J-Speaks: Suns and Mercury Disgraced Governor Says He Has Begun Process To Sell Both Pro Basketball Squads

 

After the NBA handed out a one-year suspension onto Governor of the Phoenix Suns along with a $10 million fine after nearly year-along investigation that found him guilty of making inappropriate comments and gestures onto many employees, especially those that were female, there were many that called for him to sell his stake within the team immediately. Several high-profile All-Star players, particularly the Suns perennial All-Star point guard called for the ouster of Suns Governor after the report came out. Well on Wednesday just five days before “Media Day,” the players as well as many within the Suns  got their wish.

On Wednesday, Suns’ Governor Robert Sarver announced he has put the wheels in motion selling both the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s three-time champion Phoenix Mercury franchises.

“As a man of faith, I believe in atonement and the path to forgiveness,” Mr. Sarver said in a statement Wednesday. “I expected that the Commissioner’s [Adam Silver’s] one-year suspension would provide the time for me to focus, make amends and remove my personal controversy from the teams that I and so many fans love.”

“But in our current unforgiving climate, it has become painfully clear that that is no longer possible—that whatever good I have done, or could still do, is outweighed by things I have said in the past. For those reasons, I am beginning the process of seeking buyers for the Suns and Mercury.”

Commissioner Silver said he “fully supports” Mr. Sarver’s decision to sell the Suns and Mercury adding that, “This is the right next step for the organization and community.”

Robert Sarver Timeline of Events
Nov. 4, 2021: ESPN’s Baxter Holmes publishes story of an investigation into Sarver and Suns’ workplace culture.
Sept. 13, 2021: NBA releases report of an independent investigation on Sarver, suspends Sarver for 2022-23 season and fines him $10 million.
Sept. 15, 2021: Suns minority owner Jahm Najafi calls for Sarver’s resignation.
Sept. 16, 2021: Suns’ Jersey sponsor PayPal says it will not renew after 2022-23 season if Sarver remains involved with team.

Sarver was suspended for the entire 2022-23 season and fined $10 million after an investigation by the NBA conducted by Wachtell Lipton, a law firm based in New York as well as specialists from the global accounting firm Deloitte, which is headquartered in London and Kirkland & Ellis, a Chicago-based law firm reported and confirmed that he sued the N-word at least on five occasions “when recounting the statements of others.” That he treated Suns employees in a “demeaning” way, including “yelling and cursing at many of them. Made sex-related comments in workplace and engaged inappropriate conduct toward male employees.  

The investigation came as a result of an ESPN story in November 2021 by Baxter Holmes that detailed the plethora of allegations of racism and misogyny in the 17 seasons under Sarver’s Governorship of Suns and Mercury.

A current Suns staffer told ESPN that while the person is pleased that while Mr. Sarver was “initially” did not genuinely show remorse for his actions, it brings her “comfort” that he put the organization as well as the city of Phoenix, AZ ahead of his “own needs and desires,” and that the organization can proceed “without the hurt and anguish” that he tied with the Suns for nearly two decades.

Another staffer who participated in the investigation said they were “relieved.” “Beyond happy. “Empowered” and “Motivated” to continue the insurance that all the men that remain in the Suns/Mercury organization that were a part of the toxic culture are “rooted out.”

That Mr. Sarver many times was involved in “inequitable conduct” towards female employees, including making comments that were “sex-related” as well as inappropriate comments on the wardrobe of female employees of the organization.

“Words that I deeply regret now overshadow nearly two decades of building organizations that brought people together—and strengthened the Phoenix area—through the unifying power of professional men’s and women’s basketball,” Sarver also wrote in his statement.

Mr. Sarver was part of an ownership group that purchased the Suns and Mercury in July 2004 for close to $400 million, with Sarver having a stake of one-third in both squads. But was the primary Governor of the Suns and Mercury.

The Suns were recently valued at $1.8 billion according to Forbes.

While Sarver is not own the Suns and Mercury fully, sources told ESPN that Sarver has the authority, as a managing partner to on if he wanted to sell the Suns and Mercury in full. Along with that, the source added that any new Governor or ownership group could ask that a member or members of the current ownership group be a part of the new ownership group, which remains to be seen if that does happen.

