Lon Babby to reduce role to Phoenix Suns advisor

(Photo: Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby will switch to a part-time role with the team Aug. 1, putting Suns general manager Ryan McDonough at the head of basketball operations.

Babby's contract will expire at the end of July but he will remain based in Phoenix and spend half of his time working as a Suns senior advisor doing "strategic counsel," particularly with contract negotiations and salary cap management.

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McDonough's title will not change but he will lead the basketball operations department with increased responsibility for himself and assistant general managers Pat Connelly and Trevor…