Ten Candidates for the Phoenix Suns’ new General Manager

Rich Cho

This may be one of the most experienced candidates on the list. He’s worked in front offices for more than 20 years, including under Sam Presti in Seattle where Cho’s background in both law and mathematics were utilized by the Thunder when negotiating trades, signing free agents and understanding the NBA’s complicated collective bargaining agreement.

He went from Intern to Director of Basketball Affairs to Assistant GM of the team followed by a short stint as GM of the Portland Trailblazers before going to Charlotte.

Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan declined to offer him a new contract prior to the season after seven seasons as their GM, instead hiring former Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak.

M.J. did credit him with instituting a number of management tools that have benefited the Hornets organization. Cho was promoted over former president of basketball operations Rod Higgins on draft night in 2014. Charlotte made two trips to the playoffs during Cho’s tenure, in 2014 and 2016.

A fun fact about Cho is he’s the first Asian American general manager in the NBA, which shows his perseverance in the face of challenge, something the Suns could use. His experience would bring someone well qualified in for the job and it’d be quite a jump going from a clueless front office to a head guy with so much knowledge under his belt.