The rest of the current ownership group “Suns Legacy Partners, LLC” did issue a statement early Wednesday evening in support of Sarver’s decision to sell the Suns and Mercury that said on Suns Twitter page @ Suns:

“We agree that Robert Sarver’s decision to sell the Suns and Mercury is in the best interest of the organization and community.”

“We also know that today’s news does not change the work that remains in front of us to create, maintain and protect a best-in-class experience for our staff, players, fans, partners, and community.”

“As we’ve shared with our employees, we acknowledge the courage of the people who came forward in this process to tell their stories and apologize to those hurt.”

“We are on a journey that began before last November, one that has included changes to leadership, staff an accountability measures. While we are proud of our progress and the culture of respect and integrity we are building, we know there remains work to do and relationships to rebuild. We are committed to doing so for our staff, players, fans, partners, and this community.”

Since the investigation’s findings were made public and Sarver’s punishment was handed down, by Commissioner Silver, who said in his presser last week of his decision “I did not have the right to take away his team, two of the NBA’s top stars and the emotional leader of the Golden State Warriors spoke up about the punishment handed down on Sarver.

Four-time Kia MVP LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers said on his Twitter page last week, “Our league [NBA] definitely got this wrong.”

Suns’ 11-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul, former president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) said on his social media page, “I am of the view that the sanctions fell short.” Four-time NBA champion Draymond Green of Golden State Warriors expressed their disappointment on the punishment that Sarver got.

Green, who will playing in his 11^th NBA season, all with the Warriors, said on “The Volume Podcast” that he thought it was “absolutely insane” that Sarver received just a one-year ban and $10 million fine and get the opportunity to return to the sidelines in 2023-24. That it “goes against everything” the NBA stands for.

“To think that someone like Robert Sarver that’s acting in that manner can continue to represent us, that’s [expletive],” the four-time All-Star added.

He even took it a step further saying when he called for the 29 other Governors of NBA squads to vote to remove Sarver.

“Alright, let’s have the vote. Because then also what we’ll know is who else maybe saying it behind closed doors,” Green said. “And based on these votes, what you will know is values. Like, what are the values of others that, quite frankly we’re playing for. We will simply know who stands with us and who don’t.”

“It’s easy to sit back and not say nothing. I’m asking that there be a vote. If that’s the only way, then let’s see what those numbers are?”

NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio said last week, “We are absolutely calling for (lifetime ban),” on the punishment they wanted Sarver to receive. 

When Holmes’ report first came out back as mentioned in November 2021, Suns head coach Monty Williams and the Suns All-Star backcourt of Paul and Devin Booker had the same message according to ESPN’s Senior NBA Insider Brian Windhorst, which was they were going to wait for the investigation, which did take place and Sarver as mentioned was suspended and fined, which did not sit well with as mentioned the Suns player and their peers as well as NBPA, which had a statement last week on “NBA Today.”

The question was if Sarver did not step down, what other steps was the organization willing to make.

The Suns jersey patch sponsor PayPal since 2018, who partnership was set to expire after this upcoming NBA season was one of the Suns first business partners to threatened to conclude their partnership if Mr. Sarver remained a part of the organization. That would have meant $3 million that was made by the Suns in 2021-22 would have gone out the door.

“In light of the findings of the NBA’s investigation, we will not renew our sponsorship should Robert Sarver remain involved with the Suns organization, after serving his suspension,” PayPal CEO and President Dan Schulman said in a statement back on Sept. 16.

Suns minority owner Jahm Najafi, the team’s second-largest stakeholder also called for Sarver’s resignation.

Back in 2014 when then Los Angeles Clippers Governor Donald Sterling’s had his scandal where he said disgraceful words about minorities within his organization, that were caught on audio and led to a lifetime banned, issued by Commissioner Silver, nearly all the team’s sponsored Windhorst said ordered their deals blackout immediately. The next day, all the Clippers sponsorships, which happened during the 2014 Playoff series were gone.

PayPal was the only sponsor for the Suns that publicly said they would not do business anymore with the Suns if Sarver was not ousted after his year-long suspension.

