NBA Insider Explains Why Suns are Stagnant in Trade Talks
The Phoenix Suns have quite the dilemma on their hands.
Power forward Jae Crowder is still on the roster despite the season already halfway over. The NBA's trade deadline of Feb. 9 is rapidly approaching and while there's been some traction on trade talks, the Suns are still empty handed when it comes to a resolution.
There's been plenty of heat on general manager James Jones to strike a deal and get Phoenix some much needed help while they struggle around the .500 mark.
ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst says it's not that easy.
"We know that they've got Jae Crowder sitting out and we know they are desperate for players so you're saying 'why will they not trade Jae Crowder to get help.' And the reason is that they've got 3 quasi-owners, like nothing I've seen before in my 20 years covering the NBA," said Windhorst on NBA Today.
"They have Sam Garvin who is the acting owner right now for Robert Sarver who is in the middle of selling the team because he is suspended. But while Sam Garvin has said he has the authority to make trades, he actually doesn't. Because under the rules that the league put down from the suspension, Robert Sarver is allowed to say yes or no to any trade for a player that makes over $10 million, which is who Jae Crowder is. Any trade certainly has to go on Sarver's desk.
"Meanwhile, Mat Ishbia is going to try to take control of this team within the next month. I'm not sure that the league is gonna get through with their vetting process but he's hoping to get control of the team ahead of the trade deadline so he can have a decision on who the trade is [for]. So, the Phoenix Suns' front office, James Jones, is trying to help his team but he's got different people saying yes and no that he's got to sign off on. It's very difficult for them to get something done, not to mention the trade market's tight."
It appears as if it'll be a race to the finish on multiple facets for Phoenix. It's hard to imagine Crowder isn't dealt before the deadline, but the Suns will have to jump multiple roadblocks before that happens.
