PHOENIX SUNS

ESPN’s Windhorst: Suns’ Sarver still must sign off on most big trades

Jan 3, 2023, 11:34 AM

Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver attends Game Two of the 2021 WNBA Finals at Footprint ...

Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver attends Game Two of the 2021 WNBA Finals at Footprint Center on October 13, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Sky 91-86 in overtime. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

With the calendar flipped to 2023, the Phoenix Suns now have the Feb. 9 trade deadline clearly in view.

Forward Jae Crowder’s season-long absence as he and the team search for a way to separate hangs above the team led by president of basketball operations and GM James Jones. As losers of six of the last seven games, there is even more reason to believe the Suns will be open to making deals.

How has their pending ownership situation impacted that?

While Jones has maintained he is empowered to run the franchise as he has in the past, there are complicating factors stemming from the rules that govern suspended owner Robert Sarver’s involvement, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has investigated.

Sarver, who has a pending agreement to sell the team to Mat Ishbia, does not have the ability to be involved in the day-to-day operations, but certain trades still must be approved by him.

Sarver still has to give personal sign-off on any deal for a player with a salary that is more than the current “average player salary,” multiple league sources confirmed to ESPN. This would include any luxury tax payments, which the Suns are currently projected to pay.

The current average player salary is $10.8 million. Crowder’s salary is $10.2 million. And the Suns, according to sources, have had talks about various multiplayer trades over the past few months that would all likely have to end up on Sarver’s desk.

While the Suns have acknowledged Sarver’s agreement to sell to Ishbia, Windhorst adds that an official ownership change that would put Ishbia in power to approve trades is not expected to happen before the Feb. 9 trade deadline.

The NBA must send the proposed sale to a vote by the other owners after a vetting process.

That entire process, according to Windhorst, usually takes 2-3 months, and the league is currently busy with other matters.

It’s in collective bargaining agreement talks after pushing back a previously agreed-upon deadline.

Phoenix Suns

Kevin Durant #35 and Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at ...

David Veenstra

Suns list Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal questionable for Friday’s game vs. Jazz

The Phoenix Suns listed Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal as questionable for Friday’s home game against the Utah Jazz.

5 hours ago

General manager James Jones of the Phoenix Suns talks during a press conference introducing Kevin D...

Brandon Cadiz

The 5: Most recent trade deadlines for Phoenix Suns under James Jones

The Phoenix Suns' last five trade deadlines is headlined by the acquisition of Kevin Durant in 2023. We revisit the last five deadlines.

8 hours ago

Upon the change in format to the NBA All-Star Game, the league had its captains draft their teams o...

David Veenstra

2025 NBA All-Star Draft results: Kevin Durant lands on Team Shaq

Upon the change in format to the NBA All-Star Game, the league had its captains draft their teams on Thursday. Kevin Durant landed on Team Shaq.

9 hours ago

Suns...

Damon Allred

After the trade deadline, where are the Phoenix Suns slated to pick in upcoming drafts?

The Suns again shuffled the decks of their future picks, and the lack of a bigger deal at Thursday's NBA trade deadline left them poised to make two selections in this summer's draft.

10 hours ago

Suns...

Kellan Olson

Suns unable to make big move at trade deadline with foreboding summer ahead

The Phoenix Suns wanted to make major moves at the trade deadline. They were not able to, and in some ways, were saved from themselves.

10 hours ago

NBA...

Alex Weiner

NBA trade deadline recap: Suns’ Western Conference competition make blockbuster moves

A jam-packed NBA trade deadline has passed, ending months of Phoenix Suns speculation while many teams in the West added to their rosters.

12 hours ago

ESPN’s Windhorst: Suns’ Sarver still must sign off on most big trades