Should the Suns keep Ryan McDonough as GM

[pokerface]

We, myself included, can vent all we want. Since the same time last year, it is what it is.

How about this, pokerface? We make this our last hurrah.

If we wind up drafting high and get a player who will make this team better, without alienating any of our existing players, I'll say you were right and enjoy our climbing up the ranks starting next season.

But if next season plays the same as this season, and the latter part of last season, you'll abandon being the champion of planned losing.

'Deal?

Well I like that deal a lot because this is the last tank I see for the suns. Because of the lottery rule changes after this next draft, our youth improving (hopefully), the addition of a high draft pick, and the addition of Payton I see the suns climbing out of this mess.

So I say "deal" because I don't like this losing season after season. If the suns are in the same situation next season I probably will be tuned out in disgust.

DEAL!

 

[Raindog]

Well I like that deal a lot because this is the last tank I see for the suns. Because of the lottery rule changes after this next draft, our youth improving (hopefully), the addition of a high draft pick, and the addition of Payton I see the suns climbing out of this mess.

So I say "deal" because I don't like this losing season after season. If the suns are in the same situation next season I probably will be tuned out in disgust.

DEAL!

The only way I see the Suns NOT being markedly improved next year is if A) they somehow play themselves out of a top 5 pick the remainder of this season, or B) they blow that top 5 pick on the wrong guy.

No guarantee they don't do the latter, as to some extent there is an element of chance with any draft pick.

As for the former, that is much more something that is in their own hands, aside from the possibility of the lottery messing it up. But finishing as badly as possible will tilt the odds more in their favor there, too.

 

[BC867]

That’s my point, BC. He has to be smart enough to know the ONLY way REAL TALENT is coming here is in the draft... because whoever that is will have no choice! So, if he wants to make it work here, seems like he would understand that losing is the only way to give these idiots the best possible chance to NOT screw up this draft. And the only way to do that is by giving them the best possible chance to get the first pick.

I think he’s smart enough to get that this year. But we couldn’t get away with it again. This is the last stand, IMO. We either get Book some major talent this off-season, or I think we’re gonna be looking at dicey time’s sooner than later.

Well I like that deal a lot because this is the last tank I see for the suns. Because of the lottery rule changes after this next draft, our youth improving (hopefully), the addition of a high draft pick, and the addition of Payton I see the suns climbing out of this mess.

So I say "deal" because I don't like this losing season after season. If the suns are in the same situation next season I probably will be tuned out in disgust.
DEAL!

I sincerely hope you guys are right and appreciate your setting a limit on the status quo.

But I don't think they are going to pull a Bledsoe and shut Booker down if he is healthy.

 

[pokerface]

I sincerely hope you guys are right appreciate your setting a limit on the status quo.

But I don't think they are going to pull a Bledsoe and shut Booker down if he is healthy.

Realistically, they probably won't sit him although they should consider it. A middle ground approach would be to limit his minutes.

 

[BC867]

Realistically, they probably won't sit him although they should consider it. A middle ground approach would be to limit his minutes.

I wonder how DBook would react to that. In baseball, batting average doesn't suffer, as long as you have enough official at-bats to qualify. In basketball, of course, it's points, assists and rebounds per game.

Our "leaders" would have to do a real selling job . . . and back it up by arranging something in which they have shown no skill -- a balanced starting 5 and a balanced bench. And no more gimmicks.

 

[BC867]

IT JUST GETS WORSE

Here is a report that Sarver and McDonough botched the buyout of Greg Monroe by not just waiving him.

It refers to the Suns as cheap and infers that they are ignorant.

But then, we already knew that.

Pathetic!

After reading the article, what are your opinions?

https://sports.yahoo.com/suns-cost-themselves-money-buying-201102581.html

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

We, myself included, can vent all we want. Since the same time last year, it is what it is.

How about this, pokerface? We make this our last hurrah.

If we wind up drafting high and get a player who will make this team better, without alienating any of our existing players, I'll say you were right and enjoy our climbing up the ranks starting next season.

But if next season plays the same as this season, and the latter part of last season, you'll abandon being the champion of planned losing.

'Deal?

I can’t guarantee that but I’ll say this, if we suck so badly next year and we are not seeing the promising youth you want have to worry about it because I might be the deepest valley of despair regarding this team and likely just won’t post much anymore. I mean at that point, what’s the point?

 

[SirStefan32]

So, what's the problem?They didn't know how much money Boston would give him? Am I missing something?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Or working for a couple of dunderheads who have no skill in setting a plan to lead a team successfully. If we know it, I'm sure he knows it better.

