Should the Suns keep Ryan McDonough as GM

JustWinBaby

Veteran
Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Posts
487
Reaction score
50
Location
Buckeye, Az
Another Texas Two Step to try to convince everyone that McDonough is even an adequate GM.

It is amazing how much protection this guy gets.
 

JS22

Say Vandelay!
Joined
Oct 21, 2002
Posts
5,791
Reaction score
211
Really? He was direct quoted as saying he wanted out because he didn’t like the Suns benched him when healthy and that he didn’t want to waste his prime with a team trying to lose ball games.

This isn’t hearsay, it’s direct quotes after he was traded to the Bucks.

This is what happens when teams purposely tank, which is why I've never been a fan of it. This year is different. This team is just BAD. The few vets they have seem to be fine in a mentorship role. And honestly they aren't really good enough to take minutes away from the younger guys anyway.

My hope is that the Suns don't do something incredibly stupid like benching Booker, or even Warren, for extended periods of time just to push for a top 3 pick. Yeah losses are preferred at this point. But doing something as asinine as "limiting" Booker would great way to ruin their already damaged reputation even more.
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

I'm better than Mulli!
Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Posts
63,482
Reaction score
57,804
Location
SoCal
This is what happens when teams purposely tank, which is why I've never been a fan of it. This year is different. This team is just BAD. The few vets they have seem to be fine in a mentorship role. And honestly they aren't really good enough to take minutes away from the younger guys anyway.

My hope is that the Suns don't do something incredibly stupid like benching Booker, or even Warren, for extended periods of time just to push for a top 3 pick. Yeah losses are preferred at this point. But doing something as asinine as "limiting" Booker would great way to ruin their already damaged reputation even more.
They can’t damage it any further. And the addition of a top 3 pick FAR OUTWEIGHS any perceived fantasy reputation loss.
 

JS22

Say Vandelay!
Joined
Oct 21, 2002
Posts
5,791
Reaction score
211
They can’t damage it any further. And the addition of a top 3 pick FAR OUTWEIGHS any perceived fantasy reputation loss.

I mean, fortunately they're bad enough to keep losing. But "strategically resting" Booker would be insane. Last thing the Suns need to do is damage their relationship with Booker.

Fortunately I doubt it happens. Just throwing out a worst-case scenario.
 
OP
OP
Mainstreet

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
117,448
Reaction score
57,646
I mean, fortunately they're bad enough to keep losing. But "strategically resting" Booker would be insane. Last thing the Suns need to do is damage their relationship with Booker.

Fortunately I doubt it happens. Just throwing out a worst-case scenario.

It would have to be an injury situation for it to happen especially after the NBA commissioner took some action in regard to comments made by Mark Cuban.
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

I'm better than Mulli!
Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Posts
63,482
Reaction score
57,804
Location
SoCal
I mean, fortunately they're bad enough to keep losing. But "strategically resting" Booker would be insane. Last thing the Suns need to do is damage their relationship with Booker.

Fortunately I doubt it happens. Just throwing out a worst-case scenario.
I honestly believe booker understands the big picture. Of course he wants to play, all players do. But I’m sure he wants this team to be as good as it can too. I think he’s got a Tim Duncan kinda perspective. And I’m sure Tim would have sat for te greater good for the spurs - in fact he frequently did so when Pop routinely rested players year after year. Yes that was in prep for the playoffs, but it was still a big picture move, same as sitting Booker would be here.

Also, unlike Bledsoe, Booker will be a RFA and will get a max offer from the suns. Sitting won’t impact his contract or marketability. I’m sure Bledsoe was mad about it due to his desire for a max contract.

If he needs to have his minutes limited in a long grueling season to cement a top pick, so be it.
 

pokerface

ASFN Addict
Joined
May 20, 2004
Posts
5,369
Reaction score
807
I honestly believe booker understands the big picture. Of course he wants to play, all players do. But I’m sure he wants this team to be as good as it can too. I think he’s got a Tim Duncan kinda perspective. And I’m sure Tim would have sat for te greater good for the spurs - in fact he frequently did so when Pop routinely rested players year after year. Yes that was in prep for the playoffs, but it was still a big picture move, same as sitting Booker would be here.

Also, unlike Bledsoe, Booker will be a RFA and will get a max offer from the suns. Sitting won’t impact his contract or marketability. I’m sure Bledsoe was mad about it due to his desire for a max contract.

If he needs to have his minutes limited in a long grueling season to cement a top pick, so be it.

