6:42pm: The team has officially hired Cato, according to a press release.
5:07pm: The Suns will hire Morgan Cato as an assistant GM and VP of basketball operations, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
Cato will become the first woman of color in the league’s history to hold the title of assistant GM. She will report to GM James Jones and work with coach Monty Williams in a variety of ways. Those duties will include leadership and strategy related to coaching development, player engagement and front-office personnel operation.
Cato has been working the league office as an associate vice president. She spent the past decade working under president of league operations Byron Spruell. Her responsibilities included developing strategies to grow the game throughout the NBA and around the world, including the launch of the Basketball Africa League.