Suns News: The Offseason

[In2ition]

Marketing aside, I think Ayon is a better player and undervalued.

[In2ition]

Looking back at Sabonis, it's amazing how much bigger he is than the centers in the NBA back in the day. Mark West looks like a little kid next to him. Did you hear the music in the stadium background when he dunked it?

[JCSunsfan]

http://www.spotrac.com/draft-tracker/nba/

It's interesting that we have signed Warren but not Ennis.

Obviously we're trading him for Love.

Here is what I think is happening. The Suns are now in an exclusive partner relationship with Bakersfield of the D-league. I think they are trying to get Ennis to sign with Bakerfield and be a domestic draft and stash. I am not sure how the rules work on that. I wonder if the Suns can subsidize his salary so it makes sense. I think they are going to do the same thing with Alec Brown.

In order to do this, the player has to agree and he cannot sign a rookie contract with the NBA team. This is the way to use the D-League as a true developmental league. Later first round picks and second round picks sign with the D-League affiliate while the NBA team maintains their rights. When they are ready, they move up and sign with the NBA team.

I believe the McD is going to be an NBA innovator and be the first one to develop a true farm system. With all those picks, if you can't move up, you have to find a way to develop them.

It will make money for the D-League teams too. They would get better players. Look at all the interest in summer league. If we had 3-4 quality prospects playing for Bakersfield, I would probably dish out a few shekels to get their games.

For NBA veterans, there would be more jobs, because it would open up roster spots now occupied by undeveloped rookies sitting on the end of the bench. I think it might help college as well, some players that are looking at the end of the first round or second round might decide that college is a better choice than playing in D-league (those that are good students anyway). College players that are not truly college material academically have also have an option rather than making a mockery of the student-athlete concept.

The easy way to do this would be allow NBA teams to pay rookie salaries (or a percentage of those salaries) for players they have rights to that are playing in the D-league. It should not count against the cap.

[Ring_Wanted]

I'm all for that system. College could suffer, but I don't feel sorry for them. They control a huge business and don't allow their players to make real money, no matter what happens under the table.

[INFORMER]

I believe the McD is going to be an NBA innovator and be the first one to develop a true farm system. With all those picks, if you can't move up, you have to find a way to develop them.

Oops, sorry, Sam Presti beat him to it.

[JCSunsfan]

If you really want to get innovative. Let college players declare for the draft, get drafted, get paid rookie deals, but stay in college with the team's permission. The NCAA ought to approve something like this. It would keep some good players in school longer and take the pressure off of the college to pay players. The players who draw the fans will be the ones getting paid by NBA teams just to retain their rights.

It solves everyone's problem AND increases college revenue. Let's say the Lakers think Julius Randle needs another year of development. They pay him his rookie salary (not counted against the cap) but let him do another year at Kentucky. Can you imagine all the Laker fans now watching Kentucky games?

[TOO]

I believe the McD is going to be an NBA innovator and be the first one to develop a true farm system. With all those picks, if you can't move up, you have to find a way to develop them.

Oops, sorry, Sam Presti beat him to it.

So. Much. Snark.

[Charlie Smithy!]

Tony Snark!

[INFORMER]

I believe the McD is going to be an NBA innovator and be the first one to develop a true farm system. With all those picks, if you can't move up, you have to find a way to develop them.

Oops, sorry, Sam Presti beat him to it.

So. Much. Snark.

Well, we're speculating about some genius thing Ryan might have in the works, when Presti is doing literally the exact thing that JCSunsfan is speculating Ryan might do. Not to mention Morey has been deeply involved in Rio Grand Valley, the coach (or at least former one) is a student of Morey's brand of analytics, he's gotten the team to play the same style the Rockets, plus they're in the regular practice of putting their rookies down there for large portion of the season. They did it with Marcus Morris, Terrence Jones, Isaiah Canaan, and Robert Covington.

No offense to JCSunsfan; I'm not trying to pick on you or call you out.

[TOO]

Justify away bud, justify away. Honestly, I think I'm just tired of reading your negativity towards McD. Anytime someone tries to give him credit you pull out your wet blanket. It's reaching trollish levels, like SDC and his Pau obsession. Over it.

[INFORMER]

Tony Snark!

Maybe that should be my username.

[TOO]

Tony Snark!

Maybe that should be my username.

Would suit you well lately.

[Charlie Smithy!]

Lol, wasn't there actually a guy with the username of Ironman on the old dot net?

[INFORMER]

Justify away bud, justify away.

I didn't think I needed to justify anything. Just merely explaining.

Anytime someone tries to give him credit you pull out your wet blanket.

JCSunsfan, unless I'm mistaken, and if I am, I apologize, was giving McDonough credit for innovating something that's already being done. But from your reaction, I gather that we're to the point that we should ignore facts in order to prop our own guys? That sounds very Brightside of the Sun-ish.

Honestly, I think I'm just tired of reading your negativity towards McD.

Well I'm honestly sorry. I don't want to be drag on any poster, within reason.

Would you like to ignore me? I could try being more congratulatory towards McDonough. I did call the Isaiah Thomas move brilliant, I did say I loved the Alec Brown pick, I didn't knock drafting Warren, I said the Bledsoe deal was good, and I said the Indy deal was good. But I guess that's not enough.

Help me out here. Maybe you can set a quota for me of platitudes for McDonough and I can try my best to reach it.

It's reaching trollish levels, like SDC and his Pau obsession.

I think I explain my takes, opinions, and offer analysis to where my posting at least reflects thought, reason, and clarity. It may not be what you want to hear or agree with, but I would think the standard for "troll" status would be lower than just things you don't like hearing.

[Wally_West]

I can't wait when McD brings this team a championship 25 years from now and all the haters can shut up recognize how foolish they have been acting.

[iLLmatic]

I'm just waiting for INF to update his signature to #mcdoOUT

[INFORMER]

I can't wait when McD brings this team a championship 25 years from now and all the haters can shut up recognize how foolish they have been acting.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

[INFORMER]

I'm just waiting for INF to update his signature to #mcdoOUT

I would never disrespect sdc like that.

In all seriousness though, I don't usually wish for a coach or GM to get canned unless I feel that he's doing more harm than good. And that's not McDonough. He's done a solid job, but, IMO, he's not doing the best job possible with the hand he's been dealt and even with the opportunities he's created.

[Gladiator]

And that's not McDonough. He's done a solid job, but, IMO, he's not doing the best job possible with the hand he's been dealt and even with the opportunities he's created.

Which of his moves/non-moves have you not liked?

[INFORMER]

And that's not McDonough. He's done a solid job, but, IMO, he's not doing the best job possible with the hand he's been dealt and even with the opportunities he's created.

Which of his moves/non-moves have you not liked?

With all due respect Gladiator, I've been covering that since the offseason ended. And this is the second time this offseason I've been hit with the hackneyed "you're too negative" dribble. So I'm not inclined to rehash that. I just rehashed for Xylus why I'm willing to show Bledsoe the door in the other thread, a post and argument I have made probably 10 times over.

(quick aside (and not directed specifically at Gladiator): seriously, do people just see what they perceive to be a negative post by me and ignore it? I know I'm not all Planet Orange, and I don't claim to be a great read or great poster, but I still like to think my posts are worth reading. Yet I'm having people ask me to repeat my positions on topics I've been pretty vocal about. And then I get someone complaining about the constancy of that vocalizing. So I'm somewhat at a loss.)

I will say this: I'm not where everyone else is on the Ryan McDonough love train. Consensus is to deify him; I'm more, "I've some good things, I've seen some troubling things; solid job so far, but we (you, Ryan) need to do better."