Suns fire McD

[Raindog]

The extra disturbing thing about all of this is, if you think about it, McD was probably the MOST competent GM the Suns have had in the Sarver era.

 

[Mainstreet]

The extra disturbing thing about all of this is, if you think about it, McD was probably the MOST competent GM the Suns have had in the Sarver era.

McDonough was a breath of fresh air compared to previous GMs like Lance Blanks, Lon Babby, Steve Kerr, Mike D'Antoni and Robert Sarver.

 

[sunsfan88]

I said it back during the summer... letting a guy who you're thinking about firing hire a head coach and play with a bunch of really good assets was asinine.

McD sucked, but he should have been fired and a REAL GM (not James Jones) should have been brought in and given this team a completely fresh start.

I agree, some of the posters over on that forum are very knowledgeable and would probably do a better job than James Jones and even Sarver for that matter.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I agree, some of the posters over on that forum are very knowledgeable and would probably do a better job than James Jones and even Sarver for that matter.

A lot of the job is developing relationships around the league. None of them will do that better than Jones has. Not saying he will be a good GM, but he is at least ahead of the curve in that aspect of the job.

 

[sunsfan88]

So why fire McDonough now? The answer circles back to Sarver’s statement. After the news broke, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that “difficulties with trades and draft picks short-circuited [McDonough’s] tenure.” Most recently, McDonough was trying to acquire a starting point guard—as of now, they’re looking at using Elie Okobo, De’Anthony Melton, or Isaiah Canaan, or shifting Devin Booker to the 1—but was unsuccessful. Other front offices weren’t listening unless Phoenix included an unprotected first-round pick. For a team fully committed to a rebuild, that’s too steep an asking price.

Sarver has a reputation for being hands-on, to put it politely. Last April, former Sun Charles Barkley called Sarver a “control freak” based on stories from past Suns coaches and employees. “Robert wants to make all of the decisions,” Barkley said. “He won’t give control to the people who work for him. … He hires them but he won’t let them do their jobs.” To Barkley’s point, much of the dysfunction from GM to GM and coach to coach has stayed constant throughout Sarver’s ownership. (Relevant: the Suns are on their sixth coach since 2013.)

In 2017, Phoenix held a press conference to announce the hiring of James Jones as vice president of basketball operations. Sarver admitted he hadn’t been listening to his GM, saying that “the reality is, I probably didn’t go in the right direction soon enough” with initiating a rebuild. “I thought the business was easier than it was,” he said. That’s worth taking note of for whoever takes over the front office. Sarver is the one ultimately making the final call on all decisions. And really, anything this franchise does is probably his idea anyway.

This is not very encouraging.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think something precipitated the firing of McDonough so unexpectedly. I wonder how quickly a trade for a point guard happens. I keep waiting for the next shoe to fall.

 

[ajcardfan]

Disaster. just when you thought the dbacks and Cards were the most inept pro teams in town. Here come the Suns!!!

 

[SirStefan32]

I think something precipitated the firing of McDonough so unexpectedly. I wonder how quickly a trade for a point guard happens. I keep waiting for the next shoe to fall.

I agree, but I hope to God they don't panic and give away too much for a stop-gap PG or a one-year rental.

 

[Mainstreet]

I agree, but I hope to God they don't panic and give away too much for a stop-gap PG or a one-year rental.

I suspect there was a trade offer McDonough rejected that Sarver and company liked.

I'm not sure who that player would be at the moment. Hopefully the Suns do not make a panic trade although I think Sarver wanted the Suns to show a marked improvement this season. I think something will happen soon and the Suns will not remain status quo.

 

[Mainstreet]

Here is something more.

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I can't say I was happy with the Suns scouting overall either.

 

[Krangodnzr]

This is not very encouraging.

No it's not. This just circles back to what the Sarver critics have been saying all along.

Sarver is the real problem. Looks like he's the jackass who kept the team away from true tanking.

 

[Yuma]

Well, I had no problem with the Bridges move up. Unlike Chriss, Bridges was first team All American at SF. So in that draft we get the first team All-American Center in Ayton, then pick up the SF, too. Essentially, young building blocks for a decade. There were a few articles on how those two liked each other after going to all the same awards ceremonies in the off season. Chriss was just a flyer on a guy who had a high potential upside.

We've all been thinking James Jones was lurking over McD's shoulder this whole time, anyway. I don't know if the Teague rumor would be McD not wanting to ship Chandler on a personal level. I have to think there's more involved here than just a missed trade for a non-all star player.

 

[Yuma]

Disaster. just when you thought the dbacks and Cards were the most inept pro teams in town. Here come the Suns!!!

Cards win their first game and McD gets fired? Coincidence?

 

[Mainstreet]

Sarver will be on the Burns and Gambo show at 3 p.m. today Arizona time to discuss the McDonough firing.

http://arizonasports.com/

 

[JCSunsfan]

The extra disturbing thing about all of this is, if you think about it, McD was probably the MOST competent GM the Suns have had in the Sarver era.

By far.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

They will also have a much better future if they don't massively overpay for a PG. There is absolutely a decent PG out there that can be had for a fair price. I hope they take the time needed to find that deal. Even if that means it doesn't happen for a few weeks.

Any suggestions?

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Any suggestions?

Not at all. I don't follow the rest of the league well enough to list the possibilities. Though I do know there are a lot of PGs in the league that are better than what we have and thus I feel confident there is one that can be had for a fair price. The question would be whether or not the ones that are a fair price would be all that big of an upgrade.

 

[sunsfan88]

By far.

He also had the most amount of disgruntled players in Suns franchise history during his tenure.

 

[sunsfan88]

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[1Sun]

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So...Chandler has now been added to the ever-growing list of disgruntled players under McDonough? How in the world did he last 5 years here?

 

[Cheesebeef]

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all of this was known after the season. Shoulda fired him then.

 

[Mainstreet]

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I think Gambo was wrong about Chandler. As I recall he was offered an opportunity to be traded but preferred to stay with the Suns.

 

[1Sun]

I think Gambo was wrong about Chandler. As I recall he was offered an opportunity to be traded but preferred to stay with the Suns.

Unless he only recently became disgruntled due to the point guard situation. If you recall, he was one of the more outspoken players about the need to trade for one.

 

[Proximo]

Well, I had no problem with the Bridges move up. Unlike Chriss, Bridges was first team All American at SF. So in that draft we get the first team All-American Center in Ayton, then pick up the SF, too. Essentially, young building blocks for a decade. There were a few articles on how those two liked each other after going to all the same awards ceremonies in the off season. Chriss was just a flyer on a guy who had a high potential upside.

We've all been thinking James Jones was lurking over McD's shoulder this whole time, anyway. I don't know if the Teague rumor would be McD not wanting to ship Chandler on a personal level. I have to think there's more involved here than just a missed trade for a non-all star player.

I mean if it's true McDonough was blocking a trade for Teague over Chandler, he actually deserves to be fired. Chandler is completely worthless to the suns at this point.

I think Gambo was wrong about Chandler. As I recall he was offered an opportunity to be traded but preferred to stay with the Suns.

Logic would certainly dictate Gambo is not wrong on Chandler. Why on Earth would he want to stay on this team - one of the worst in the league where he will likely get zero playing time.
Just because Chandler does not say in public he wants out, does not mean he does not want out.

 

[Mainstreet]

Logic would certainly dictate Gambo is not wrong on Chandler. Why on Earth would he want to stay on this team - one of the worst in the league where he will likely get zero playing time.
Just because Chandler does not say in public he wants out, does not mean he does not want out.

I will go with my recollection unless Chandler has changed his mind.