Ryan McDonough

[BC867]

I have had high hopes for Ryan McDonough, mainly from the things I have read.

Part of that has been tarnished by the lack of his obtaining a strong Power Forward during the off-season. I know it is difficult, but I expected results, rather than having to alibi.

Tonight I saw something that turned me off. McDonough was on the D-backs pre-game show with Jody Jackson who, by the way, has turned into an excellent reporter in more than one sport.

It was the first time I have seen McDonough speaking extemporaneously. Or was he?

Every time he answered a question she posed, his eyes were looking down. He was either reading his answers (including the names of his ballplayers) from a cheat sheet or doesn't know the first thing about public speaking.

He didn't look at her, he didn't look at the camera. Not once, until she was asking her next question.

It is boring enough to see D-backs Manager Kirk Gibson staring straight ahead, not moving a muscle in his body and speaking in a dull monotone in his post-game Press conferences.

Is McDonough another Phoenix sports manager who is going to put us to sleep without the slightest show of emotion?

I am curious if any of you have seen him speaking any differently.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't think Ryan McDonough is comfortable speaking in public. He always looks somewhat tense with his body language and controlled from my observations when the cameras run. I have seen him laughing and joking before going on camera.

So you are going to knock him as a GM because of his failure to sign a strong PF in the offseason?

I'd rather have a good GM than a social butterfly.

 

[SirStefan32]

He is not going to be able to turn crap into gold in two years, and he will not be able to speak freely every time someone asks him a question.

While I haven't seen this interview, from what I've seen, he sounds extremely knowledgeable, confident, and professional. As a manager, I am a lot more comfortable with someone like McDonnough than I am with an overly emotional manager.

 

[BC867]

"Social butterfly" . . . "Overly emotional" . . . "... not be able to speak freely every time someone asks him a question."

I expect a fair amount of enthusiasm in a public interview with a General Manager. Not one whose nose is seemingly buried in his notes.

I can't help but wonder if that is the same personality he shows in negotiating with other General Managers and with his ballplayers.

My question was . . . I am curious if any of you have seen him speaking any differently.

Why the exaggerated responses? Have any of you seen him speaking any differently?

 

[SirStefan32]

"Social butterfly" . . . "Overly emotional" . . . "... not be able to speak freely every time someone asks him a question."

I expect a fair amount of enthusiasm in a public interview with a General Manager. Not one whose nose is seemingly buried in his notes.

I can't help but wonder if that is the same personality he shows in negotiating with other General Managers and with his ballplayers.

My question was . . . I am curious if any of you have seen him speaking any differently.

Why the exaggerated responses? Have any of you seen him speaking any differently?

Because it is ridiculously irrelevant question. I could not possibly care less about his level of enthusiasm not matching your expectations. I am interested in how well he does building this team, not in how chipper he is when talking to the media.

 

[Mainstreet]

"Social butterfly" . . . "Overly emotional" . . . "... not be able to speak freely every time someone asks him a question."

I expect a fair amount of enthusiasm in a public interview with a General Manager. Not one whose nose is seemingly buried in his notes.

I can't help but wonder if that is the same personality he shows in negotiating with other General Managers and with his ballplayers.

My question was . . . I am curious if any of you have seen him speaking any differently.

Why the exaggerated responses? Have any of you seen him speaking any differently?

I think the following video link below is a typical interview with Ryan McDonough. He tries so hard to come over well. If you are looking for a dynamic speaker, it's not him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oVgborqT3I
--------------------------------------------

Here is another video link where McDonough probably gives his best effort to be funny. I mean give him a break. He tries so hard. Notice the player's reactions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfI9512ovgo

The Suns are lucky to have such a good GM if he is not a star onstage.

 

[JS22]

Bored tonight, BC?

 

[Phrazbit]

In press conferences with the Suns I have noticed any disinterested or odd speaking on his part.

I think you're looking way too much into a meaningless interview.

 

[Superbone]

I've always thought he's got a little Asperger's in him. (Channeling my inner Danny Ferry.) But he hides it well. He never comes off as very comfortable in a social setting to me. But none of that takes away from him being a hell of a GM.

 

[Errntknght]

I'd like to have someone have him answer the question: Why didn't you sign Ed Davis?

Now he might have a perfectly good rationale but I would love the hear it.

 

[elindholm]

It's funny to me how McDonough can be so polarizing when we know so little about him. He engineered some trades of veterans for draft picks, which were good but not especially sophisticated, and -- aside from Warren, who so far looks like a hit -- has drafted long-term prospects who may or may not work out. He hasn't made any major acquisitions, but there's a good chance that none were realistic. His most important contract negotiation so far has been with Bledsoe, and neither camp is leaking any real information. McDonough is pretty much a completely blank slate, and yet all manner of qualities and deficiencies are being projected onto him.

 

[Phrazbit]

It's funny to me how McDonough can be so polarizing when we know so little about him. He engineered some trades of veterans for draft picks, which were good but not especially sophisticated, and -- aside from Warren, who so far looks like a hit -- has drafted long-term prospects who may or may not work out. He hasn't made any major acquisitions, but there's a good chance that none were realistic. His most important contract negotiation so far has been with Bledsoe, and neither camp is leaking any real information. McDonough is pretty much a completely blank slate, and yet all manner of qualities and deficiencies are being projected onto him.

I wouldnt call it a blank slate. In one year all that remains of the team he inherited is the Morri, Tucker and Dragic. Had the Suns won two more games and slithered into the playoffs he probably would have won exec of the year. The Scola and Dudley trades were absolute heists. The product was exponentially better on the court, the team still has a ton of cap flexibility.

