Robert Sarver, owner of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury basketball teams, is working with
advisory firm Moelis & Co. on the potential sale of the NBA and WNBA franchises, according
to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified as the discussions are private.
Sarver’s decision to pick a financial adviser for the potential transaction follows an NBA
investigation that found he used racist slurs and harassed female employees.
The league suspended him for a year and fined him $10 million, a sanction that was criticized by NBA
superstars including LeBron James and former National Basketball Players Association President
Chris Paul for being too lenient.
A representative for Moelis declined to comment, while a representative for the Phoenix Suns
couldn’t be immediately reached for comment. Moelis’s role was reported earlier by Sportico.
Sarver said in a statement on Sept. 21 that he was looking for buyers, and that he had planned to
make amends during his suspension, but that “the current unforgiving climate” made that
impossible.