Suns GM Ryan McDonough: ‘We’ll be aggressive’
Jan 14, 2016, 7:57 AM | Updated: Jan 15, 2016, 9:53 pm
Newly-appointed Phoenix Suns general manager Ryan McDonough speaks during an NBA basketall news conference, Thursday, May 9, 2013, in Phoenix. McDonough joins the Suns after most recently serving the past three seasons as the assistant general manager of the Boston Celtics. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
The Phoenix Suns are going to be a team to watch on the NBA’s trade market this year and Ryan McDonough’s appearance on Burns & Gambo on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM did confirm that the Suns general manager has been active.
“I think you’ll see the talks heat up again,” McDonough said.
As to when those talks will heat up, McDonough referenced the Jan. 15 date, when trade restrictions will be lifted off of specific players that were signed this offseason in free agency.
That date holds significance in the trade rumor scene, as the Suns were rumored to have interest in a Markieff Morris deal with the Houston Rockets that had Corey Brewer involved, who can’t be traded until Friday.
McDonough denied a deal being in place.
“We don’t have anything pre-arranged or anything pending,” McDonough said. “I think discussions heated up a little bit in mid-December and then they cooled down around the holidays.
“I think talks are getting more serious now. Could we make a trade over the next week or so? Sure, but there’s nothing imminent.”
Those talks will begin to have more possibilities as we get closer to the Feb. 18 trade deadline.
“There’s a deadline for a reason. Most of the offers now coming from teams are kind of one-sided. As you get closer to the deadline, the deals become more realistic,” McDonough said.
“I think I see a lot of activity between tomorrow and the trade deadline (five weeks away),” McDonough said. “We’ll be aggressive and look at some things.”
The status of Morris is the most alluring storyline surrounding the Suns and McDonough was asked if he thinks that there is a chance of Morris being with the team until the end of the season.
“Yeah I do,” McDonough said. “He has this year on his contract with three more years remaining. There is time. We’re under no pressure to do anything immediately.”
