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Former Phoenix Suns GM Takes New Role With NBA After Demotion

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zachary Rainey | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 5:36 PM ET

The Phoenix Suns have been quite active since the end of the regular season. Just days after they put the finishing touches on a disappointing season in which they went 36-46 and finished as the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference, they fired head coach Mike Budenholzer. Many were shocked by the move, as he still had four years and $40 million remaining on his contract.

The next move came when the Suns moved James Jones into a senior advisory role to install Brian Gregory as the new general manager. Jones had held the position of general manager since 2019. Now, owner Mat Ishbia has his hand-picked guy at the helm of the front office. Gregory and Ishbia's relationship goes back to their days at Michigan State, where Gregory was an assistant coach and Ishbia a player.

Former Phoenix Suns GM takes new role with NBA after demotion

Jones likely wasn't happy by the demotion by the new owner and might've started seeking opportunities elsewhere. On Wednesday, news broke regarding Jones' next significant career move from NBA insider Chris Haynes.

"BREAKING: James Jones is departing Phoenix Suns to replace Joe Dumars at NBA office to become league’s new Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations, sources tell me," Haynes wrote.

BREAKING: James Jones is departing Phoenix Suns to replace Joe Dumars at NBA office to become league’s new Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations, sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/lzUy1Oe99R
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 9, 2025

Jones was credited with helping build the Suns team that went to the NBA Finals in 2021. In perhaps his most significant move, he traded Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecue and a 2022 unprotected first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Chris Paul.

While the Suns went on to lose those finals to the Milwaukee Bucks, Jones earned the NBA Executive of the Year Award. The NBA is a series of what-ifs, and the Suns are no exception to that. If Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn't make that incredible defensive play where he blocked Deandre Ayton's dunk attempt off an alley-oop and the Suns go on to win those finals, do any of these changes occur?

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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