LeBron loses ‘best teammate’ to Suns post

FORMER Cleveland Cavaliers reserve James Jones, who alongside LeBron James reached the past seven NBA Finals, was named vice president of basketball operations for the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

The move was announced by Suns owner Robert Sarver, who also revealed a contract extension, reportedly through the 2019-20 season, for 36-year-old General Manager Ryan McDonough.

Jones, also 36, was a forward for the Suns from 2005-2007, helping the team to the 2006 Western Conference finals. He will report to McDonough and with him oversee all basketball-related matters, including trades, free agent deals and the NBA Draft.

His departure removes another familiar face around James on the Cavaliers roster as James ponders the coming season and what his team can do to overcome the Golden State Warriors, who beat Cleveland in the NBA Finals for the second time in three consecutive meetings for the title.

James, whoho has called Jones (pic (pictured, AFP) “the best teammate I’ve ever had”, leded the Cavaliers in the greatest comeback meback in NBA Finals history from m 3-1 down to win the best-of-seven en series in 2016.

James has s reportedly been unsatisfied with the moves made by Cleveland to obtain off-seasoneason talent to better compete mpete with the Kevin Durant-powurant-powered Warriors, rs, notably missing outt on deals for Jimmy Butler and Chris Paul afterfter General Manager er David Griffin partedted ways with the Cavs.vs.

Jones, a former rmer secretar y-treasurer surer for the NBA playersyers union, played alongside James for four seasons in Miami, resulting in two titles and four finals app appearances, and the past three seasonsseason in Cleveland. He also played as a b back-up forward for Indiana, Portla Portland and Phoenix in his 14 NBA ca campaigns. “We are thr thrilled to add James Jones to our staff,”s McDonough said. “James“Jam has a wealth of e x per ienc e s t h at w i l l g r e a t l y b e n e f i t o u r organ organisation. “He is a three-time NBA champion and has been one of the top exec executives with the Nat i o nal Bas k e t ba l l Play Players Association over the p past few years.” Jon Jones averaged 7. 8 points a and 2.8 rebounds in 151 gamesga with the Suns. He playedpla in 48 regular- season games and eight playoff contests for the Cavaliers last season and has career averages of 5.2 points and 1.8 rebounds.

McDonough came to Phoenix after 10 seasons in basketball operations with the Boston Celtics, serving as assistant general manager for the final three and helping the team take the 2008 NBA title.

The Suns went 24-58 last season, the NBA’s second-worst record and worst in the Western Conference. Phoenix has not been to the NBA Playoffs since reaching the Western Conference finals in 2010. They haven’t reached the NBA Finals since 1993.

“We have laid the foundation for what we hope will become the next championship-calibre Suns team,” McDonough said. “There is still a lot of work to be done to reach our ultimate goal of bringing a championship to Phoenix.”