Should the Suns keep Ryan McDonough as GM

Cheesebeef

ASFN IDOL
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2003
Posts
92,155
Reaction score
70,314
I don't think McDonough is going anywhere. Sarver wants him in charge of the timeline. He does have an eye for talent, but he is not a great manager. Hopefully he can learn from mistakes and get us back on track. The 2013-2014 season wasn't so long ago.

I'm actually glad we didn't land a big FA in recent offseasons. We just need to hit with our picks this year and sign a vet or two to help us win next season.

That’s another issue with... “the timeline”.

There ISN’T one. He tried to push us into mediocrity last offseason with a go nowhere pitch for Griffin and did the same thing two years before that with the useless pitch to Aldridge. If his plan was to rebuild from scratch, how do both of those moves do that while probably capping us out as a 40-45 win team?

His planS have NEVER achieved anything that they set out to do. Build through FA and throw big dollars at Griffin/Aldridge? Whiff! How about the draft? Well, we’ve literally been getting worse every season the last three years. Whiff again! I mean... it’s crazy but even his plan to suck in year 1 didn’t work because we somehow won 48 games!

Here’s the reality... when you have three different coaches, waves of personnel switching in and out, most draft picks showing very little and you’re still completely listless, twisting in the wind, you have to look at what one constant amongst coaches/players coming and going and wins getting harder to come by?

The man who’s making ALL the decisions.

If that doesn’t change, nothing will as far as the team’s fortunes.
 

Superbone

Phoenix native; Lifelong Suns Fan
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2005
Posts
6,416
Reaction score
3,600
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Or get us started on the correct path sooner.......

I admire your patience. However this guy has had enough time.

I do not know if I could handle another Alex Len, Bender or Chriss to be drafted this summer.

Something also stinks about this idea of Bradley to the Suns. I can see another overpay for a PG that isn't really a PG heading our way.

I have little faith in McDonough's decision making. Why should anyone?
I can't really argue with any of that. I just want my Suns back. Curse you Jerry C! Him selling the franchise was a horrible mistake. He still had a lot of basketball left in him.
 

Superbone

Phoenix native; Lifelong Suns Fan
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2005
Posts
6,416
Reaction score
3,600
Location
Phoenix, AZ
That’s another issue with... “the timeline”.

There ISN’T one. He tried to push us into mediocrity last offseason with a go nowhere pitch for Griffin and did the same thing two years before that with the useless pitch to Aldridge. If his plan was to rebuild from scratch, how do both of those moves do that while probably capping us out as a 40-45 win team?

His planS have NEVER achieved anything that they set out to do. Build through FA and throw big dollars at Griffin/Aldridge? Whiff! How about the draft? Well, we’ve literally been getting worse every season the last three years. Whiff again! I mean... it’s crazy but even his plan to suck in year 1 didn’t work because we somehow won 48 games!

Here’s the reality... when you have three different coaches, waves of personnel switching in and out, most draft picks showing very little and you’re still completely listless, twisting in the wind, you have to look at what one constant amongst coaches/players coming and going and wins getting harder to come by?

The man who’s making ALL the decisions.

If that doesn’t change, nothing will as far as the team’s fortunes.
Yeah, but unfortunately Sarver isn't going anywhere soon. (See what I did there?)
 

Cheesebeef

ASFN IDOL
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2003
Posts
92,155
Reaction score
70,314
2014 and 2010 were the last 2 respectable years. So, only one year with McD. Is he at his rope's end? Yeah. The question is should he be kicked off the platform. I can understand both sides. I'm just not sure if it's a good idea to abort in the middle of the current plan. It could set us back even more. I guess it would depend on who would step in. Sarver doesn't have a good track record there.

There is no current plan. The current plan blew up in McD’s face when he couldn’t see the Bledsoe disaster coming and had to fire his second coach.

The next plan starts with a new HC. And before you start that plan, you need to get a new GM to pick him.

This is what’s so maddening to me. With all of our assets we COULD be an attractive place to lure a GM who actually knows what he’s doing to come here. And with those assets, he might be able to get a coach worth a lick.

