We knew Ryan McDonough was going to shake the tree.
We just didn’t know how fast the leaves would fall.
Less than a week after adding a pair of the first-round picks (center Alex Len, guard Archie Goodwin) reports leaked the first-year Phoenix Suns general manager plucked Eric Bledsoe from the Clippers and former Boston Celtics co-worker Doc Rivers in a three-team deal which saw popular sharp-shooter Jared Dudley land in LA with Rivers and his new associate head coach Alvin Gentry.
The casual Suns’ fan may not be familiar with Bledsoe, who backed up All-Star Chris Paul the past two seasons, much like they didn’t know about another point guard by the name of Kevin Johnson who was traded to Phoenix 25 years ago after being stuck behind Cavs’ All-Star Mark Price.
The biggest benefactor in the modern day deal, besides the Suns’ fan base who will enjoy watching Bledsoe’s skill set at both ends of the floor, is his new backcourt running mate and last year’s starting point guard, Goran Dragic.
In both cases the Suns were need of a serious makeover. The 1987-’88 version won 28 games. Phoenix scratched out just 25 last season.
The biggest benefactor in the modern day deal, besides the Suns’ fan base who will enjoy watching Bledsoe’s skill set at both ends of the floor, is his new backcourt running mate and last year’s starting point guard, Goran Dragic.
Dragic will face less on-court obstacles when he takes the floor this fall.
No longer will he have to defend the other team’s top ball handler playing alongside the defensive savvy Bledsoe’s who’s ginormous wingspan stretches 6’7 3/4.
Offensively, Dragic can afford the luxury of playing off the ball and let Bledsoe get in the lane (one of his best attributes) and create for others, particularly in the open floor.
Look for Dragic to thrive in his new co-pilot role, especially after the tandem gets a better feel for one another with more time together on the floor.
Losing is never fun but nobody deserves to see a repeat of last year. In the NBA you must get really bad before you can get can really good.
The Suns can check off the first part of that.
In dealing for the hybrid Bledsoe and veteran forward Caron Butler it allows Phoenix to add a skilled, young backcourt piece and keep their cap flexibility heading into next summer as Butler’s deal will expire. Dudley deserves better for being a noble and selfless foot soldier through the collapse of the franchise but his ceiling can get no higher. The Clippers are a perfect fit for him to spot up and knock down open jumpers when double teams surround CP3 and Blake Griffin.
Nobody knows if McDonough’s re-tooling agenda is foolproof or if he’s done shaking the tree but at least there’s a vision and blueprint in place for not only improving, but improving the right way.
Who knows…maybe history will repeat itself a quarter century later.
What we do know is somewhere Goran Dragic is smiling.
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Eric Sorenson
A Valley native, Eric has had a passion for the Arizona sports scene since an early age. He has covered some of the biggest events including Super Bowls, national championships and the NBA and MLB playoffs in his near 20 years in local media.