The Five: Ryan McDonough’s best moves in first year as Phoenix Suns’ GM
May 7, 2014, 5:26 PM | Updated: 7:15 pm
On May 7, 2013, the Phoenix Suns made a hire that appears to have reshaped their future.
On that day, they named former Boston Celtics executive Ryan McDonough as their new general manager, choosing him to replace the fired Lance Blanks and tasking him with rebuilding and reshaping the roster.
Coming off the second-worst season in the franchise history, it appeared McDonough had his work cut out for him, with any kind of on-court success likely a couple years away, at least.
Hell, even at the time McDonough himself asked for patience, saying, “I don’t see a quick fix – or at least a quick fix that leads to what I want to do, which is bring a championship to the Valley.”
McDonough made a flurry of decisions and moves, and the rest, as they say, is history. And while he got hosed in the Executive of the Year voting, that does not mean he didn’t do a great job this season.
But which moves were his best during his first 365 days on the job? Here are the top five:
Hiring Jeff Hornacek as head coach