Risking that opportunity on a guy who’s a lame duck GM, with a spotty lotto record and ZERO ability to recognize coaching talent is a recipe for disaster.

I get that y’all are starving for something to really sink your teeth into, but clamoring for more sh*t sandwiches that have been stuffed down your throat for the last four years isn’t going to satiate your hunger. They’re just going to continue making you feel like crap.
 

Cheesebeef

ASFN IDOL
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2003
Posts
92,155
Reaction score
70,314
Yeah, but unfortunately Sarver isn't going anywhere soon. (See what I did there?)

I do... but don’t you also believe that McD was an upgrade from Babby and Co? If so, and you believe McD is getting better, who’s to say Sarver isn’t too and might actually get someone even better.

Also, y’all can’t have it both wants, sticking up for Sarver when people bash him and say “he’s hands off now!”, then turning around and blaming him when McD gets crap.
 

Cheesebeef

ASFN IDOL
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2003
Posts
92,155
Reaction score
70,314
I can't really argue with any of that. I just want my Suns back. Curse you Jerry C! Him selling the franchise was a horrible mistake. He still had a lot of basketball left in him.

On this we agree.
 

Superbone

Phoenix native; Lifelong Suns Fan
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2005
Posts
6,416
Reaction score
3,600
Location
Phoenix, AZ
There is no current plan. The current plan blew up in McD’s face when he couldn’t see the Bledsoe disaster coming and had to fire his second coach.

The next plan starts with a new HC. And before you start that plan, you need to get a new GM to pick him.

This is what’s so maddening to me. With all of our assets we COULD be an attractive place to lure a GM who actually knows what he’s doing to come here. And with those assets, he might be able to get a coach worth a lick.

Risking that opportunity on a guy who’s a lame duck GM, with a spotty lotto record and ZERO ability to recognize coaching talent is a recipe for disaster.

I get that y’all are starving for something to really sink your teeth into, but why clamor for more sh*t sandwiches that have been stuffed down your throat for the last four years? They’re just going to continue making you feel like crap.
I agree that if we're going to do it, Sarver has to pony up for an experienced GM and then Coach. The big question there is who is that GM? Would Sarver finally pony up for a quality GM? He hasn't so far. He even low balled Kerr when he was GM. I'm not sure Sarver will ever learn. He's done a good job of running this team into the ground. Remember when the Suns used to have the 4th best overall winning percentage in NBA history?
 
Last edited:

Superbone

Phoenix native; Lifelong Suns Fan
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2005
Posts
6,416
Reaction score
3,600
Location
Phoenix, AZ
I do... but don’t you also believe that McD was an upgrade from Babby and Co? If so, and you believe McD is getting better, who’s to say Sarver isn’t too and might actually get someone even better.

Also, y’all can’t have it both wants, sticking up for Sarver when people bash him and say “he’s hands off now!”, then turning around and blaming him when McD gets crap.
I don't know how anybody can stick up for Sarver. His Midas touch as a banker has been nowhere to be seen as an NBA owner. He hasn't proven sh*t.
 

Cheesebeef

ASFN IDOL
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2003
Posts
92,155
Reaction score
70,314
I agree that if we're going to do it, Sarver has to pony up for an experienced GM and then Coach. The big question there is who is that GM? Would Sarver finally pony up for a quality GM? He hasn't so far. He even low balled Kerr when he was GM. I'm not sure Sarver will ever learn. He's done a good job of running this team into the ground. Remember when the Suns used to have the 4th best overall wining percentage in NBA history?

To tell the truth, I’m not sure Sarver would pony up either. I’m just hoping he’d get lucky with the next one. I feel like throwing darts blindfolded would give us just as good a chance as McD does.

We’re a league joke. There’s no floor left to go. Sure, season win totals might get slightly worse with anyone we bring in, but that’s micro details. Macro they’ll be exactly what they are now. Terrible.

I’m willing to take the risk we get lucky and not be terrible.
 

Superbone

Phoenix native; Lifelong Suns Fan
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2005
Posts
6,416
Reaction score
3,600
Location
Phoenix, AZ
To tell the truth, I’m not sure Sarver would pony up either. I’m just hoping he’d get lucky with the next one. I feel like throwing darts blindfolded would give us just as good a chance as McD does.

