In just over two months the transformation has begun in downtown Phoenix.
Since the day he was hired Suns general manager Ryan McDonough has had a vision in rebuilding the team back to their competitive ways.
Between the NBA’s numerous restrictions and the mis-matched roster McDonough inherited it hasn’t been easy but the blueprint appears to be taking place after Phoenix got younger, faster and more athletic between the draft and new point guard Eric Bledsoe who came over from the Los Angeles Clippers in the Jared Dudley trade.
“I think you’re starting to see the foundation of what we’re trying to build here,” McDonough told Pros2Preps.com in a recent phone interview. “These are just the first steps. We realize we have a long way to go. I think these guys we’re bringing in are hopefully the kind of players fans will be excited about watching.”
Bledsoe has been the apple of McDonough’s basketball eye for quite some time as he tried to acquire the ultra-athletic point guard while working under Danny Ainge in Boston.
“I’ve watched him back to his high school days and the University of Kentucky,” McDonough said. “He obviously has unique physical talents. He’s one of the better athletes in the NBA. He does some freaky things in terms of shot blocking and chasing guys down on the break.”
McDonough believes Bledsoe and Goran Dragic will blend together nicely in the backcourt. Bledsoe is longer, more athletic while Dragic possesses good size and shooting range. Both can get in the lane and create for others.
McDonough and his staff will get a longer look at veterans like Markieff and Markus Morris and PJ Tucker among others in Las Vegas Summer League play which is already underway. Rookie first-round pick Archie Goodwin and fellow guard Kendall Marshall (a first-rounder last year) are also on the roster.
Through it all he’s aware there’s still plenty of work to do here in the Valley.
“We’re certainly not done yet,” McDonough explained to Pros2Preps.com. “We’re going to continue to be aggressive but we feel like these are great first steps for us.”