With Sarver saying he has started to sell the Suns and Mercury, that forcefulness that would have had to put shown by the Suns players as well as by their peers in the NBA likely won’t have to take place because of how the quiet public pressure that has been displayed by some of the NBA key voices amongst the players as well as the NBPA as well as government officials in the city of Arizona.

James tweeted on Wednesday afternoon @KingJames, “I’m so proud to be a part of a league committed to progress!”

Current NBPA President CJ McCollum, guard for the New Orleans Pelicans added, “We thank Mr. Sarver for making a swift decision that was in the best interest of our sports community.”

ESPN NBA analyst, Phoenician Richard Jefferson, who played in the NBA for 17 seasons with the then New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Denver Nuggets the news of Sarver selling the Suns and Mercury “amazing.”

“I think this is the best thing that can happen to this league,” Jefferson, who won a championship with Cavaliers and James in 2016 also said on last Wednesday’s episode of “NBA Today.”

As a fellow Phoenician, who also went to the University of Arizona and played for the late Lute Olsen, where Mr. Sarver also went to college and who helped get Sarver to become owner of the Suns.

Jefferson also said that while Sarver is a part of the family and the fraternity of the University of Arizona Wildcats, he could have happier to see him get axed as the soon to be former owner of the Suns because while he did not have the horrific experiences that many other that worked for Sarver experienced for the Suns and Mercury, he had friends and acquaintances that did.

“He does not belong in this league. He does not belong around people in this league [NBA],” Jefferson added about Sarver’s ouster. “This is a joyous occasions. I’m about to put a bid on the Suns. I’m probably going to fall a few dollars short. But I’m definitely putting in a bid. I’m doing something.”

While Sarver has put into motion the sale of the Suns and Mercury, he will be the one to decide who he will sell it too, Ramona Shelburne pointed out on Wednesday’s “NBA Today.”

So, over the course of the coming weeks and possibly months of the names that you hear inquiring about purchasing ownership in the figures of $3 possibly $ billion for the Suns and Mercury like CEO of Amazon Jeff Bezos; former Disney CEO Bob Iger; Lorraine Jobs, minority owner of Washington Wizards.

Shelburne said that it is likely the person who eventually does purchase the Suns and Mercury from Sarver will be an “outside owner” and the process of making the transaction will take at the least a couple of months. But Robert Sarver will be at the wheel of this whole process. Just like how Shelly Sterling, Donald’s ex-wife was the one who decided to sell to the Clippers current Governor Steve Ballmer for $2 billion in May 2014.

Also, the NBA has to approve who Sarver sells the Suns to, even though he does have the latitude on who he decides to sell the teams to according to ESPN’s Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

Forbes recently estimated that the Suns value is currently at $1.8 billion, and Wojnarowski pointed out on Wednesday that many NBA executives have said over the years that the Suns are a “sleeping giant.” That they have seen the Suns with the “right ownership” can be an attractive place for perspective free agents because Phoenix, AZ is a warm weather city that right now has a team that has a “Core Three” of Devin Booker (25), Deandre Ayton (24), and Mikal Bridges (26) all signed to long term deals and in have led the Suns to The Finals two seasons back (2020-21) and recorded the best record in the NBA (64-18) last season. A great floor general in Paul who has been exceptional leader both on and off the court in his nearly two decades in the NBA. A state-of-the-art practice facility and newly renovated arena, the Footprint Center. On top of that, they have head coach/executive combination of Monty Williams, 2021-22 NBA Coach of the Year, who also signed a long-term deal this summer and James Jones, NBA Executive of the Year in 2021 that have worked really well together since William’s arrival three years ago.  

The other thing that the Suns have to take on now is their ability to conduct the business of the roster of the team.

ESPN’s front office insider, who has two decades of NBA front office experience, including five of those with the then New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets said Sept. 13 edition of ESPN’s “NBA Today” posed the question four days after Sarver was punished by the NBA do they have the authority to continue to spend?

The Suns for the first time since 2009-10 season they are paying into the luxury tax of $32.6 million tax penalty, their largest in franchise history. They have an open roster spot that would cost them $7 million to fill.

