Based on the first few weeks of the Phoenix Suns’ offseason, it’s clear that almost every level of the organization will see as much upheaval as the roster itself. They’ve already hired a new head coach in Mike Budenholzer, and have started to remodel a nearly entirely new staff around him. They’ve also hired respected cap manager Matt Tellem to a front office role.
There might even be a change at the highest level of the front office. Last month, Suns' Insider John Gambadoro reported that the Suns were considering hiring a President of Basketball Operations to oversee James Jones.
Jones currently holds that title, as well as the title of general manager, so this would be a slight demotion for him, and one that might be merited. Jones has had an up and down tenure in his 6 years as general manager. He’s consistently landed big-time talent and skillfully navigated the cap challenges that come with those kinds of players.
He has however, done a poor job of modernizing the team, and undervalues draft picks to an extreme degree. When he does use picks, they’ve been mostly colossal failures, outside of selecting Cam Johnson way back in 2019.
Those issues came to bear this past season, when the Suns lack of size and athleticism was a major factor in their postseason loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The inability to draft and develop young players has also left them extremely shallow and way too reliant on nailing minimum contacts.
So it makes sense that the Suns should consider hiring an experienced executive who has had success building up the rest of the roster.
Of available former execs, the name that fits that billing the best is Bob Myers. Myers was one of the principal architects of the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty, responsible for drafting Draymond Green and the signings of Andre Igoudala and Kevin Durant. Even the NFL wanted a piece of him recently.
Myers’s most impressive feat may have been the moves he made in the years leading up to the Warriors last championship in 2022. After Durant departed for the Brooklyn Nets, Myers was able to retool around the core Warriors with limited assets at his disposal.
His success in doing so is why he’d be such a great fit for the current Suns team. Just like the Suns, the Warriors had little cap space to work with, and frequently picked at the end of the first round.
Despite that, Myers rarely traded picks, preferring to make and develop those selections. Some of those late picks aside from Green include Kevon Looney and Jordan Poole, both of whom played huge roles in the Warriors capturing one last title.
Myers insistence on rarely trading picks actually drew the ire of Warriors’ fans who wanted some of those players traded to capitalize on the last years of Steph Curry’s prime.
This approach is basically the complete opposite of James Jones’s, but perhaps the two would be able to find a happy medium when working together. The Suns should definitely use their draft picks at some point, and Myers is one of the best in finding value. Jones is a creative trader, and tends to get value from trading picks.
Myers would also cover up some of Jones's flaws in roster construction, as he puts a big emphasis on athleticism at every position. Like Jones, however, Myers doesn't prioritize size, but he does do a better job of fitting pieces around a small-ball oriented roster.
As to whether Myers would be open to returning to the NBA, that’s still up in the air. He didn’t necessarily say he was permanently retiring, just that he felt he couldn’t give 100% effort into the role anymore. Perhaps the year off and a new team would reignite that hunger.
For Jones’s part he’d have to be comfortable accepting a demotion. Myers being one of the most accomplished execs in the league would certainly make it feel less like one, and Jones would still have a ton of input as the general manager.
If there's anyone that can convince both execs that this is the right move, it's Mat Ishbia. He's made it a mission to go after top talent on and off the court, all while cultivating a family atmosphere. If Myers intends on returning to the NBA, it’s hard to believe the Suns’ owner won’t make a big push for him.