Former Phoenix Suns general manager Ryan McDonough joined Dukes and Bell to talk about the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. Dukes started the conversation with McDonough talking about Trae Young’s performance during Game 1.
McDonough stated that Young has had issues offensively against the Bucks during his short NBA career, so he was surprised that he had such an impressive showing. McDonough was not surprised about the win because he thinks that they will win this series. He believes Atlanta is the deeper and better team.
The conversation pivoted to John Collins and his pending free agency. McDonough was asked by Dukes, as a general manager knowing what Collins means to the Hawks organization, would he match any max-offer sheets on the table for Collins from other teams.
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McDonough was adamant that the Hawks should attempt to get a new contract before another team could offer Collins a deal. He says that Collins has done enough from a personal and team aspect to deserve a max offer from the Hawks. McDonough says that teams “can make it uncomfortable for the Hawks to match.” So it would be best for the Hawks to not let it come to that.
With McDonough being the man that drafted Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, he is excited to see the Suns in the Western Conference finals, just as the Atlanta Hawks fan base. He does think that it would be great if we would be able to see these two young teams in the Suns and Hawks, in the NBA Finals.