Valley of the Suns
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The Phoenix Suns should NOT hire Jim Paxson as GM

By Khaleel Abdullah

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 9: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 9, 2019 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 9: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 9, 2019 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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One name has come up as an early candidate for the Phoenix Suns GM job that the team should absolutely NOT hire for the position.

The Phoenix Suns fired general manager Ryan McDonough just before the season tipped off. James Jones and Trevor Bukstein have been co-interim GMs for 2018-19. The franchise has begun searching for it’s next permanent decision maker. One name that recently came up for the job should under NO circumstances be given the position.

I may be a little bit old school but there’s just certain lines that you don’t cross. In sports, one of those is making a hiring on your team of an individual that has wronged the team in the past. You may make an exception after a certain period of time if that party has proven themselves to be a fixture in that respective career.

For example, Steve Kerr. He was part of a Chicago Bulls team and a San Antonio Spurs team that got in the way of some serious dreams and aspirations for this franchise. However, if he was available as a head coach, you chase after him. He’s coached two All-Star games and has won the NBA Coach of the Year award.

For Jim Paxson, it’s not too personal as a person but rather in large part due to his last name. It’s been over two decades but the last name Paxson will always drive me mad. I get chills down my spine and visions of that 3 point shot every time I see, hear or say the name. As a Suns fan, I learned to hate that name.

If you’re not old enough to understand, just do a Google search of his brother John Paxson and the shot he hit against the Suns in Game 6 of the 1993 NBA Finals. I’ll save you the time and you can just click on this link at your own risk. Sorry Jim, I know that’s your brother and not you but I dislike you for it any way. It’s not fair but neither was what he did to our title hopes.

It’s not just that, though, as I honestly don’t feel he’s the right fit for the job or that good of a GM. The Suns want and need someone that will help build a winner around Devin Booker and Jim could not do that with LeBron James. He drafted LeBron but that was a no-brainer. Cleveland was 185-307 with him running the show.

His failure to get the help that LeBron needed ultimately led to the King leaving. Are you willing to risk his failure to get Devin the help he needs lead to Booker requesting a trade?

light. Hot. Can Jimmer Fredette bring March Madness to the Phoenix Suns?

Between the family relation, his track record as the GM of the Cavaliers and his being away from the position for several years, there is NO reason for the Suns to look his way as their next GM.

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