Steve Kerr, who took over as the general manager of the Suns in 2007, is leaving the team, according to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. Kerr's contract was up for renewal this summer, but apparently he and team owner Robert Sarver couldn't reach an agreement. Coro indicates Kerr could be prepared to take over Doug Collins' seat as TNT's lead NBA color commentator. Collins became Philadelphia's head coach earlier this month.The timing is simply insane, with the 2010 NBA Draft just nine days away and free agency just weeks from arrival. The Suns have no first-round picks in June 24's draft, but it has historically been a huge day of trading in the NBA. The Suns also have one of the league's top free agents, forward Amar'e Stoudemire, in flux. Stoudemire will opt out of his contract on June 30, but has repeatedly said he hopes to work out a new deal to stay in Phoenix.
Hiring Kerr to replace Bryan Colangelo was the first major decision of Sarver's ownership run in Phoenix. It followed with the controversial trade for Shaquille O'Neal, a move seen as Kerr's power play but later considered a risk shared by Kerr and then-coach Mike D'Antoni. As the team cracked apart following the Shaq trade, D'Antoni fled for New York and Kerr hired the defensive-minded Terry Porter. Porter changed the Suns' style dramatically, and to ill effect, and survived only half a season before being replaced by former D'Antoni assistant Alvin Gentry, who ended up being a success.
Share Few expected the Suns to do as well as they did this season. Led by not just Steve Nash and Stoudemire, but by veteran Kerr recruit Grant Hill, Kerr-signed free agent Channing Frye and Kerr draft pick Goran Dragic, Phoenix made the Western Conference finals a season after missing the playoffs.
The team should be in good hands, as Phoenix has managed to keep David Griffin, a well-respected and oft-desired executive. It would be a shock if Sarver didn't immediately offer Griffin Kerr's old job. Whether Griffin is prepared to tweak the Suns heading into next season in mid-stride is another question entirely.
Report: Yahoo's Purchase Of Tumblr Approved By Board
Tornadoes Rip Through Kansas, Oklahoma
Obama Approval Rating Not Hurt By Scandals
McConnell Defends White House On AP Scandal
Suspected PayPal Hackers Seek Deal To Stay Out Of Prison
Krugman: Austerity Policies Based On 'A Mythical 70s That Never Was'
Obama Delivers Commencement Speech At Morehouse College
New Bill Would Jumpstart Student Loan Refinancings
Ted Nugent's Brother Takes Swipe At Rocker's Gun Stance
Arianna Huffington's Commencement Speech On 'Redefining Success: The Third Metric'
Jamie Dimon Could Be Dealt A Major Blow This Week
Terrifying Parade Car Crash Likely Caused By Medical Condition: Official
2 FBI Agents Killed In Training Accident
Michael Moore: 'The Real Problem With The IRS' Is GE
Top Aide Stays Firm On When Obama Learned Of IRS Controversy
WATCH: 'SNL' Takes On IRS Scandal
Karl Rove Talks IRS Scandal, Compares His Group To NAACP
Jon Karl Expresses 'Regret' Over Benghazi Reporting
Paul Ryan On Benghazi: 'I Don't Know' If There Was A Cover-up
TV SoundOff: Sunday Talking Heads
GOP Candidate Compared Planned Parenthood To KKK
College Student Accidentally Killed During 'Crime Of Opportunity'
Radio Host Makes Shocking Claim About Shooting Hillary Clinton
What Went Wrong? Gallup Shares New Details
Accused CIA Spy Leaves Russia
Issa Comes To White House Rescue
Report: Iran Executes Men Convicted Of Spying For U.S., Israel
Teen Girl On Bus Killed By Random Gunfire
Republican Warns Of Modern-Day Hitler Invasion
Pope: 'If Banks Fail It is A Tragedy, If People Die Of Hunger It's Nothing'
LA Doctor Gets 14 Years For This Horrible Promise
