Suns News: Week of 4/14-4/20

[Superbone]

He hasn't done anything to warrant INFs negativity, I dont understand it either.

It appears that INF is pouting because McDonough said we probably won't keep all three first round picks.

[Sunsfan4life]

Let's be perfectly honest....

McDonough has put this franchise in a better position in a year then any of us could have imagined last off-season.
Out Scola,Gortat,Beasley,Brown,Dudley in Wizards Pick,Pacers Pick,Bledsoe,Ish,Green,Plumlee,Goodwin,Len. Picking up the Morri's options looks like a solid move as well.

People can form their own opinions, but the soon to be E.O.Y. Had a fantastic 1st yr of accumulating draft picks and clearing out cap space to allow Suns future flexibility. Seems like the ones questioning him are for the moves (or picks) he hasn't made then the ones he has. Thats all based on assumptions (How much the Lakers wanted for Gasol, Re-signing Gortat in the off-season, What Bledsoe shoulda been offered for an extension, etc)

The Giving away draft picks things is a little silly and nitpicky. I will be angry if he just sells off picks, but if he moves up or maneuvers around the 1st rd with the 3 picks to grab a guy I really like then I'll be fine with it. He never said "I'm giving away picks, because I don't value the draft" and he has no history of doing so. So lets wait and see first.

[INFORMER]

It's silly to punt away cheap talent.

Why don't we wait and see how he uses our draft picks before we jump to conclusions?

No thanks. I'm just going to get all my frustration out now so when the inevitable happens I can just move along. I'm not going to be hopeful for the next two months only to be disappointed yet again. The funny thing is, this year it was supposed to be easy. McDonough had made some solid moves to get the team in solid drafting position. No draft day miracle wheeling and dealing needed to happen. Just sit there and draft. But this franchise seems determined to perpetually extend the legacy of 2004.

Oh well. On to free agency and Bledsoe's max contract.

[INFORMER]

People can form their own opinions, but the soon to be E.O.Y.

Bzzz! Wrong! What do we have as a consolation prize for our contestant?

[INFORMER]

Let's be perfectly honest....

McDonough has put this franchise in a better position in a year then any of us could have imagined last off-season.

I'm sorry but I don't consider what McDonough did to be anything innovative or miraculous. It's the kind of maneuvering I've been calling for for years. In the grand scheme of things, all it did was get the Suns off a dead-end course and position them to head in the right direction. I like that and all, but I'm not going to get all giddy about it because there is still so much work to be done to build a contender. The fact that the Suns had this Cinderella season is skewing where this team is and how much has been accomplished, IMO.

[Sunsfan4life]

'

m sorry but I don't consider what McDonough did to be anything innovative or miraculous. It's the kind of maneuvering I've been calling for for years.

Then you should be extra happy that he actually did it, since the prior Gms didn't. If the suns had went 13-69 this yr I still would be happy with what he did, there Cinderella season and the success they had was just gravy.

In the grand scheme of things, all it did was get the Suns off a dead-end course and position them to head in the right direction.

I think you are underrating how big that is. That's the first and biggest step to the top. Clean out the dead weight and start acquiring assets so that when your chance to land a star or a game changer happens you have the flexibility to do so. Phoenix is a lot more desirable location right now then it was last yr to Players/People. He centered his rebuild on cap space and draft picks I think he did quicker then many thought.

I like that and all, but I'm not going to get all giddy about it because there is still so much work to be done to build a contender.

I agree and nobody is mistaking the suns for a title contender, but you don't build a contender in one off-season and that wasn't his goal. His Goal was to put the team in a better position in the future and acquire assets and clear cap space...I'd say Mission Accomplished.

[Ring_Wanted]

People can form their own opinions, but the soon to be E.O.Y.

Bzzz! Wrong! What do we have as a consolation prize for our contestant?

That's a tough one, Bob. I am going with the mighty jump from #21 to #14.

[Ring_Wanted]

I'm sorry but I don't consider what McDonough did to be anything innovative or miraculous. It's the kind of maneuvering I've been calling for for years. In the grand scheme of things, all it did was get the Suns off a dead-end course and position them to head in the right direction. I like that and all, but I'm not going to get all giddy about it because there is still so much work to be done to build a contender. The fact that the Suns had this Cinderella season is skewing where this team is and how much has been accomplished, IMO.

Maybe not innovative or miraculous, but still needs to be done. I would have though you'd have a softer spot for those moves in hindsight. Nabbing what has revealed as a star caliber player like Bledsoe for a role player and change, adding three pieces for Scola, one of them being the proverbial extra pick you've been longing forever, and turning Gortat into a pick in the 15-20 range don't exactly lack merit.

[INFORMER]

Then you should be extra happy that he actually did it, since the prior Gms didn't.

No I shouldn't. If I'm at a restaurant that keeps bringing me the wrong dish, I'm not going to be extra happy when I finally get what I ordered. I'm not throwing a parade for someone who does the bare minimum.

If the suns had went 13-69 this yr I still would be happy with what he did, there Cinderella season and the success they had was just gravy.

