Pre-Draft Outlook
Phoenix reportedly agreed to trade Kevin Durant to Houston in exchange for a package of players and picks, including the No. 10 overall selection in this Draft. The deal would leave the Suns paying roughly $178 million next season to a quintet of shooting guards in Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen. Ryan Dunn, Royce O’Neale and Cody Martin are also wing players. Even after the trade is consummated (July 6 is the soonest that can happen), Phoenix is slated to remain above the second apron of the salary cap.
The Way To Go
The No. 10 overall pick represents Phoenix’s best current chance at improvement after missing the postseason for the first time since 2020. Overall talent should be the priority, but the Suns are already overstocked with perimeter talent that needs sorting. Next to Devin Booker and the rest of the guards, Phoenix needs size that can 1) shoot and/or finish on one end and 2) defend on the other. The Suns could leap at drafting Khaman Maluach if he falls this far (or if they can trade up to get him). If not, there’s a plethora of intriguing talents in the next tier of frontcourt players.
— Matt Petersen
Here’s a quick look at Phoenix’s current roster entering the Draft:
Under Contract
G: Grayson Allen
G: Devin Booker
G: Bradley Beal
G: Tyus Jones
F: Ryan Dunn
F: Kevin Durant
F: Oso Ighodaro
F: Cody Martin
F: Royce O’Neale
C: Nick Richards
Free Agents
G: Collin Gillespie
G: Vasilije Micić
G: Monté Morris
G: TyTy Washington Jr.
G/F: Damion Lee
F: Jalen Bridges
F/C: Mason Plumlee
C/F: Bol Bol