NafisaAfter over a decade as the key decision-maker for Golden State — securing four championships — Bob Myers transitioned from an NBA front office to a media role with ESPN/ABC, where he has worked as a studio and game commentator.
Now, Suns owner Mat Ishbia is “pushing hard” to lure him back to a front-office position to lead basketball operations in Phoenix. This was initially reported by Marc Stein and Jake Fischer at The Stein Line, with further details provided by Duane Rankin at the Arizona Republic. From Rankin:
Sources informed The Arizona Republic earlier this week the Suns will likely look to add someone to the front office. They currently have James Jones working a general manager and team president and CEO Josh Bartelstein.
The two have collaborated with team owner Mat Ishbia on basketball personnel decisions, but sources also informed The Republic that Ishbia has been “pushing hard” to get Myers.
Stein has noted that securing Myers is a long shot, and for valid reasons. For one, Myers thrives in a cooperative environment, but with Jones, Bartelstein, and an involved owner like Ishbia, there are already numerous voices in the decision-making process.
Myers would likely demand full authority — final say on all personnel matters — before agreeing to join, but how would that function with Ishbia, the team’s owner, actively participating in decisions?
This past season, the Suns fielded the NBA’s most costly roster yet failed to even reach the Play-In Tournament in the Western Conference.
Myers — or whoever assumes the role — will oversee a significant roster restructuring, rebuilding around Devin Booker as the focal point. Kevin Durant and the Suns will collaborate to find the future first-ballot Hall of Famer a new team, though the market for the 37-year-old (by next season) may not yield the substantial return Phoenix anticipates.
The Suns will aim to trade the burdensome contract (and still decent output when healthy) of Bradley Beal. Additionally, they must appoint a new head coach after parting ways with Mike Budenholzer, marking the team’s third coach in three seasons.
Amid these changes, the Suns need to establish a clear on-court and organizational identity, while owner Ishbia has acknowledged his impatience and aversion to a rebuilding phase — he is focused on achieving major victories immediately.
Myers will have his pick of front-office opportunities should he return to the NBA, raising the question of whether this is the scenario he would choose to step into.
Bucks GM Jon Horst — a Michigan native, like Ishbia — was also mentioned as a candidate for the role, but coincidentally, it was reported Thursday that Milwaukee has finalized an extension with Horst to continue leading their basketball operations.
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