We’re a league joke. There’s no floor left to go. Sure, season win totals might get slightly worse with anyone we bring in, but that’s micro details. Macro they’ll be exactly what they are now. Terrible.

I’m willing to take the risk we get lucky and not be terrible.
Yeah, at this point I could go either way. I just don't know anymore. Sarver has worn me down as a Suns fan.
 

JCSunsfan

ASFN Icon
Joined
Oct 24, 2002
Posts
22,115
Reaction score
6,551
Looks like the Clips GM just traded Blake Griffin, newly signed, for an expiring (Avery Bradley), Tobias Harris, a throw away in Boban, and a protected first round pick.

This is one of those deals the league should void.
 

3rdside

Hall of Famer
Joined
Nov 4, 2002
Posts
1,531
Reaction score
202
Location
London, UK
Looks like the Clips GM just traded Blake Griffin, newly signed, for an expiring (Avery Bradley), Tobias Harris, a throw away in Boban, and a protected first round pick.

This is one of those deals the league should void.

Why, because Detroit just bought a guy who can’t stay healthy for $170m bucks?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Hoop Head

ASFN Icon
Joined
Feb 4, 2005
Posts
17,588
Reaction score
12,810
Location
Tempe, AZ
Looks like the Clips GM just traded Blake Griffin, newly signed, for an expiring (Avery Bradley), Tobias Harris, a throw away in Boban, and a protected first round pick.

This is one of those deals the league should void.

I don't see any reason why the league should void that trade. I think it's a little messed up a player can sign for the super max with their own team and then be traded so his super max contract follows him. There should be at least a 1 year waiting period to deal someone like that. What's to stop someone else from signing their supermax and then demanding a trade right away?
 

JustWinBaby

Veteran
Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Posts
487
Reaction score
50
Location
Buckeye, Az
I can't really argue with any of that. I just want my Suns back. Curse you Jerry C! Him selling the franchise was a horrible mistake. He still had a lot of basketball left in him.

Amen

I also would not mind Kerr back as GM. Did I say that.

Well recently he admitted he made some mistakes when he was here. At least he made moves that had a chance to work. I liked Marion but I have to admit I was intrigued by the addition of Shaq alongside Amare. Unfortunately the injury bug hit Amare and they never participated in a playoff together. I wanted to see them beat the crap out of Tim Duncan. At one point prior to Amare going down we were almost impossible to beat. No one seems to remember that. They just remember the losses. There were a lot of wins in those days and the days of Jerry C!

I want them back - this losing sucks.
 

Cheesebeef

ASFN IDOL
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2003
Posts
92,155
Reaction score
70,314
Amen

I also would not mind Kerr back as GM. Did I say that.

Well recently he admitted he made some mistakes when he was here. At least he made moves that had a chance to work. I liked Marion but I have to admit I was intrigued by the addition of Shaq alongside Amare. Unfortunately the injury bug hit Amare and they never participated in a playoff together. I wanted to see them beat the crap out of Tim Duncan. At one point prior to Amare going down we were almost impossible to beat. No one seems to remember that. They just remember the losses. There were a lot of wins in those days and the days of Jerry C!

I want them back - this losing sucks.

Dude... you’ve said this before, but you’re wrong

Amare and Shaq played together during DA’s last year in the playoffs where the Spurs kicked the snot out of us in 5 games in the first round. Game 1 was Duncan’s three point OT miracle.

They each played all 5 games.
 

JustWinBaby

Veteran
Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Posts
487
Reaction score
50
Location
Buckeye, Az
Dude... you’ve said this before, but you’re wrong

Amare and Shaq played together during DA’s last year in the playoffs where the Spurs kicked the snot out of us in 5 games in the first round. Game 1 was Duncan’s three point OT miracle.

They each played all 5 games.

My Bad - I stand corrected.

I have been thinking about the 08/09 season I think. That is the year Amare went down with an injury around the All Star break. We did not even make the playoffs without him and the next year Shaq was gone.

