Valley of the Suns
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Way too early predictions for the 2018-19 Phoenix Suns

By Adam Maynes

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 03: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns sets the play against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on January 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 03: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns sets the play against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on January 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – JUNE 22: General Manager Ryan McDonough (L) of the Phoenix Suns looks on as head coach Igor Kokoskov speaks during a press conference at Talking Stick Resort Arena on June 22, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – JUNE 22: General Manager Ryan McDonough (L) of the Phoenix Suns looks on as head coach Igor Kokoskov speaks during a press conference at Talking Stick Resort Arena on June 22, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Ryan McDonough

Phoenix Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough has been setting the salary cap up to be able to absorb a big-time player in the 2019 offseason. Who that player is remains to be seen, but I will boldly predict this right now: that player will not be a free agent.

As excited as people are that something like one third of the league is going to be eligible in free agency next offseason, the vaaaaaaaaast majority of those players are role players, the kind of that help to make a good team better, but not the kind to put a franchise over the top.

Phoenix Suns
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Phoenix Suns

I have a hope that McDonough is going to need to sign a few of those (presumably veterans) to fill out the roster because he will have shipped off a few of the younger key parts in a trade for a star somewhere in that same offseason.

Again, I cannot predict who that player is, but I do expect a game-changer to be acquired.

So my bold prediction for Ryan McDonough during the season is that aside from possibly trading away Tyson Chandler and potentially either Dragan Bender or Marquese Chriss for draft assets, McDonough isn’t going to do a whole lot of anything and is otherwise going to continue to stand pat waiting for the right  star player to become available for trade in the summer.

Not only do I not believe that McDonough has any interest in any of the bigger-named veteran star free agents who will be available in the summer of 2019, he also isn’t going to spoil his opportunity to pilfer a star through trade from a suddenly and possibly unexpectedly rebuilding team as well by making a move (or moves) that prevents the right assets from being available or appropriate cap space to absorb a larger contract.

Expect nothing special during the season, but then watch for some magic in the summer of 2019.

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