Yeah ppl around here act like Booker lives in a bubble oblivious to the draft. I'm sure he's aware of the situation. For all we know he might want to play with one of the elite bigs in the draft. If he got sat he'd know it's only because he's good enough to affect our draft.
 
OP
OP
Mainstreet

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
117,448
Reaction score
57,646
Yeah ppl around here act like Booker lives in a bubble oblivious to the draft. I'm sure he's aware of the situation. For all we know he might want to play with one of the elite bigs in the draft. If he got sat he'd know it's only because he's good enough to affect our draft.

Everything I have heard and read about Booker makes me think otherwise.

Booker doesn't like to watch. He wants to play.
 

pokerface

ASFN Addict
Joined
May 20, 2004
Posts
5,369
Reaction score
807
Everything I have heard and read about Booker makes me think otherwise.

Booker doesn't like to watch. He wants to play.

I'm sure Booker likes a lot of things. I think he'd like to play with a good team someday with an upward trajectory. :rolleyes:
 
OP
OP
Mainstreet

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
117,448
Reaction score
57,646
I'm sure Booker likes a lot of things. I think he'd like to play with a good team someday with an upward trajectory. :rolleyes:

Maybe you need to talk to him and the commissioner. LOL.
 

BC867

Long time Phoenician!
Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Posts
17,827
Reaction score
1,709
Location
NE Phoenix
Yeah ppl around here act like Booker lives in a bubble oblivious to the draft. I'm sure he's aware of the situation. For all we know he might want to play with one of the elite bigs in the draft. If he got sat he'd know it's only because he's good enough to affect our draft.
I wonder what Michael would have done if the Bulls lost two key players. Would he have agreed to sit so the Bulls could add a top draft pick?

Of course, I am not comparing Booker's skills to the top Guard of all time. But, ambition? They are/were along the same lines.

I don't think that Booker would volunteer to tank, but rather would expect the Front Office to use their skills to improve the team around him proactively.

Proof? (A) Triano recently announced that the Suns will not tank this season. (B) It was announced earlier that Booker would have input into all future plans. (C) Triano would not have made his no-tanking announcement without Booker being on board. Think about it.
 

Hoop Head

ASFN Icon
Joined
Feb 4, 2005
Posts
17,275
Reaction score
12,443
Location
Tempe, AZ
This idea that the team should sit Booker regardless of his feelings on the matter is asking for trouble. I can't help but think the same people asking for him to be ignored and sat now would turn around and bash the Suns for ruining their relationship with him if he asked to be traded.
 

pokerface

ASFN Addict
Joined
May 20, 2004
Posts
5,369
Reaction score
807
I wonder what Michael would have done if the Bulls lost two key players. Would he have agreed to sit so the Bulls could add a top draft pick?

Of course, I am not comparing Booker's skills to the top Guard of all time. But, ambition? They are/were along the same lines.

I don't think that Booker would volunteer to tank, but rather would expect the Front Office to use their skills to improve the team around him proactively.

Proof? (A) Triano recently announced that the Suns will not tank this season. (B) It was announced earlier that Booker would have input into all future plans. (C) Triano would not have made his no-tanking announcement without Booker being on board. Think about it.

Booker is under contract for a very long time. The suns can match any offer and will extend him. If Sarver ponies up max money for an extension that should soften any hurt feelings. If not he has years to get over it.
 

Hoop Head

ASFN Icon
Joined
Feb 4, 2005
Posts
17,275
Reaction score
12,443
Location
Tempe, AZ
Booker is under contract for a very long time. The suns can match any offer and will extend him. If Sarver ponies up max money for an extension that should soften any hurt feelings. If not he has years to get over it.

I'm sure Cleveland thought the same thing with Kyrie, or the Suns did with Joe Johnson back in the day, or the Pacers with Paul George. The list goes on and on. You can't go out of your way to piss off the only hope the franchise has for the future.
 

pokerface

ASFN Addict
Joined
May 20, 2004
Posts
5,369
Reaction score
807
I'm sure Cleveland thought the same thing with Kyrie, or the Suns did with Joe Johnson back in the day, or the Pacers with Paul George. The list goes on and on. You can't go out of your way to piss off the only hope the franchise has for the future.

Point taken but each situation was different. Besides, it depends how badly the suns want/need to score in this draft. I think the situation is desperate enough to roll the dice. One could say to limit Bookers minutes but I don't trust the coach or Booker to stay in guidelines.

Your point about ticking off the future of the franchise...We are trying to get another cornerstone to the franchise. This team isn't going anywhere with one franchise player.
 

