Early indications, Ryan McDonough plans to build through draft

[Mainstreet]

Here are some comments from Ryan McDonough which indicates the Suns may primarily rely on the draft to build their team. Of course, this path can take different turns.

“We’ll have a high pick in the lottery,” McDonough said. “We’ll have two second-round draft picks as well. We have plenty of cap space, so we’ll have some options for this summer. We have a plan in our head right now in terms of continuing to add through the draft and build with youth, but we’ll also look at potential free-agent options. And then, the least predictable part of this, obviously, is the trades and what may swing our way. Those talks usually heat up closer to the draft.”

“We’re not as far away as it may appear given our record,” McDonough said. “We obviously made a difficult trade (at the deadline) sending P.J. Tucker to Toronto and made some lineup adjustments that affected our win total in the short term. Hopefully, it will help our win total in the long term. The West is brutal, it’s hard to crack that (playoff) group. That’s kind of the way it has been in the Western Conference, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. We’re going to try and win as many games as we can and be as competitive as we can. We’ll see how the dust settles, but we’ll probably set making the playoffs as our goal again next year.”

From a Doug Haller article dated 4-11-17.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...onough-keep-building-through-draft/100360290/

 

[thephoenixson28]

So is Bledsoe done?

 

[pokerface]

Doesn't sound like he's going to trade our future away. Good.

 

[Mainstreet]

IMO, the Suns have done well in the draft so McDonough is saying he wants to complete this process. However, he is open to improving the team through trade or free agency if it makes sense.

This is welcome news for me because the Suns have come so far in the draft and look close to completing the rebuild soon.

If the Suns make a trade I hope they mainly use draft picks and a player like Knight to make it happen.

 

[JCSunsfan]

They have a decent amount of desirable parts to make a trade. Five first rounders in the next two years. Chandler and Bledsoe both have value. We also have a number of young players that really have value right now.

And then there is free agency. . .

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

They have a decent amount of desirable parts to make a trade. Five first rounders in the next two years. Chandler and Bledsoe both have value. We also have a number of young players that really have value right now.

And then there is free agency. . .

It's really hard to find a good fit for this team in free agency. Was there anyone you see who looks promising? I'd love to add a defensive center or backup shooting guard, but the cupboard looks bare...

 

[JCSunsfan]

It's really hard to find a good fit for this team in free agency. Was there anyone you see who looks promising? I'd love to add a defensive center or backup shooting guard, but the cupboard looks bare...

Well, the best prospect for a young defensive center in free agency is probably. . .


Alex Len

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Well, the best prospect for a young defensive center in free agency is probably. . .


Alex Len

Hahaha! My point exactly.

 

[Phrazbit]

I wouldn't call Len a "defensive" center. Per possession we give up more points with him on the court than off it, we give up a higher fg% and opposing centers post a PER of 22. Also worth noting... our offense falls to pieces with Len in the game. Per 100 possessions we get outscored by 12.5 when he is on the court, 2.1 with him on the bench. That is dreadful stuff. There is no sugar coating Len's play this year, we had a worse swing with him in or out than we did with Knight.