This season has been a rough one for the Phoenix Suns.
The team has suffered through multiple injuries, a seemingly disgruntled player with Deandre Ayton, a looming trade with Jae Crowder, and a huge controversy around their owner, Robert Sarver.
The Sarver situation seemed to have been solved, as he was suspended from the league and then decided to sell the franchise.
But apparently, things aren’t as settled as they seemed.
As @WindhorstESPN notes here, Robert Sarver still has to give the Suns personal sign-off on any deal for a player with a salary that is more than the current "average player salary," multiple league sources tell ESPN: https://t.co/L7DRYThg1s
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) January 3, 2023
Brian Windhorst is reporting that while Sarver is still in the process of giving up the team, certain trades still require his approval.
“Sarver still has to give personal sign-off on any deal for a player with a salary that is more than the current ‘average player salary,'” Windhorst wrote for ESPN.
Sarver Sticking Around
Currently, the average player salary is $10.8 million, which means that any move with a player who makes more than that needs to be approved by Sarver.
Crowder, who has been sidelined as the team tries to trade him, has a salary of $10.2 million.
If he is offered more than $10.8 million, Sarver will have a say in any deal.
Windhorst also reports that “various multiplayer trades over the past few months” would need the okay from Sarver as well.
So, the team hasn’t been able to shake him yet.
Apparently, the incoming owner of the team, Mat Ishbia, won’t officially be in control until mid-season.
Until then, Sarver’s shadow is going to hang heavily over the Suns, a team that is 8th in the West and trying to climb back up into serious playoff contention.
The team has a lot on its plate and the last thing the front office wants is to deal with more Sarver drama.
But it sounds like they might not be able to avoid it.
NEXT: NBA Insider Updates Jae Crowder's Trade Market