Hoop Head

ASFN Icon
Joined
Feb 4, 2005
Posts
17,275
Reaction score
12,443
Location
Tempe, AZ
McD has come out and said that the Suns will not be sitting player like they did last year. So I'd wouldn't hold onto any hope that the Suns decide to rest Booker. I don't blame them when it comes to their young guys but with Chandler suffering some nagging injuries I'd be surprised if he plays much through the remainder of the year.


xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

I'm better than Mulli!
Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Posts
63,482
Reaction score
57,804
Location
SoCal
I wonder what Michael would have done if the Bulls lost two key players. Would he have agreed to sit so the Bulls could add a top draft pick?

Of course, I am not comparing Booker's skills to the top Guard of all time. But, ambition? They are/were along the same lines.

I don't think that Booker would volunteer to tank, but rather would expect the Front Office to use their skills to improve the team around him proactively.

Proof? (A) Triano recently announced that the Suns will not tank this season. (B) It was announced earlier that Booker would have input into all future plans. (C) Triano would not have made his no-tanking announcement without Booker being on board. Think about it.
(D) Cuban got fined $600,000 for saying they were tanking and (E) Sarvwr still wants butts in seats. Think about it.
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

I'm better than Mulli!
Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Posts
63,482
Reaction score
57,804
Location
SoCal
I'm sure Cleveland thought the same thing with Kyrie, or the Suns did with Joe Johnson back in the day, or the Pacers with Paul George. The list goes on and on. You can't go out of your way to piss off the only hope the franchise has for the future.
None of those scenarios are even remotely similar.
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

I'm better than Mulli!
Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Posts
63,482
Reaction score
57,804
Location
SoCal
They're players that asked out of their current situation. It doesn't matter why. When you deliberately piss off your star player you're playing with fire. Why is that so hard to comprehend?
A) complete conjecture on you’re part that it would “piss off” Booker. If he understood the stakes, and he seems smart enough to do so, it may just be mildly annoying to miss a few games in a lost season. But I understand the completely possible scenario doesn’t help your argument that this seemingly reasonable kid who is enjoying being the face of the franchise is going to fly off the handle for sitting with a potential franchise talent on the line.

B) kyrie wasn’t really “pissed” he just wanted to have his own team without LeBron’s shadow

C) you just can’t compare sitting a player to a player being lowballed. Sorry dude, not REMOTELY the same facts and if Booker gets that bent about sitting in a tanking situation - like someone RIGHTLY should if they get low-balled, he’s likely not the level-headed leader this franchise needs.

D) I know Paul George wanted out, but it seemed more like he wanted to get to LA than he was “pissed.” I don’t recall seeing he was pissed ever. Frustrated that the team wasn’t doing enough to surround him with talent (like, uh, I dunno tanking in an already lost season to get him another franchise level player to help him in the playoffs?!?), but not “pissed.”
 

Carolinacacti

Hall of Famer
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2007
Posts
2,295
Reaction score
1,296
Location
Charlotte NC
So all these players plus Bledsoe are the good guys? Booker should not play 40 mins a game. Maybe he could be a top ten scorer at the end of his career if the stars Aline right. Suns should not win, at crunch time Booker, Payton should be on the pine.
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

I'm better than Mulli!
Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Posts
63,482
Reaction score
57,804
Location
SoCal
So all these players plus Bledsoe are the good guys? Booker should not play 40 mins a game. Maybe he could be a top ten scorer at the end of his career if the stars Aline right. Suns should not win, at crunch time Booker, Payton should be on the pine.
I’m not making a judgment as to whether they are “good” or otherwise. Just don’t see any of these as remotely the same to sitting a player for a few games in the pursuit of a greater chance of adding more talent for bookers future pursuit of wins.
 

Errntknght

Registered User
Joined
Sep 24, 2002
Posts
6,342
Reaction score
319
Location
Phoenix
Just play Chriss, Bender, Jackson, Reed, Peters and Ulis solid minutes and we don't have to tank. They started out the year saying the first goal would be player developement so just stick to that and we'll be fine.
 

pokerface

ASFN Addict
Joined
May 20, 2004
Posts
5,369
Reaction score
807
Just play Chriss, Bender, Jackson, Reed, Peters and Ulis solid minutes and we don't have to tank. They started out the year saying the first goal would be player developement so just stick to that and we'll be fine.

No offense but there is a seven team tank race. Just a few wins could make the suns draft position fall several spots.
 
Top