The Suns are still in the early stages of their search for a permanent general manager, but a couple names have emerged as potential options, per Marc Stein of The New York Times. According to Stein (via Twitter), Phoenix has spoken to Kevin McHale and also has interest in Jim Paxson.
McHale, who currently works as an analyst for TNT, was the head of basketball operations for more than a decade in Minnesota before he stepped down from that role to become the club’s head coach. He went on to coach the Rockets as well, holding that position until 2015.
The Wolves had a run of eight consecutive playoff appearances during McHale’s time in the front office, though the team advanced beyond the first round just once in that stretch. The club was also stripped of multiple first-round picks for agreeing to a cap-circumventing deal with Joe Smith during McHale’s stint in Minnesota.
As for Paxson, he currently serves as a Bulls consultant after previously working in management roles in Portland and Cleveland. He was the Cavaliers’ general manager from 1999 to 2005. During his time as GM, the Cavs didn’t earn a playoff spot, though adding LeBron James in 2003’s draft helped buoy the club to five consecutive postseason runs from 2006-10 after Paxson left the organization.
It’s now clear how serious Phoenix’s interest in McHale or Paxson is, or if that interest is reciprocated. While McHale and Paxson are the first names to emerge in the Suns’ search, the franchise will likely consider a number of other options.
James Jones and Trevor Bukstein have been Phoenix’s interim co-GMs since former GM Ryan McDonough was fired in October, a week before the season began. They’re expected to receive consideration in the team’s search for a permanent GM and could remain with the organization even if neither gets the full-time job.
Because McHale and Paxton have been so successful elsewhere.
McHale drafted Kevin Love #5 overall, while managing to dump some bad contracts in the process, moving down from #3 overall to 5, to draft KLove
Yeah that was brilliant. He dropped from 3 to 5 to select Love and missed out on Russell Westbrook at 4. He also traded Kevin Garnett to the Celtics for Al Jefferson. How’d that work out?
Garnett says, “Pretty good!”
This is awesome news. Either of them have the potential to botch their draft pick.
Can they take John Paxson too? Please?
Lolololololololololol love it, Sunsing!!!
For a pretty brilliantly written and sourced “autopsy” piece on the dumpster fire that is the Suns franchise under Robert Sarver’s leadership, check out Kevin Arnovitz’s piece on ESPN written a couple of weeks ago. Eye-opening how consistently bad their decisions have been and how the rest of the league attempts to deal with them.
mchale takes the job, just before things get sticky he trades booker to boston – haha
McHale sucked in Houston. He’d suck in Phoenix too.
Jim Paxon, Danny Ferry, David Griffin all being considered for GM positions. I didn’t know the Cavs had it so good!
I would rate Griffin highest.
Ferry added little to what he inherited from Paxson. His biggest calls came right off the bat, in free agency with good capspace available. From that group he got one crucial year from one of them.
McHale and that moron owner Taylor ruined the Timberwolves for years losing multiple 1st round draft picks over Joe flippin Smith. Can never forgive those idiots for that.