Phoenix Suns: 5 candidates to replace Ryan McDonough as GM
1. David Griffin
If the Phoenix Suns were smart, they’d already be on the phone with former Cleveland Cavaliers GM David Griffin to fill their vacancy. And no, it’s not just because Griffin spent 17 years with the Suns, working his way up from an intern while still in college at Arizona State University to senior vice president of basketball operations in 2007 in a role he served for three years.
Griffin was an excellent general manager for the Cavs, mostly because of his ability to instantly adapt to changing circumstances. He quickly pivoted from drafting Andrew Wiggins as the team’s new centerpiece to trading him for Kevin Love once LeBron James decided he wanted to come home. That kind of quick thinking is exactly what the Suns need right now.
If the Suns end up hiring David Griffin they walk away from all this looking pretty good. Anything else and it’s business as usual, and well, business ain’t been great.
— Chris (@Chris_Coffel) October 8, 2018
Cleveland won its only NBA championship under his reign, and though several of his long-term contracts to guys like Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith are still worthy of criticism, Griffin had little choice given their relationship with the King, James’ desire to be on a championship contender and the Klutch Sports influence.
Still, Griffin helped architect the Cavs’ only NBA title and four consecutive runs to the Finals, even if LeBron was obviously the master builder. Letting him go without renewing his contract was a stupid and widely criticized move on owner Dan Gilbert’s part, and it may have been the final straw that ultimately led to LeBron James’ departure.
Griffin reportedly had trades lined up for Paul George and Jimmy Butler before he was let go in 2016, and the team was eventually forced into dealing away Kyrie Irving instead. That chain of events failed to elevate Cleveland to the same level as the Golden State Warriors, making James’ decision to leave this summer all too easy.
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The Cavs letting Griffin walk is a mistake that another NBA team has failed to capitalize on thus far. Given his relationship with the Suns, his success in Cleveland, his good reputation and his experience as a full-time GM, David Griffin is the no-brainer candidate. Anything short of hiring him would probably end badly and worsen Phoenix’s — and Sarver’s — already ugly reputation.