HoopsHype.com Rumors

Suns Ring of Honor member Dan Majerle will not resume his role as assistant coach for the second half of the season. Majerle was in his fifth season as a Suns assistant coach but had stopped working with the team Sunday when Lindsey Hunter was selected as the interim head coach in place of Alvin Gentry. Hunter was selected Sunday over lead assistant coach Elston Turner, assistant coach Igor Kokoskov and Majerle, who had been the suggestion of many Suns players to General Manager Lance Blanks during interviews Friday and Saturday. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Lance Blanks, Elston Turner, Dan Majerle, Lindsey Hunter 

On Sunday morning of his team’s midseason revival interlude, Phoenix Suns general manager Lance Blanks provided the crucial "Amen!" moment. “I think the simple answer is that the organization needed a jolt,” Blanks said. “We needed something that would shock the system.” Fox Sports Arizona

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Lance Blanks, Lindsey Hunter 

Team president Lon Babby’s contract ends after the season. He’s probably done. Despite his San Antonio pedigree, GM Lance Blanks also might not be immune to getting the boot if Sarver decides he needs an entirely new front office. It figures to go that way, since Sarver is not exactly known for his patience New York Daily News

Phoenix Suns, Lon Babby, Lance Blanks 

When the Suns faced Oklahoma City on Friday night in Tulsa, Okla., and Thunder guard James Harden was sitting out the game because of a groin strain, the BOK Center’s largest crowd ever (beating George Strait’s record) broke out a “We want James!” chant. There is no truth that Suns executives in attendance — Lon Babby, Lance Blanks and John Treloar — started the chant. But there is no question the Suns want Harden, a former Arizona State star who will be on a track to become a restricted free agent in July if he does not agree to a contract extension by Oct.31. Arizona Republic

Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, James Harden, Lon Babby, Lance Blanks 

If he is a restricted free agent, you could assume that Phoenix and other teams would offer Harden a maximum-level, four-year contract. The bigger question is whether Harden will be allowed to get to that point and whether signing Harden to an offer sheet would be as fruitless as it was for the Suns with Eric Gordon. Harden could accept slightly less than a maximum deal with his preference in Oklahoma City, whose small-market finances would like him to sacrifice money to lessen the more punitive new luxury tax’s impending burden. The Thunder’s maximum-level contracts for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and a four-year, $48million deal for Serge Ibaka make a Harden decision taxing. But with multiple teams sure to come with a maximum offer for Harden, it is hard to see him agreeing to less, especially after how his agent, Rob Pelinka, handled Gordon’s situation. Arizona Republic

Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, James Harden, Lon Babby, Lance Blanks, Rob Pelinka 

The Suns intend to hire a young former NBA big man and make the staff available to players "24-7," General Manager Lance Blanks said. "This is really important to me," Blanks said. "It's not something that was needed. What the organization was doing worked. It won at a very high level. Different personnel and situation. This will create a lot of continuity between front office, coaches and training staff." Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Lance Blanks 

Suns General Manager Lance Blanks said the club still views Johnson as an emerging player who made the transition from being an inside player in high school and is still learning to play on the perimeter. "He shoots the ball extremely well," Blanks said. "Given his role and comfort and such, statistics haven't always reflected that. But he's very capable. In other areas, whether guarding on the perimeter or putting the ball on the floor, he's still growing, which is something we're excited about." Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Wesley Johnson, Lance Blanks 

The Phoenix Suns today signed forward P.J. Tucker, the team has announced. “In Las Vegas this summer P.J. impressed our entire front office and coaching staff with his approach to the game, both on and off the court,” said Suns General Manager Lance Blanks. “It was obvious to all of us that P.J.’s aggressive style of play will fit well with our organization. We are very excited to have him as part our team going forward.” NBA.com

Phoenix Suns, Lance Blanks, PJ Tucker 

Paul Coro: #Suns GM Lance Blanks said the Suns' current environment and franchise history can catapult the career of a player like Wesley Johnson. Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Wesley Johnson, Lance Blanks 

Paul Coro: Blanks believes Johnson's confidence was shaken from the unrealistic expectations of being a #4 pick & will benefit from a lower bar in PHX. Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Wesley Johnson, Lance Blanks 

Paul Coro: Blanks on Beasley: "It's a fresh start for us & a fresh start for him. We aren't afraid of what he's experienced. We want to embrace that." Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley, Lance Blanks 

"After visiting the Suns, the impression the organization made on me was incredible," Gordon said in a prepared statement. "Mr. Sarver, Lon Babby, Lance Blanks, the front office staff and Coach Gentry run a first-class organization, and I strongly feel they are the right franchise for me. Phoenix is just where my heart is now." Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, Lon Babby, Eric Gordon, Lance Blanks 

The Suns are prepared to use the available space elsewhere with President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby, General Manager Lance Blanks and Coach Alvin Gentry meeting unrestricted free agent Michael Beasley today in Los Angeles and restricted free agent Eric Gordon in Phoenix on Tuesday. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, Michael Beasley, Lon Babby, Eric Gordon, Lance Blanks, Alvin Gentry 

The Suns seldom hint at life without Nash, or the franchise taking a step back to move forward, but General Manager Lance Blanks made reference to it Friday while talking about how Kendall Marshall's maturity will be "a stabilizing force in the locker room." That sounds like a Suns team without its eight-year captain and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, Steve Nash, Lance Blanks, Kendall Marshall 

Brett Pollakoff: Based on Suns GM Lance Blanks' reaction to Jeremy Lamb ?s today, wouldn't be surprised if PHX drafts him if he's on the board at 13. Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Draft, Lance Blanks, Jeremy Lamb 

General Manager Lance Blanks said the Suns are "aggressively looking" at wing players as the NBA pre-draft camp begins today in Chicago. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Draft, Lance Blanks 

"Our perimeter is an area that we'd like to add a little youth, whether it'd be the one (point guard), the two (shooting guard) or the three (small forward)," Blanks said. "We want to inject some youth in that. When you look at our roster and compare it to the draft, we feel like we'll be able to do that in a big and impactful way." Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Draft, Lance Blanks 

Blanks said the group of swingmen has "potential game-changers," although that might not show until after their rookie seasons. The Suns have wanted to find a player who could generate scoring to relieve Nash and the pick-and-roll offense, and that mission was restated. Blanks took umbrage with the notion that there has been a defensive slant to what the new brass has done since taking over in 2010. Arizona Republic

Draft, Lance Blanks, Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns 

There was a catch that came with the guaranteed money in China, though. Until his team’s season was concluded, Brooks didn’t have an opt-out clause in his contract to return to the U.S. and the NBA. “When I first heard that Aaron was heading to China to play, I tried to put myself in his shoes and I thought it made sense for a player who is passionate about playing the game,” Suns General Manager Lance Blanks told Suns.com. “No one knew when the NBA would resume so there was some risk in staying here or going to China.” NBA.com

Phoenix Suns, China, Lance Blanks, Aaron Brooks 

Fall and Ujiri (who also holds the title of camp co-director along with Phoenix Suns' general manager Lance Blanks) work with local African federations and FIBA to bring the continent's best young players to this camp. But when they arrive, they are on the NBA's watch. "I am the sergeant general here," says Ujiri to the campers as he goes over everything from language to good sportsmanship to always running between drilling. And the dress code? "Keep your shorts up!" jokes Ujiri as he lets his shorts hang half way down his backside. SB Nation

Phoenix Suns, Lance Blanks