But you're just one person. I was referring to the Suns media (AZ Republic, BSOTS) and the fanbase in general. And I'm not saying that the Cinderella season is the only reason to be happy with McDonough. I told this to Superbone last offseason: I'm not going to be easy. I'm not going to praise Hornacek for his summer league coaching. I'm not going to anoint McDonough for doing the bare minimum.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying McDonough doesn't deserve any credit. I'm just not going to give him as much credit as everyone else seems ready to do. I think he had a good offseason. I think he made some very good moves. But by my estimation the Suns are still far from contending and I am still not convinced McDonough knows what he is doing when it comes to the draft. I don't hold it against McDonough that the Suns aren't contending yet, because, like you said, contenders aren't built in one off-season. But I will allow that fact to temper my praise for him.

I think you are underrating how big that is. That's the first and biggest step to the top. Clean out the dead weight and start acquiring assets so that when your chance to land a star or a game changer happens you have the flexibility to do so.

I really disagree with that. More and more GMs are proving themselves adept at clearing out dead weight and accumulating assets. What's most important is how you use those assets and flexibility.

[INFORMER]

one of them being the proverbial extra pick you've been longing forever

I love how people act like I want picks just to have them. What I've been longing for is to get picks and do a great job at using them.

[Ring_Wanted]

one of them being the proverbial extra pick you've been longing forever

I love how people act like I want picks just to have them. What I've been longing for is to get picks and do a great job at using them.

Obviously. Who said otherwise? As far as I know there is only one poster assuming poor management of picks.

[Ring_Wanted]

I'll also add that there is more than one way to do a great job at using said picks.

[INFORMER]

True, but pre-determining in April that you can't have three rookies is not one of them.

[In2ition]

Although I think that McDonough did a very good job this last off-season, this one is even bigger for him and the Suns. I guess we'll see how he maneuvers the draft, trades, and free-agency. He has a lot of tools and assets to use, and let's see if he can leverage them to change the team from an overachiever to a contender.

[INFORMER]

Although I think that McDonough did a very good job this last off-season, this one is even bigger for him and the Suns.

Maybe, maybe not. This may be the summer to stand pat. If Minnesota doesn't want to move Kevin Love, then he won't be moved, and right now they don't appear inclined to move. Do you waste assets to work a sign and trade for Monroe or Hayward? The draft aside, this may be the summer where the Suns don't do much at all.

[Ring_Wanted]

Pre-determining is not a good way to do anything, never mind something as volatile as the NBA draft. You won't get an argument from me over that one. I am not inside McD's brain, but I'd like to think that he knows it too.

At this point I am starting to wonder if you actually watched the full press conference. I did and nothing that was said led me to believe that the FO or the coach don't value picks. 'We probably are not bringing in three rookies'. So what. Words said three months away from the draft.

There is only one scenario that would make me mad. Selling the picks or using them to dump salary, and that's exactly the only option they didn't mention.

The thought of turning them into a higher pick, future picks, NBA players or international prospects don't repulse me. It won't until I see the actual move. That's when I'll decide if it's good or bad for the franchise.

[INFORMER]

The thought of turning them into a higher pick, future picks, NBA players or international prospects don't repulse me. It won't until I see the actual move. That's when I'll decide if it's good or bad for the franchise.

And you're well within your right to feel and think that way. I'm not telling you to be upset or bothered.

But forgive me if I've seen this show before and don't feel like waiting around to be disappointed by another draft night.

[In2ition]

Although I think that McDonough did a very good job this last off-season, this one is even bigger for him and the Suns.

Maybe, maybe not. This may be the summer to stand pat. If Minnesota doesn't want to move Kevin Love, then he won't be moved, and right now they don't appear inclined to move. Do you waste assets to work a sign and trade for Monroe or Hayward? The draft aside, this may be the summer where the Suns don't do much at all.

I think that would be big too. I hope I didn't give the impression that the option to do nothing but stand pat wasn't there. Sometimes that's even harder to do, because you know GM's get itchy to do something. If nothing presents itself that would meaningfully improve the team long term, then they should do just that, stand pat. What they do in the draft is going to be very meaningful not just for this year, but years afterwards. Increase the assets, increase the value of the assets, keep building up the team to be ready for bigger things.

[Sunsfan4life]

I really disagree with that. More and more GMs are proving themselves adept at clearing out dead weight and accumulating assets. What's most important is how you use those assets and flexibility.

I agree, but why assume Mcdonaugh will do the same? Your judging him off past GM's mistakes? The Job is not done, clearly there is a lot of work and tough decisions ahead, but for this yr he gets an A in my book. I don't put much stock in his "3 rookies" comment, because if he packaged 14 n 19 and moved up for Gordon or Randle then I'd be all for it. We may differ on this though.

He has accumulated the assets, that's step one and frankly he did it quicker then I expected him too.

[Sunsfan4life]

I was referring to the Suns media (AZ Republic, BSOTS) and the fanbase in general. And I'm not saying that the Cinderella season is the only reason to be happy with McDonough. I told this to Superbone last offseason: I'm not going to be easy. I'm not going to praise Hornacek for his summer league coaching. I'm not going to anoint McDonough for doing the bare minimum.

Bare Minimum? We must have different translations of that word. Getting 2 1st rd picks,Bledsoe,Green,and cap space is a whole lot more then "bare minimum" in my book.