Robert Sarver introduces Brad Casper; maintains silence on the NBA Lockout issue
Rick Welts resignation last month due to personal and professional reasons created two vacancies in the Phoenix Suns management, that of the president and the Chief Operating Officer of the franchise.
This Monday, the Suns held a Press Conference to announce their new president Brad Casper, who will now be heading the business and non-basketball operations and new chief operating officer Jason Rowley.
Brad Casper, who has the experience of running $2 billion company, Dial Corp, developed some attachment with Basketball after he decided to witness his 2nd NBA basketball game in more than twenty years. That fascination
skyrocketed during Phoenix Suns finals conference run and that is when he made his mind to affiliate himself with the game.
According to reports, he approached the vice chairman of Suns, Sam Garvin and told him “I'd like to have your job". Although this did not happen and Garvin is still at the helm of affairs, however Casper has landed himself to another
prominent designation.
Suns owner Robert Sarver, commenting on Brad’s acquisition, said
"Brad brings a level of experience we're fortunate to have, given an organization our size. He's run companies 10 times our size. His breadth of experience in brand management, customer satisfaction and marketing is a big-time
addition. His depth in branding and marketing is something we never had before."
Media’s attendance for the conference was voluminous than usual for something that is not directly basketball related. The reason for it was not the appointment of Brad Casper, but instead the presence of Robert Sarver in the conference.
Sarver is amongst the owners, reportedly guilty of hindering the labour negotiations from league’s side. It was his demand to NBA of making fundamental changes in the structure to enhance his franchise’s worth in for the long haul.
Because of this, lockout has now reached a stage where whole season is on the brink of cancellation.
After few routine questions from the new president and Chief Operating Officer, media targeted Sarver and bombarded questions on him relating to NBA lockout. When asked to illustrate his locus in the lockout, he said
“I can’t comment specifically, really, about anything to do with the lockout at this point, I’m kind of prohibited from doing that. But I can say that eventually, when it’s over, the facts of my role and my involvement will come
out, and I look forward to that happening.”
It will be enthralling to hear when Sarver speaks freely about his influence in the lockout and where he stood during it all once the lockout ends. However, in the meantime, Suns are focusing on business as usual. Appointment of
new president might prove to be a good move in the long.
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