The interim tag has officially been removed.

The Phoenix Suns named James Jones their general manager Thursday after the former NBA player served as a interim following the firing of Ryan McDonough two weeks before the 2018-19 season began.

“James has demonstrated a remarkable ability to manage the day-to-day efforts of our front office while developing strong relationships with our players, coaches and those across our organization and league,” Suns team owner Robert Sarver said in a news release. “Furthermore, he is instilling the same championship culture and standard that he experienced on multiple occasions as a player.” 

The Suns also officially added Jeff Bower as senior vice president of basketball operations and Trevor Bukstein has been retained as assistant general manager.

“I have the utmost confidence in James as the leader of our basketball operations moving forward, and we are aligned in the ultimate goal of one day bringing an NBA championship to Phoenix,” Sarver continued.

The two will report to Jones, 38, who will overseas basketball operations. Bower, 57, has served as an general manager for New Orleans and Detroit.

“Under James’ leadership and with the addition of Jeff, our front office is diverse and complimentary in their backgrounds and skillsets, yet entirely aligned in their selfless and hard-working approach,” Sarver said. “I am confident today’s announcement positions us strongly as we strive to shape the next great era of Phoenix Suns basketball.” 

Sarver has hired Bower to help Jones in turning around franchise that just experienced its second-worst season ever. Bower was GM for the Pistons from 2014-18. Detroit only made the playoffs once during that time in 2015, but will be an eighth seed this year.

Bower pulled off the deal for Detroit to get power forward Blake Griffin in a trade last season. Griffin made the all-star team this season for the first time since 2015 in leading the Pistons back to the playoffs. 

“I’m thrilled to add an individual with Jeff’s experience and basketball acumen to our front office,” said Jones in a news release. “Jeff brings a wealth of knowledge in every facet of basketball operations, is of high character and well respected in league circles, and has a proven track record of influencing organizational success. His expertise in creating and executing a plan will be invaluable as we build our team moving forward.”

The Suns have concluded their GM with the person they initially elevated to replace McDonough. Jones didn’t pull off any major deals this season and bought out contracts like Tyson Chandler’s that could have helped him make a big trade before the Feb. 7 deadline, but dealing Trevor Ariza to Washington for Kelly Oubre Jr. back in December gave Phoenix an explosive talent, whom the Suns are in a good position to keep.

“I think his vision and what he sees. He’s thinking day-by-day, but he’s also thinking big picture,” Suns veteran Jamal Crawford said. “How do we set his organization where we have good role models and good people to kind of follow along with developing the talent that we have. I thought he did an excellent job and I think he’ll only get better.”

Oubre is a restricted free agent, which means Phoenix can match any offer he receives this summer. He averaged a career-high 16 points in 40 games with the Suns.

The 6-7 forward raised that number to 20.1 in 12 starts with Phoenix.

“I’m looking forward to (the summer), but every time I look forward to it, I start thinking other than being in the moment and I start getting anxiety and all that other stuff starts happening,” Oubre said Wednesday. “All I can do is worry about right now. Worry about the next moment in my life. God will take care of the rest. My agents are good at doing what they do. Hope everything works out in all of our favor.”  

Last month, Oubre recalls being a rookie with Washington in the 2015-16 season and seeing Jones in chapel. Jones played for Cleveland that season when the Cavaliers won it all for the first time in franchise history.

“I said to him, remember my rookie year when you was in chapel and I was young and you was like, ‘what’s up young boy,'” Oubre laughed.

Then Oubre turned serious and talked about how he’s turned to Jones for advice this season. Jones was part of three NBA championship teams – Miami (2012, 2013) and Cleveland (2016).

 “He’s a legend at the end of the day,” Oubre continued. “It’s always that level of respect and he’s a champion. Whenever I have any basketball questions about winning, what could I have done down the stretch to make better decisions, things like that, he’s great. He’s a player’s guy. He wants to help the players. He brought me here. He gave me an opportunity to come to Phoenix and shine. I’ll forever be grateful for it.” 

Calling Jones “very open minded,” Oubre said the Suns GM believes in his players.

“I’m aware I make mistakes,” Oubre said. “I aware that I’m not a perfect player, yet, but he sees that in me. He sees that in each and every one of the guys that he has on this team. We all feel that energy and we continue to work towards being that.”

Jones also brought in Crawford right before the season and traded veteran Ryan Anderson to Miami for point guard Tyler Johnson before the trade deadline. Johnson averaged 11.1 points and 4.2 assists in 13 games (12 starts) with Phoenix.

Crawford just capped his 19th season with a 51-point performance in Tuesday’s loss at Dallas. The veteran guard averaged just 7.9 points in 64 games, but with the team being shorthanded due to injuries, Crawford was called upon to score more and delivered.

Crawford averaged 31.3 points in Phoenix’s last four games in 32.5 minutes a game.

• 19 vs. Cleveland
• 28 vs. New Orleans
• 27 at Houston
• 51 at Dallas

“He’s still a certified bucket,” Suns reserve big Richaun Holmes said about Crawford, who at 39 became the oldest player in NBA history to score 50 points in a game.

Jones’ latest deal was giving Jimmer Fredette a second shot at the NBA. The 2011 national player of the year out of BYU and first-round pick, Fredette didn’t pan out in the league, but after three seasons in China where he averaged 36.8 points for the Shanghai Sharks, he landed back in Phoenix with the Suns last month.

“Shooter,” Jones said last month. “Live dribble shooting with range. High character. His basketball experience blends well with our young team.” 

Fredette signed a two-year deal with a team option on the second year, but wasn’t productive. The 6-2 guard averaged just 4.4 points on 8-of-26 shooting. He missed all 11 of his 3-point shots.

“Of course it’s a great idea,” said Fredette when asked Wednesday about joining the Suns.

According to spotrac.com, Fredette was scheduled to $198,500 this season and $1.4 million next season if the Suns pick up that second-year option. 

“It’s an opportunity,” he continued. “Just to be here. Feel the floor. Feel flow of game. Not a ton of opportunity to be on the court all the time, but I tried to show what I could do off the court. Bring a guy that can be a positive and be a good teammate and do different things that don’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet.”

Fredette played in six of Phoenix’s last nine games, but only averaged 10.8 minutes. His season high of 10 came against Utah in 22 minutes of action.

“I think it was positive and I think people know what I can do and just continue to go from there,” Fredette said.     

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Phoenix Suns season photos