OT: Suns hire an agent as their GM Lon Babby

[Sug]

Very interesting selection. He represented Hedo and Childress prior to getting the job.

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns have hired agent Lon Babby to head the team's basketball operations, a person with knowledge of the situation said Monday.

The person, who asked not to be identified because the official announcement has not been made, told The Associated Press that Babby will be introduced at a news conference at US Airways Center on Tuesday.

Until his move to the front office, Babby represented the Suns' newly acquired Hedo Turkoglu and is the former agent of Phoenix's other recent addition, Josh Childress.

Babby emerged in recent days as the leading candidate in Suns owner Robert Sarver's search for a replacement for general manager Steve Kerr, who stepped down at the end of June and has returned to his previous role of NBA analyst for TNT.

Babby, one of the most respected agents in the business, also represented the Suns' Grant Hill, San Antonio's Tim Duncan and Boston's Ray Allen. He has represented baseball players and served first as club counsel, then as general counsel for the Baltimore Orioles from 1974 to 1989. He also has represented the NFL's Washington Redskins.

A Washington-based attorney, Babby graduated from the Yale law school and is a member of the board of trustees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Despite the departure of Kerr and his top lieutenant, Dave Griffin, Phoenix made three important personnel moves after All-Star Amare Stoudemire turned down the Suns' final offer and signed with the New York Knicks.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5393490

 

[tlongII]

Bad hire.

 

[Sug]

Bad hire.

Almost seems like a back room deal to lands his clients.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Now why couldn't the Blazers get that guy? Canzano was right, this is turning into a lost summer

 

[jlprk]

I don't remember this ever happening before. Has it, in any sport? I will guess at why it hasn't.

1) Big agents make at least as much as GMs. A GM's income depends upon pleasing one master, so the GM can lose everything all at once. An agent's income is diversified among many clients. His portfolio doesn't have all the eggs in one basket, if one client turns against him.

2) Conflict of interest. Did Babby have to terminate all his agency relationships? If so, that's a lot of easy money lost. If not, why not? There's an incentive to sign and give his own clients raises, since he gets a percentage.

3) Competence. Just because he knows contracts doesn't mean he can evaluate talent.

 

[Minstrel]

Yeah, I don't know if an agent has been hired as GM before. The closest thing I can think of off the top of my head is the baseball agent, Jeff Moorad, becoming owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

So, I guess it's an Arizona thing.

 

[Chocolove]

Mike Gillis, Vancouver Canucks. Agent turned GM, does a pretty good job.

 

[jlprk]

Man, that Moorad is no moron. He doesn't need to hire a contract specialist. Plus, an agent is a negotiator. Talk about competence, what an owner. All he needs is a scout and he's home free with no staff expenses.

Gillis, thanks. Are these guys really good or is there no difference?

 

[Paxil]

I think agents get between 5-10% of the players contract... so I believe the ones with high profile players definitely make a lot more than a GM.

I don't know for sure... but I don't believe it would be possible for him to represent any players while being a GM, because as a GM he wouldn't be allowed to talk to those players. He probably transfered his players to someone else for a large chunk of change.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Now there is an opening for KP to become an agent.

It is always better to sell the ingredients then it is to be the one baking the cake.

 

[Paxil]

I think KP would make a fine agent... and car salesman... and I don't say that in a bad way... it is a good GM quality to be able to seem like everyone's best friend.

 

[Masbee]

I think agents get between 5-10% of the players contract... so I believe the ones with high profile players definitely make a lot more than a GM.

I don't know for sure... but I don't believe it would be possible for him to represent any players while being a GM, because as a GM he wouldn't be allowed to talk to those players. He probably transfered his players to someone else for a large chunk of change.

Agents do not get that much. I think they are limited to 4%.

Manager, on the other hand, can get all kinda finger deep into the honey pot.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think KP would make a fine agent... and car salesman... and I don't say that in a bad way... it is a good GM quality to be able to seem like everyone's best friend.

I think it would get kind of awkward when he inevitably would refuse to sell a car to somebody, because it held too much sentimental value.

 

[jlprk]

http://hoopshype.com/agents.htm

The top 10 agents, approximately, could not* become a GM without taking a pay cut. (Multiply each agent's clients' salaries by 4-10%.)

Become a GM: You won't have expenses of running a business--travel, coddling clients, lawyers to write contracts.

Stay an agent: As I said, you retain the security of diversifying your income among multiple clients, instead of depending upon pleasing one master, the owner, who with one swipe can wipe out your income.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

KP acted as an agent when he got Phoenix to sign Jason Collins!

 

[Nikolokolus]

KP acted as an agent when he got Phoenix to sign Jason Collins!

or when he publicly stated that B-Roy deserved a max deal, while he was supposedly in the middle of negotiating his extension ... /justsaying

 

[jlprk]

Also when he praised Rudy as the best player in Europe. When he praised his scouts, he was making them worth more at next raise-time.

Quick has done a lot of agent-like work praising Pritchard, too. Canzano's dog barks at him when he gets home, and is very heavy on the praise for his master, licking him all over. But it's Canzano, so the dog probably hates him and is faking it.

 

[maxiep]

Babby was hired as the team President. The Suns are still going to hire a GM.

 

[jlprk]

Yes, I read today that he wants to hire a GM who is a "crackerjack" talent evaluator. That's the reputation Pritchard has gotten in Portland, so maybe it'll be him, though if you look at his draft picks (especially the European ones), some are starting to wilt.