Marks said that the best indicator of whether the Suns will be able to conduct business as usual is if they are just about to make either a trade or signing that would add an extra $14 to $15 million in extra salary, do the Suns back off making that transaction or do they make that transaction?

ESPN’s Senior NBA Insider Brian Windhorst did point out though last week on the same show that the Suns front office has been “very active” within the past month filling out their roster right before the start of training camp, which began with “Media Day” on Monday morning.

Windhorst said that the Suns business current is centered around possibly trading forward Jae Crowder, who did not attend “Media Day” as he is seeking to be dealt as he is in the last year of his three-year, $30 million deal that he signed in the offseason of 2020.

Whether Crowder, who is scheduled to make $10.1 million this upcoming season in the final year of his deal.

Currently the person in charge who will have the final say on any Suns transaction is appointed Governor and current Vice Chairman of the Suns Sam Garvin.

Windhorst pointed out that he would not be surprised if the Suns make a call to the Jazz and inquire about trading for sharp shooting forward Bojan Bogdanovic. However, that opportunity is no longer because recently, the Jazz dealt Bogdanovic to the Pistons in exchange for veteran forward/center Kelly Olynyk and reserve guard Saben Lee.

The Suns are also in negotiations on a contract extension with Crowder air apparent in sharp-shooting forward Cameron Johnson, who is extension eligible on his rookie deal until Oct. 17, one day before the start of the 2022-23 NBA regular season campaign. That deal if it is signed would not have any impact on the Suns financial books for the 2022-23 season but down the line.

If the Suns are able to extend Johnson, they would avoid a very messy restricted free agency situation like they had with Deandre Ayton this offseason, where he they brought him back on a four-year, $133 million that they matched after he was offered that by the Indiana Pacers back in middle of July.

“So, from a front office perspective. From the folks that I’m talking to, the Suns are operating like a championship contender looking to improve their team heading into [Training] Camp,” Windhorst said.

For 17 years, the Phoenix Suns of the NBA and the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA were franchises that on the surface things seemed okay. But behind the scenes, it was not all blissful thanks in part to a member of their ownership group in Robert Sarver who thought he was better than the people who worked for him and treated them like they were second class employees, especially those that were female.

Thanks to a story done by ESPN’s Baxter Holmes and independent law firm Wachtell Lipton, the global accounting firm of London Deloitte and the law firm Kirkland & Ellis, they were able to come up with a report that eventually forced Mr. Sarver to sell the team or see it value dry up like water in a hot desert.

However, the wheels of Sarver selling the Suns and Mercury are just beginning and he will have the final say on who he decides to sell the Suns and Mercury to. On top of that, those that allowed the despicable and disgusting culture to linger for so long with the Suns and Mercury have not been weeded out and they still remain.

As founder of the National Action Network, host of MSNBC’s “Politics Nation,” Civil Rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton said in a statement on Wednesday Sarver’s decision is only the “first step in the long road toward social justice,” and that the NBA still has some “soul searching” to do.

The racist old boys’ club in professional sports is officially closed,” Rev. Sharpton said in a statement. “A new era is upon us where it is intolerable to view Black players like property…It is now imperative that the NBA, both teams, the corporate sponsors, and the new owner, whomever they may be, follow through on the commitment to root out racism, misogyny and hate.”   

Information and quotations are courtesy of 9/19/2022 3 p.m. “NBA Today” ESPN With Malika Andrews, Ramona Shelburne, Ros Gold-Onwude, Brian Windhorst Bobby Marks, 9/20/2022 3 p.m. “NBA Today” With Malika Andrews, Ramona Shelburne, Zach Lowe, Marc J. Spears, Baxter Holmes, Adrian Wojnarowski, Kendrick Perkins, Ohm Youngmisuk, Andrew Lopez, Tim MachMahon;  9/21/2022 ESPN.com story, “Robert Sarver Says He’s Starting Process To Sell NBA’s Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury,” By Baxter Holmes; 9/21/2022 3 p.m. “NBA Today” With Malika Andrews, Ramona Shelburne, Zach Lowe, Richard Jefferson, Baxter Holmes; Bobby Marks, Adrian Wojnarowski; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Ballmer#Sports.