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(AP Photo / Sharon Ellman)
Bad owners do not change overnight. They have no guilt trips, epiphanies or competitive awakenings. Their only coup de grace is to get a title before it's too late.
Will Robert Sarver be an exception?
After nine consecutive seasons without playoffs, hiring Monty Williams is one of the biggest revelations we've had on the planet Orange for a long time. Williams is a head coach with real experience. He endured untold personal losses with unfathomable dignity. His elite reputation precedes him and is a good thing in the NBA.
Williams will not let the shenanigans slip. It will not let young players take shortcuts or pretend ignorance. It will not be used as a retarder. He has already turned heads by negotiating a five-year contract with Sarver, a commitment that gives real power to the voice of Williams.
But this is not the last head coach, a man who signed after Sarver unveiled his soul at a meeting Wednesday night, so part of the madness of his past. This conversation may have lasted longer than the last Game of Thrones, with just as much carnage. But it was enough to convince Williams that a vexed and much-maligned owner is finally determined to step back in the name of progress.
Ryan McDonough heard some of the same things. Until he found goats in his office and was not allowed to trade for a leader.
So, we'll see.
But this time it's different. While canceling much of McDonough's work, Jones clearly impressed Sarver. He sold the owner for his ability to form a team and not just a list of talented pieces.
Jones showed a clever touch in some areas and seemed unconscious to others. He had too much credit for the acquisition of Kelly Oubre Jr. as a result of an attempt to exchange three teams. He was not highly commended for his presence when Josh Jackson canceled a public appearance by buying beer for disgruntled fans.
The hiring of Williams is the most promising acquisition to date. This proves that Jones can identify and enlist his No. 1 candidate. This proves that he can convince a highly respected coaching candidate to work for Sarver, one of the most grueling NBA bosses on a mental level. This proves that the owner of the Suns believes in Jones enough to do things he has never done before, including signing a five-year contract with an experienced head coach, with the promise that he will deviate a bit further.
Again. We will see.
The latter should not be a problem for a man as smart and as successful as Sarver. But he is. It's his lack of competition and his blind spot. He must be the ultimate voice of authority and control at all times, as he strives to train 7-foot people on how to block or advise health professionals who certainly do not have need his advice.
This is a good time for a new Sarver in Phoenix. He receives a refurbished arena and a new practice center. Devin Booker is approaching the crossroads, and if the Suns have not taken a competitive turn, he will not wait to wait. Deandre Ayton badly needs a coach who can maximize his talents. The team could end up with the first choice. And the hiring of Williams opens a window to the free pursuit of Kevin Durant, a player who once again hit the Suns head coach on Friday.
Remember, Durant once ranked us among his favorite cities in the NBA, saying, "Phoenix is the one I love very much. I love Phoenix (and the region) Scottsdale is dope. "
Chances are, he likes the Suns a lot better now that Williams is on board.
Same here. For reasons that go far beyond the new head coach.
Contact Bickley at [email protected]. Listen Bickley and Marotta weekdays from 10h to 14h on Sports Resort 98.7 FM Arizona.
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