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With the NBA's free agency period reaching its later stages, the Phoenix Suns are among three teams that remain without the very men who are paid to make those player hires.There is, however, incremental progress on that front.
According to league sources, Phoenix owner Robert Sarver interviewed San Antonio vice president of basketball operations Dell Demps for the team's vacant general manager position while in Las Vegas this week. Sarver is expected to formalize the hiring of agent Lon Babby as the team's president soon, with the general manager working underneath him. Demps is reportedly in the running with former Portland assistant general manager Tom Penn, and sources also tell FanHouse that Milwaukee assistant general manager Jeff Weltman is still being seriously considered.
Demps -- who has been with the Spurs for five seasons and is also the general manager of their developmental league team, the Austin Toros -- played 20 games in three seasons with Golden State, San Antonio and Orlando from 1993 to 1996. He returned to his alma mater, University of Pacific in Stockton, Calif., every summer to take courses for the MBA he would eventually earn. The Suns search may not be over once they hire a president and general manager to replace the departed Steve Kerr, however, as they may also replace assistant general manager David Griffin after he left after Kerr in mid-June.
Share Meanwhile, the sudden exodus of New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower has sparked yet another search. According to league sources, Hornets president Hugh Weber spoke Thursday in Las Vegas with Warren LeGarie, the agent of former Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard, about the position. Sources said there were other LeGarie candidates beyond Pritchard discussed as well, although it's not known which ones and Pritchard did not participate.
Pritchard's reputation and his ties with first-year Hornets coach and former Blazers assistant Monty Williams make him a strong candidate, although sources say other likely candidates are Griffin, Denver vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien and former Golden State general manager Chris Mullin. Williams is expected to be very involved in the hiring.
Portland has not replaced Pritchard after firing him on draft night, a move that was preceded by the sudden firing of Penn at midseason.
E-mail Sam at amick.sam@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @samickFanHouse.
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