Unfortunately that just stinks.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

IT JUST GETS WORSE

Here is a report that Sarver and McDonough botched the buyout of Greg Monroe by not just waiving him.

It refers to the Suns as cheap and infers that they are ignorant.

But then, we already knew that.

Pathetic!

After reading the article, what are your opinions?

https://sports.yahoo.com/suns-cost-themselves-money-buying-201102581.html

Certainly lessens my opinion of the savvy of this front office.

 

[Hoop Head]

IT JUST GETS WORSE

Here is a report that Sarver and McDonough botched the buyout of Greg Monroe by not just waiving him.

It refers to the Suns as cheap and infers that they are ignorant.

But then, we already knew that.

Pathetic!

After reading the article, what are your opinions?

https://sports.yahoo.com/suns-cost-themselves-money-buying-201102581.html

I don't see this as an issue. The reason they didn't "save" that money is because he signed with Boston for as much as he did which was an unusually high amount for a player bought out at that point in the year, which the article even mentioned. Had he signed with New Orleans or Cleveland, like was rumored, then they would have saved that 1.5 million they got him to surrender in the buyout. It really was his choice of team that kept the Suns from saving a little more money and ultimately that couldn't be predicted. Also for a front office and owner so often called cheap, paying a little extra isn't a bad thing, it isn't our money. The potential goodwill from the buyout is better than playing hardball and just waiving him like the article suggests, which is an unusual move for a team to make when letting a player out of their deal early to go elsewhere.


Seriously, look at how that money would have been saved. There are a lot of "what ifs" and "if only" sort of stipulations to that. No fault to the front office for that, at all.

 

[pokerface]

IT JUST GETS WORSE

Here is a report that Sarver and McDonough botched the buyout of Greg Monroe by not just waiving him.

It refers to the Suns as cheap and infers that they are ignorant.

But then, we already knew that.

Pathetic!

After reading the article, what are your opinions?

https://sports.yahoo.com/suns-cost-themselves-money-buying-201102581.html

Oh c'mon...that isn't terrible. So the suns could have saved 343 grand by waiving him instead of a buy-out. The article even said the Celtics offer of 5 mill was more than anticipated but insinuated the suns should have known... Pfft so what. 343 grand is chump change in the NBA.

The take I get from this article is McD wants to play the free agency market. That's good isn't it?

 

[Errntknght]

We actually have 17 games remaining against teams with a winning record and 6 games against teams with a losing record. Not sure where you found anything that suggests otherwise. Only teams we play with a losing record (as of right now) are Sac, Cha, Dal, Memphis, Atl and Orlando.

You are quite right Cards_etc.. - I can't figure out how I came up with 11 losing teams on our remaining schedule. Things are not nearly as dicey as I thought - heck, we'd probably be okay if we won all six of these games - if all the winning teams beat us or all but 1. Anyway, I'd say we have a fair shot at having the worst record in the league which would guarantee slotted no higher than 4th in the draft.

 

[pokerface]

You are quite right Cards_etc.. - I can't figure out how I came up with 11 losing teams on our remaining schedule. Things are not nearly as dicey as I thought - heck, we'd probably be okay if we won all six of these games - if all the winning teams beat us or all but 1. Anyway, I'd say we have a fair shot at having the worst record in the league which would guarantee slotted no higher than 4th in the draft.

I don't feel all that safe because there are seven other teams that threaten our draft. Most of them are within a couple games of us. Only Chicago is a couple wins ahead (with less losses). Extremely tight race. Frankly I don't see the suns having the worst record by the end of the season. I don't even know if they can stay in the top three. Booker will be hitting his stride again and Payton is playing inspired ball. Williams might be back at some point.

 

[Mainstreet]

I believe McDonough knew every nook and cranny of the buyout or waive options with Monroe. Look how he acquired Daniels and Payton.

My guess it was all about steering Monroe to the Celtics which could pay dividends down the road in terms of goodwill.

 

[sunsfan88]

Does it bother anyone else that Ryan McDonough averages 1 disgruntled player per season since taking over as GM?

I get it that there are plenty of excuses and reasons to justify it but it’s just mind boggling how this happens. Not even other terribly managed teams like Sacramento or Orlando have this problem.

Whenever he gets fired from the Suns, I don’t think McDonough will find another job after all the bridges he has burnt with players and agents.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Does it bother anyone else that Ryan McDonough averages 1 disgruntled player per season since taking over as GM?

I get it that there are plenty of excuses and reasons to justify it but it’s just mind boggling how this happens. Not even other terribly managed teams like Sacramento or Orlando have this problem.

