Expect the Phoenix Suns to be busy bees this summer.
During a Facebook live session on Monday, general manager Ryan McDonough tipped his hand on some of the team’s offseason plans. Scott Bordow of AZCentral.com relayed the most juicy takeaways, including this gem about the forthcoming coaching search—which interim head coach Jay Triano will indeed be a part of:
Ryan McDonough just said on Suns' Facebook live interview that Phoenix will interview several coaching candidates. Mentioned college coaches too. Triano will get an interview as well
— scott bordow (@sbordow) March 5, 2018
McDonough also may have clued us in on who the Suns will pick should they win the No. 1 pick by emphasizing the need for another center:
McDonough also said center is "slightly higher" priority than point guard. In other words, if Phoenix gets No. 1 pick, Ayton could very well be the guy
— scott bordow (@sbordow) March 5, 2018
Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss must feel so special right now. Seriously, though, getting bigger is a smart play. Neither Alex Len nor Alan Williams profiles as an answer, Chriss doesn’t have the defensive chops to log substantive time at the 5, and Tyson Chandler doesn’t factor into Phoenix’s long-term picture.
Finally, McDonough also indicated the Suns could look to move some of their lesser first-rounders in order to secure a higher draft pick or veteran player:
McDonough also talked about using Milwaukee, Miami picks as "asset consolidation," meaning Phoenix would either try to trade up or use those picks to trade for an established player
— scott bordow (@sbordow) March 5, 2018
The Milwaukee Bucks pick, acquired as part of the Eric Bledsoe trade, has wonky protection on it. It will not be conveying this year. But the Suns will snag the Miami Heat’s first, which should end up just a few ticks outside the lottery. They also have Miami’s 2021 pick at their disposal. Mashing together any combination of these selections could help them vault up the draft board or land a veteran name without chiseling into the core.
Count on the Suns exploring any path that expedites their development. McDonough has said in the past they will be aggressive in free agency. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2010, and they’re slated to have cap space at a time when very few teams will wield significant financial flexibility. With Devin Booker extension-eligible and set for a max-level salary in 2019-20, this summer may be their one shot to lure in a marquee name or high-impact player.
Whether the Suns are close enough to the Western Conference’s postseason bubble to be this hyperactive over the offseason is a different story. It depends on who they’re adding to the roster, both in the draft and via free agency. They need to be smart about their next move, since the wrong signing or addition could set them back a few years. The safest play, at its core, entails holding onto to all their picks, since having too many cost-controlled assets is never a bad thing.
