn’t interested in signing any big free agents next summer either.

All of this leads to a very bare bones roster, something that makes the team easier to sell.

Having those contracts entirely off the books makes the Suns a better buy, and also provides a greater return on the buyer’s investment.