Suns GM Ryan McDonough promises there won’t be a repeat of the “strategic resting” that saw Eric Bledsoe and Tyson Chandler held out of the lineup late last season, relays Scott Bordow of The Arizona Republic. Phoenix reached the All-Star break tied with the Hawks for the top spot in our Reverse Standings, but McDonough said the team won’t make any changes to try to improve its odds for the No. 1 pick.
“We’re planning on doing what we have been doing, that’s playing our young players. For us, that’s not a change,” he said. “… We want to continue to have them improve and get minutes and try to win as many games as we can.”
Interim coach Jay Triano echoed those sentiments and recalled that Bledsoe was angry about being forced to sit out the final 15 games last season, which played a part in his request to be traded. “I think we learned from last year with guys sitting out,” Triano said. “I don’t think that was real productive for us.”
There’s more tonight out of Phoenix:
- Triano, who has served as interim coach since Earl Watson was fired in October, would like to be considered for the full-time job after the season ends, Bordow adds in the same story. “Listen, I love coaching, I love it here, I love the relationship I’m starting to develop with these players, so I’d like to keep it going and be a part of their development because I see a lot of positives,” Triano said. … “So there’s no reason I would not want to be [the coach].”
- Fifth-year center Alex Len no longer seems to be in the Suns’ plans for the future, Bordow notes in a separate story. The plan for the final 23 games of the season is to start Chandler at center with Dragan Bender as the primary backup as Marquese Chriss gets another shot at the starting lineup. Len will be an unrestricted free agent this summer after agreeing to the Suns’ qualifying offer last year. He is averaging 8.4 points and 7.7 rebounds in 49 games, but the organization doesn’t seem to think his future will be in Phoenix.
- Shaquille Harrison is thrilled to make his NBA debut after spending two seasons with the Suns’ G League affiliate in Northern Arizona, relays Craig Grialou of ArizonaSports. “I’m just trying to seize the opportunity,” said Harrison, whose 10-day deal became official today. “I’m very grateful to be here. It’s a great organization, that’s why I stuck with them the past year-and-a-half, two years. I’m loving it and enjoying the process.”
How long do we have to suffer with the Genius of Ryan McDummo? Doesn’t have a clue with picks, coaches , trades or vision. Oh how we heard he a ” homerun hire”. He needs to go back to Beantown.
The Suns show you just how tanking and drafting in the lottery is a complete crap shoot. I mean look at other teams, unless you are in the bottom 3, it’s really hard to build through the draft b/c you need a REALLY good talent evaluator. Bender, Len, Chriss all not really working out drafted 4-8th. Meanwhile Warren and Booker were selected 13th and 14th. Same thing w/the Sixers… crap shoot.
Not to mention, how many top 8 picks did Minnesota have in a row between Garnett and Towns? That was a 20 year gap with very few even decent hits out of their high picks.
Golden State had the same problem before striking gold with Curry and Thompson back to back.
Sixers got Simmons 1 (clear pick), embiid (3) Dario + a 1st and fultz who I still think will be a good player when healthy. I don’t know what your point w that is besides the okafor pick. You can knock the Noel pick but everyone misses on abc and that turned into Dario also.