The GM search began this week with the Suns considering Milwaukee assistant GM Jeff Weltman (a finalist in 2010 when Blanks was hired), former Indiana Pacers GM and Arizona graduate David Morway and former Lakers assistant GM Ronnie Lester. Assistant GMs Ryan McDonough (Boston), Wes Wilcox (Atlanta) and Troy Weaver (Oklahoma City) are potential candidates too.

"I never expect fans to feel sympathetic about it," O’Neal said. "We should pay taxes like everybody else. We should pay more because we make more. I voted for President Obama, but I knew his focus was to come after people like myself. The majority of our country is struggling. If you have to pay more taxes to bring down the deficit and spread the wealth, I’m all for it. I’m blessed to make a lot of money."

Some Suns brass favored Felton, but Managing Partner Robert Sarver interceded to negotiate with Dragic in the US Airways Center parking garage while Eric Gordon was being wooed inside the building.