Phoenix Suns: Bleacher Report ranks James Jones third-worst GM

The Phoenix Suns have made some puzzling player transactions in the last couple of years, and it has earned James Jones a very low ranking from the Bleacher Report.

The Bleacher Report handed out grades for every General Manager in the NBA and Phoenix Suns GM James Jones ranked third-worst in the entire NBA. The writer, Greg Schwartz, gave Jones a grade of C- which tied Mitch Kupchak of the Charlotte Hornets and was only better than Vlade Divac of the Sacramento Kings and Scott Perry of the New York Knicks.

For what it’s worth, the Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, and Detroit Pistons were not graded because they all either hired GMs after the league went on hiatus or are searching for one.

Phoenix Suns GM James Jones ranked 3rd-worst GM in NBA.

Why so low? For the same reasons Suns’ fans have scratched their own heads. While Schwartz was somewhat complimentary of the Rubio signing, he was quick to jump into the draft-day trade with the Timberwolves.

"Trading back in the draft cost the Suns the chance at Coby White, Rui Hachimura, and Cam Reddish, who have significantly higher upsides than the 24-year-old Johnson. Saric could leave in free agency this offseason, too."

He’s not wrong.

As well as Cam Johnson has shot the ball this season, trading back in the draft for the privilege of enjoying Dario Saric for one year was extremely puzzling, to put it nicely.

Schwartz also wasn’t a fan of getting rid of TJ Warren:

"James Jones also traded T.J. Warren to the Pacers in a salary dump when the team needed floor-stretching wings to play between Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton."

My only issue with this breakdown is that it doesn’t paint the full picture. He forgot to mention Jones also gave up a 2nd round pick in this trade as well in a move that made the Indiana Pacers think it was a joke.

While I do think Jones could have done a better job thus far, it is striking to see him ranked that low. Then again, Schwartz casted some serious negativity to wrap up his Phoenix Suns analysis:

"If the Suns don’t get better soon, how long before Booker asks to be moved?"

I equally hate and understand why people say stuff like this. Booker is a beacon of hope this franchise hasn’t seen in quite some time and in the era of players dictating where they want to play, it makes sense an All-Star like Booker wants to win and if it isn’t going to happen in Phoenix, he may look to try it somewhere else.

Still, it’s so dismissive to simply rule out the Suns, a once consistently-strong franchise, as not capable of winning and worthy of a superstar of Booker’s caliber.

And therein likes the real issue, in my mind. Of course, it would be great for the Phoenix Suns to start winning for the sake of winning, but more than that, having missed the playoffs for a decade, the franchise is trending towards one that is known for losing, a la the Cleveland Browns, and that is an extremely difficult ditch to dig out from.

So, yeah. Hopefully, James Jones can help turn things around soon. Very, very soon.