It won't happen again. But at the time I actually thought the trade of Marion for Shaq had a chance to work.

Oh Well, I wish we had those discussions these days.

We were concerned about being competitive in the playoffs. Making the playoffs was not a problem except 08/09. The playoffs are not even in sight these days.
 

hcsilla

ASFN Lifer
Joined
Sep 22, 2002
Posts
3,392
Reaction score
219
Location
Budapest,Hungary
There will be more money available this summer. So we will see what McD can put together.

Yes, that's great news, so we can expect another Chandler- or Dudley-type of signings (or perhaps even LMA-like ones) which again would put the Suns in no man's land.

I honestly can't believe why it is so hard to learn the lesson of how Sam Hinkie did rebuild the Sixers.

The Suns are dreaming about shortening the process since 6 years and slowly it would be time to face reality and acknowledge that there is no other route.
 

Phrazbit

ASFN Icon
Joined
Oct 10, 2011
Posts
20,364
Reaction score
11,459
What scares me most about McD was making Watson coach. I honestly think he has a good eye for talented players, I think he has negotiated strong trades and when he took over as GM we had a team devoid of any talent worth giving two squirts about. But Watson was so damn terrible that it is stunning, and while most of McD's trades have been solid, they've been sadly reactionary and rarely from a position of strength.

Probably the BEST thing I can say about his front office is that they've had a lid on things. The Lance Blanks front office screamed from the rooftops their intentions and each move was predicted days in advance. McD holds his cards close to the chest, maybe too close for the fragile egos of some players.

Anyway... Blanks was an idiot, McD isn't, and I think he may well end up being a really talented GM, but the growing pains have been tough to endure, just as they've been with Sarver as an owner. I'm tired of these lazy coaching hires, promoting an assistant from within. I don't think McD is going anywhere but if he does another lazy ass hire (as in, an assistant or someone with ties to the organization) then it will probably be the last straw for me. I really hope they make a hard push for Jay Wright. College coaches who live on recruiting do not entice me as NBA coaches, Jay Wright on the other hand has turned Villanova into a powerhouse and I suspect very few people who are not hard core college basketball fans can name a single player who has rolled through that campus.
 
OP
OP
Mainstreet

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
119,250
Reaction score
59,863
What scares me most about McD was making Watson coach. I honestly think he has a good eye for talented players, I think he has negotiated strong trades and when he took over as GM we had a team devoid of any talent worth giving two squirts about. But Watson was so damn terrible that it is stunning, and while most of McD's trades have been solid, they've been sadly reactionary and rarely from a position of strength.

Probably the BEST thing I can say about his front office is that they've had a lid on things. The Lance Blanks front office screamed from the rooftops their intentions and each move was predicted days in advance. McD holds his cards close to the chest, maybe too close for the fragile egos of some players.

Anyway... Blanks was an idiot, McD isn't, and I think he may well end up being a really talented GM, but the growing pains have been tough to endure, just as they've been with Sarver as an owner. I'm tired of these lazy coaching hires, promoting an assistant from within. I don't think McD is going anywhere but if he does another lazy ass hire (as in, an assistant or someone with ties to the organization) then it will probably be the last straw for me. I really hope they make a hard push for Jay Wright. College coaches who live on recruiting do not entice me as NBA coaches, Jay Wright on the other hand has turned Villanova into a powerhouse and I suspect very few people who are not hard core college basketball fans can name a single player who has rolled through that campus.

Your description of Ryan McDonough going through growing pains as a GM is right on target. I think he will be an excellent GM in time. Also the Watson hire scares me as well. Although McDonough has largely kept a lid on things he does need to work on controlling his irritation when certain players and agents push his buttons, e,g., Dragic, the Morris twins and Bledsoe.
 

StreetTruckinTitan

You talkin' to me?
Joined
Mar 11, 2014
Posts
3,211
Reaction score
1,815
David Griffin anyone? He didnt do a bad job as GM with the Cavs and the only reason he's not with them now is because the owner is a nightmare....nevermind!
 

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
556,130
Posts
5,433,635
Members
6,329
Latest member
cardinals2025
Top