Monty Williams said that Cam Johnson will start at power forward for the Phoenix Suns this season.

Johnson averaged 12.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 26 minutes last year.

Johnson's increased role comes at the expense of Jae Crowder, who is drawing trade interest from several teams. The Suns told Crowder that he would likely lose his starting spot prior to training camp. 

Williams added that he hopes Johnson and Mikal Bridges will take a larger role in facilitating the offense this season.

“The hope is he and Mikal can help out with offensive initiation. Those guys have the ability to facilitate and I just haven’t given them the chance. And we’ve talked about being comfortable with uncomfortable change. There’s going to be times where it doesn’t look great but I think that’s where they’re going to grow," said Williams. 

The Phoenix Suns refused to offer Deandre Ayton a five-year max contract, which forced him to sign a four-year, $133 million offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers.

The belief around Ayton is that the decision came from Robert Sarver, who has begun the process of selling the Suns.

"That is certainly something that caused the ire of him," said Marc J. Spears. "I was told that it was Robert Sarver who didn't want to give him that fifth year, who wanted to save the money."

Ramona Shelburne added to the reporting of Spears.

"You know, Marc, you said something really important there, which is who Deandre Ayton in his mind attributes the idea that he didn't get that max contract," said Shelburne. "Does he blame Robert Sarver? Does he blame that front office? Does he blame Monty Williams.

"My understanding from talking to people close to Deandre is that he thinks this was Robert Sarver's decision as well. And Robert Sarver's not going to be the owner anymore. So there is some healing that can happen there. But I know there were some hurt feelings over that contract and how that played out.

"If they were going to instantly match an offer sheet that he signed, why not just give him the max contract? Yes, it saved them a year and $40 million but as somebody close to Deandre told me 'There's a karma to this. Why do that to your No. 1 overall pick?'"

The Phoenix Suns are expected to sell for more than $3 billion, sources tell ESPN.

NBA franchise valuations have continued to rise coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic and with new television rights deals on the horizon.

Robert Sarver purchased the Suns for just over $400 million in 2004.

Adam Silver considered sending the decision on what to do on Robert Sarver's ownership of the Phoenix Suns to the NBA's board of governors. Silver, instead, issued a one-year suspension and a $10 million fine. Silver was concerned about the legal concerns about the statute that outlines the process for owners to expel a fellow owner. 

ESPN writes Silver "believed strongly that there were important differences in Sarver's and Sterling's cases, sources close to the situation said, and that it was his job to arbitrate those differences objectively, even if it was unpopular."

Silver had been speaking directly to Sarver frequently since issuing the yearlong suspension, sources said, encouraging him to act in the best interest of his franchises and remove himself from the equation by selling both teams.

Sarver had not taken the punishment well and wanted to know why it was more severe than the one issued to Mark Cuban in 2018. Silver explained that Cuban was responsible for a poor organizational culture, but he had not been accused of misconduct himself. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers have interest in trading for Jae Crowder, who has been put on the trade block by the Phoenix Suns.

The Cavaliers are in need of a 3-and-D wing that can guard small forwards and power forwards.

Four of Cleveland's starters are set in Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, but the small forward spot is a question mark.

Shams Charania previously reported that the Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat could also pursue Crowder.

Deandre Ayton said he hasn't spoken with Monty Williams since he was benched during the Phoenix Suns' Game 7 elimination in the second round of the playoffs.

Ayton returned to the Suns this past offseason when they matched his four-year, $133 million offer sheet.

"I haven't spoken to him at all, ever since the game," Ayton told reporters after the first practice of the season on Tuesday. "I can show him better than I can tell him. It's life. Nobody cares about the uncomfortable nature of it, it's how you perform and what you bring to the table. What's said is already said."

Ayton worked out at the Suns facility for weeks leading up to training camp, but Williams said he purposely decided to leave players alone a little this summer to give them space.

"I think 1-on-1s are always needed between guys I've been around for awhile," Williams said. "Some guys need it and some guys don't. I'll identify that as the season progresses. I'll talk to everybody as I always do during camp and it won't be an issue at all."

At a team dinner on Monday night, Williams addressed the loss with the team.

"So much has been made of Game 7 but we addressed that last night as a team," Williams said. "I put it to bed last night."

On Monday, Williams said he believed Ayton could put any lingering issues behind him.

"He's just too good of a player, and he's a good dude," Williams said. "There's times where you bump heads on certain issues, but that doesn't define a person in totality. And I think sometimes that stuff just gets blown out of proportion and rightfully so, when you don't know all the facts."

Jae Crowder asked the Phoenix Suns to be allowed to skip training camp as they continue their efforts to trade him.

The Suns informed Crowder over the summer that he may lose his starting job, which led to a trade request. Crowder is entering the final year of his current contract at the age of 32.

While the Suns have been active in trade discussions, they have yet to find a workable deal.

"Jae brought a number of intangibles to the team, I think all of our guys would speak in that way about him," Monty Williams said. "At the same time these things happen and you have to transition and move forward. I totally am behind James and how we are handling this."

The Phoenix Suns have added Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot to their training camp roster. Luwawu-Cabarrot signed a non-guaranteed training camp deal.

The six-year veteran spent last season with the Atlanta Hawks. Luwawu-Cabarrot made the Hawks after starting on a camp deal last season. He went on to play in 52 regular season games, with 18 starts.

In his six seasons, Luwawu-Cabarrot has averaged 5.9 points per game.

Jae Crowder and the Phoenix Suns have mutually agreed that he will not participate in training camp as the sides attempt to work on a trade.

Crowder has been a key part of the Suns' rotation since joining the team in 2020.

The Suns have been rumored to be seeking a trade of Crowder for several weeks.

Robert Sarver has announced he has begun the process of selling the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury.

Sarver was suspended by the NBA for one year following a lengthy investigation into workplace misconduct.

"Words that I deeply regret now overshadow nearly two decades of building organizations that brought people together – and strengthened the Phoenix area – through the unifying power of professional men's and women's basketball.  

"As a man of faith, I believe in atonement and the path to forgiveness. I expected that the commissioner's one-year suspension would provide the time for me to focus, make amends and remove my personal controversy from the teams that I and so many fans love.

"But in our current unforgiving climate, it has become painfully clear that that is no longer possible – that whatever good I have done, or could still do, is outweighed by things I have said in the past. For those reasons, I am beginning the process of seeking buyers for the Suns and Mercury.

"I do not want to be a distraction to these two teams and the fine people who work so hard to bring the joy and excitement of basketball to fans around the world. I want what's best for these two organizations, the players, the employees, the fans, the community, my fellow owners, the NBA and the WNBA. This is the best course of action for everyone.

"In the meantime, I will continue to work on becoming a better person, and continuing to support the community in meaningful ways. Thank you for continuing to root for the Suns and the Mercury, embracing the power that sports has to bring us together."