Phoenix Suns: Are we already seeing the roster impact of Sarver’s actions?

There’s little doubt the Phoenix Suns are already facing much more overarching impacts than just those that the NBA handed to Robert Sarver. Last week the Suns owner was suspended for one year and fined $10 million for inappropriate actions relating to mysogniny, racism and sexual harassment at the franchise.

From an on-court perspective, Sarver’s misconduct threatens to derail a period of success and relative stability for the team. Aside from the financial implications that could filter to roster level, there’s also the issue of the Suns attraction as a franchise.

Robert Sarver’s actions will have significant impacts on the Phoenix Suns roster and their capacity to acquire free agent talent.

While we must acknowledge the impacts these findings have on the Suns current players and their working culture, perhaps it’s just as significant to identify the negative effects this has on the team’s ability to land free agents.

Yesterday I considered Dennis Schroder’s move to the Los Angeles Lakers as an ‘odd’ one, particularly given the Suns reported interest and the fit they’d provide from an on-court standpoint. But in reality, did the freshly printed findings of Sarver’s actions bear any weight on Schroder’s decision to turn his back on Phoenix?

The Lakers were a rabble last season, a situation that may well play out again this season. Yet their issues pale in comparison to what the Suns are going through with Sarver at the moment. For what it’s worth, Schroder would have likely been well down the line in his agreement with the Lakers before last week. Who knows though, perhaps the Sarver situation was the final nail in Schroder’s position that Phoenix wasn’t the right destination for him.

If Sarver’s actions are yet to impact the team’s ability to acquire free agents, it most certainly will at some point, assuming he remains as franchise owner. It’s another case of the coaches, players and most importantly the fans, being let down through the actions of one important individual.