Robert Sarver is selling the Phoenix Suns, but the NBA's work isn't done

After 18 years as Phoenix Suns owner, Robert Sarver left many across the NBA with a story.

Some are bizarre, like when he put a herd of goats in his general manager's office. Some are repugnant, such as his racially insensitive language and treatment of employees detailed by an NBA investigation that concluded last week. Some are bewildering, like when fellow NBA owners watched him clip his nails on a Zoom call during a mid-pandemic board meeting, sources said, with the debris falling on his dark shirt.

The final chapter on Sarver, though, is about to be written.

He announced Wednesday that he plans to sell the Suns and Phoenix Mercury. At the start of a yearlong suspension, Sarver is likely to soon be off the league's radar permanently.

It relieves a major stress point as teams open training camp, where players undoubtedly will make their feelings known about the situation. But the eventual sale doesn't necessarily mean the problem has gone away.

Sarver is the third owner in the past eight years who has sold his team after racially insensitive incidents became public, following Donald Sterling of the LA Clippers in 2014 and Bruce Levenson of the Atlanta Hawks in 2015.

Nov. 4, 2021: ESPN releases its story on Suns owner Robert Sarver and the workplace culture in Phoenix.

Nov. 4, 2021: NBA launches investigation into Sarver over racism, sexism charges.

Nov. 9, 2021: Penny Sarver, wife of Robert Sarver, sends messages to three former Suns employees.

Nov. 15, 2021: Investigators say team employees will be granted confidentiality.

Nov. 30, 2021: Uncertainty remains over whether Suns employees who signed NDAs can participate in investigation.

Dec. 10, 2021: Suns employees released from NDAs for investigation.

Jan. 25, 2022: S