Whenever he gets fired from the Suns, I don’t think McDonough will find another job after all the bridges he has burnt with players and agents.

Bledsoe wanted a max deal or to be traded. When the trade did not happen fast enough for him, he forced his way out. That’s just business. Stinking business, but business none the less. Bledsoe wasn’t disgruntled he just wanted the money. He probably figures he would be worth more in free agency if he plays for someone else.

 

[BC867]

Does it bother anyone else that Ryan McDonough averages 1 disgruntled player per season since taking over as GM?

I get it that there are plenty of excuses and reasons to justify it but it’s just mind boggling how this happens. Not even other terribly managed teams like Sacramento or Orlando have this problem.

Whenever he gets fired from the Suns, I don’t think McDonough will find another job after all the bridges he has burnt with players and agents.

Just as I commented about Jeff Hornacek, Ryan McDonough doesn't show the persona or strength of a leader. They're the kind of neophytes that Robert Sarver promotes.

You can't be subservient to satisfy Sarver one minute, then show strength to the rest of the NBA and your players the next. Unless you are a real con artist.

The only thing Sarver brings to the Suns is money. As long as he doesn't realize that, he has nothing else to offer and will continue to hire underlings weaker than he.

A Head Coach fired a few games into the season. And an interim Coach who doesn't want to continue in the job. Sarver evidently doesn't realize that he sets the tone of disrespect.

That is why Suns leadership can't stand up to pressure from the players. So it is not so mind boggling why McDonough averages one disgruntled player per season. Perhaps it is only one because now the majority of our rotation is made up of very young players. And why the team is pinning its hopes on even more young players. Is that a coincidence?

Sarver, in his incompetence, has set a low ceiling. And, with a couple of exceptions (most notably Devin Booker), his GM, coaches and roster fit that low ceiling. The best we can hope for is, once in awhile, stumbling into a good move. That is not the recipe for success.

 

[sunsfan88]

Bledsoe wanted a max deal or to be traded. When the trade did not happen fast enough for him, he forced his way out. That’s just business. Stinking business, but business none the less. Bledsoe wasn’t disgruntled he just wanted the money. He probably figures he would be worth more in free agency if he plays for someone else.

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.

 

[JCSunsfan]

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.

He said that he decided that it was best for his career. But it is also true that he wanted a max extension and that was AFTER the benching. If he had gotten his max extension, the whole benching thing would have been forgotten completely. So you tell me, what was it really about?

 

[Mainstreet]

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.

Bledsoe effectively said show me the money. I have no doubt if the Suns offered Bledsoe the max he would have stayed. He may have said otherwise but I'm skeptical to the nth degree.

 

[sunsfan88]

He said that he decided that it was best for his career. But it is also true that he wanted a max extension and that was AFTER the benching. If he had gotten his max extension, the whole benching thing would have been forgotten completely. So you tell me, what was it really about?

Bledsoe effectively said show me the money. I have no doubt if the Suns offered Bledsoe the max he would have stayed. He may have said otherwise but I'm skeptical to the nth degree.

So by this logic, he should demand a trade away from the Bucks this summer too if they don’t extend him with a max contract either, yes?

 

[Mainstreet]

So by this logic, he should demand a trade away from the Bucks this summer too if they don’t extend him with a max contract either, yes?

Bledsoe wanted max money to stay with the Suns and if not he wanted to be traded to a contender.

He couldn't get max money from the Suns so he got his second wish.

 

[Hoop Head]

So by this logic, he should demand a trade away from the Bucks this summer too if they don’t extend him with a max contract either, yes?

That depends. Since he's already publicly demanded a trade away from the Suns if he does the same thing to the Bucks he'll be seen as a malcontent and no one will want to pay him big money in free agency. He needs to be careful with how he handles things because it could hurt his value across the league. If the Bucks don't make their intentions to resign him clear this summer though I think you can expect to see that reflect in his play on the court. He could dog it again like he did in the first couple of games with the Suns. He'll probably turn it on towards the end of the year though in order to show other teams that he's worth big money in free agency.

 

[BC867]

So by this logic, he should demand a trade away from the Bucks this summer too if they don’t extend him with a max contract either, yes?

You're overlooking that Bledsoe was benched for a significant part of the season in order to lose, following being part of 3-lead-Point Guard folly. Max contract was hardly the only factor in the embarrassing episode.

I have always been a company man who does not make rash decisions when it comes to employment. But if I went through those two episodes, I'd be pissed, too, and want out. Wouldn't you?