I cannot give him any grade for his drafts so far, it will be a year or two before those judgements can be made. But its hard to not be impressed by the trades he has made, and his working of the roster's assets and cap space.

 

[Hoop Head]

I think an important thing to remember when judging McDonough is this is just his second offseason and how bleak things looked when he came in. Most rebuilds take 3 years if you're lucky after gutting the team like the Suns did. They damn near made the playoffs and are now viewed as a lower run playoff team for the most part, about 8th or so in the West's hierarchy. Last season outside of drafting Len & Goodwin he didn't really do anything big during the offseason outside of trading Dudley for Bledsoe, Scola for Plumlee, Green, & a pick (which was a total steal), and sending Gortat to Washington for a pick. All of those things happened later in the offseason if I recall correctly, Gortat was traded after camp if I remember correctly. Signing free agents wasn't something he did last year or this one. His expertise so far has seemingly been trades, which he showed he could work those with 3 good to great ones last offseason. I expect the Suns won't stand pat in terms of dealing between the start of camp and probably the first of the year. I don't think McDonough is a guy who shakes things up just to shake them up, rather he tries to pull things off while they can make an impact for the now and the future, like the deals he did last year and why he didn't do anything at the deadline last season.

 

[BC867]

Bored tonight, BC?

LOL. Hey, I saw it . . . I reacted. I expected a public figure to look like he had developed skills in public speaking in a TV interview. And I asked if you guys had seen anything different in interviews with him.

Geez, if it's going to get you all riled up, nevermind.

 

[elindholm]

The Scola and Dudley trades were absolute heists.

The Scola trade is looking good, but the jury is still out for the Dudley/Bledsoe trade. Maybe the Clippers had already figured out that Bledsoe had an inflated sense of self-worth and couldn't be happy without being recognized as his team's #1 player, and that's why they were so willing to move him.

 

[overseascardfan]

Here's to hoping for LA to solve our PF need by offering Randle for Bledsoe.

 

[SirStefan32]

Here's to hoping for LA to solve our PF need by offering Randle for Bledsoe.

I was hoping for that, but LA could just outright sign Bledsoe next summer without giving up Randle.

 

[Covert Rain]

I am interested in how well he does building this team, not in how chipper he is when talking to the media.

This. I care about his performance. The guy could be this guy sitting in a basement but as long as he is doing his job I don't care.

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[GYDevil]

McD had a weekly radio interview with Burns and Gambo during the season and I always thought he was pretty open and insightful.

 

[Phrazbit]

The Scola trade is looking good, but the jury is still out for the Dudley/Bledsoe trade. Maybe the Clippers had already figured out that Bledsoe had an inflated sense of self-worth and couldn't be happy without being recognized as his team's #1 player, and that's why they were so willing to move him.

Even with the contract mess its impossible to look at the performance of those players and say the trade was even remotely balanced. The Suns might end up seeing Bledsoe walk in a year after he plays 2 seasons for them on a miniscule contract, thats basically the worst case scenario. Meanwhile the Clippers just gave up a first round pick just to get Dudley off their roster.

It was a heist. The only thing the jury has yet to decide is just how lopsided it was.

 

[BC867]

I am interested in how well he does building this team, not in how chipper he is when talking to the media.

Do you really discount strength (or lack) of personality in the art of negotiating, whether with other GM's or ballplayers?

Negotiating, whether in sports or politics or even with your neighbor or spouse, is indeed partially influenced by strength of personality.

Negotiating is a large part of a General Manager's job.

If he acts shy conversing with a female sports reporter, one who happens to be very good, at a table in front of a camera, it opens the door to wondering if he has the personality and strength to emerge victoriously in negotiations with GM's and ballplayers.

There is a big difference between that and being "chipper with the media".

Which is why I opened this topic.

 

[Mainstreet]

Even with the contract mess its impossible to look at the performance of those players and say the trade was even remotely balanced. The Suns might end up seeing Bledsoe walk in a year after he plays 2 seasons for them on a miniscule contract, thats basically the worst case scenario. Meanwhile the Clippers just gave up a first round pick just to get Dudley off their roster.

It was a heist. The only thing the jury has yet to decide is just how lopsided it was.

I like your thinking.

 

[Mainstreet]

LOL. Hey, I saw it . . . I reacted. I expected a public figure to look like he had developed skills in public speaking in a TV interview. And I asked if you guys had seen anything different in interviews with him.

Geez, if it's going to get you all riled up, nevermind.

We needed something to talk about.

 

[JCSunsfan]

He has always struck me as a little socially awkward. I do not care a wit. Markieff Morris is a very good young power forward. We did not find one better than him. That is fine with me. If you cannot build from without, build from within.

McDonough is fantastic. These criticisms are silly IMO.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Do you really discount strength (or lack) of personality in the art of negotiating, whether with other GM's or ballplayers?

Negotiating, whether in sports or politics or even with your neighbor or spouse, is indeed partially influenced by strength of personality.

Negotiating is a large part of a General Manager's job.

If he acts shy conversing with a female sports reporter, one who happens to be very good, at a table in front of a camera, it opens the door to wondering if he has the personality and strength to emerge victoriously in negotiations with GM's and ballplayers.

There is a big difference between that and being "chipper with the media".

Which is why I opened this topic.

Where, pray tell, has he not negotiated with strength. He has won every trade he made. Every player he has signed has been for a bargain. He is not giving in to Bledsoe.

Strength is in the results, not the show.