2025 Draft Night Picks Discussion

[kennydorglas]

"If he can stay healthy" talks is funny.
He literally never did.
Lakers rescinded a trade bc his medical was bogus.

It's a very bad move, we ain't that medical gods we used to be.
Taking a flyer on a injury prone dude is fine.
Not wasting two 1sts and after drafting another C with our top pick.

[BobbieL]

Nick Richards for 2025-26: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed on 6/29/25.

We have 3 days to decide about Richards contract.

I thought they already guaranteed it.

They did guarantee it

I don't get why they didn't just waive Martin and Micic and include Richards in the Williams trade

Which tells me, I hope - they have a plan for Richards. Otherwise, more cap incompetence to trade a player they could easily waive for $8m of cap space

[bwgood77]

Nick Richards for 2025-26: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed on 6/29/25.

We have 3 days to decide about Richards contract.

I thought they already guaranteed it.

They did guarantee it

I don't get why they didn't just waive Martin and Micic and include Richards in the Williams trade

Which tells me, I hope - they have a plan for Richards. Otherwise, more cap incompetence to trade a player they could easily waive for $8m of cap space

Yeah, it seems maybe they have a plan for him, but if not he's cheap and insurance for a Williams injury if Maluach isn't ready to play a lot.

[bwgood77]

"If he can stay healthy" talks is funny.
He literally never did.
Lakers rescinded a trade bc his medical was bogus.

It's a very bad move, we ain't that medical gods we used to be.
Taking a flyer on a injury prone dude is fine.
Not wasting two 1sts and after drafting another C with our top pick.

Don't you forget how Chris Paul was injured for years and suddenly healthy for 2 whole years for us and same with KD for the most part. Beal, though, well, not so lucky there in that respect.

[KdoubleDees23]

"If he can stay healthy" talks is funny.
He literally never did.
Lakers rescinded a trade bc his medical was bogus.

It's a very bad move, we ain't that medical gods we used to be.
Taking a flyer on a injury prone dude is fine.
Not wasting two 1sts and after drafting another C with our top pick.

First you are just spewing nonsense. His medicals werent ready to play immedietly and Lakers were making a playoff run. They needed a Center right then and there, that is why the trade didn't go through. Lakers are still upset they never got him.

[sunsbum]

I feel like some of you aren’t as good of GMs as you claim to be. It’s very Simple. When healthy Mark Williams is a big time asset. Unfortunately he isn’t able to stay healthy so when malawach slid on the draft board we jumped at the chance to take him. You now have a center that can come in immediately and start, and then you have a guy who can step in get some minutes and learn behind a guy that has a similar play style as well as being able to step in when Williams is injured.

[Saberestar]

Nick Richards for 2025-26: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed on 6/29/25.

We have 3 days to decide about Richards contract.

I thought they already guaranteed it.

They did guarantee it

I don't get why they didn't just waive Martin and Micic and include Richards in the Williams trade

Which tells me, I hope - they have a plan for Richards. Otherwise, more cap incompetence to trade a player they could easily waive for $8m of cap space

We haven't guaranteed Richards contract yet.

The word a few days back was "Suns expected to guarantee Nick Richards' $5M salary."

We have 3 days to decide it. We can guarantee his contract and use him in a trade. Or we can just stay pat and save those $5M.

[BobbieL]

I thought they already guaranteed it.

They did guarantee it

I don't get why they didn't just waive Martin and Micic and include Richards in the Williams trade

Which tells me, I hope - they have a plan for Richards. Otherwise, more cap incompetence to trade a player they could easily waive for $8m of cap space

We haven't guaranteed Richards contract yet.

The word a few days back was "Suns expected to guarantee Nick Richards' $5M salary."

We have 3 days to decide it. We can guarantee his contract and use him in a trade. Or we can just stay pat and save those $5M.

Okay -- that makes a bit of sense. As if he was traded, they would have to guarantee the contract . With Micic - I think they will negotiate a buyout

I like the signing or trade rather. And the Duke connection with KM can only be helpful

[dremill24]

Nick Richards for 2025-26: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed on 6/29/25.

We have 3 days to decide about Richards contract.

I thought they already guaranteed it.

They did guarantee it

I don't get why they didn't just waive Martin and Micic and include Richards in the Williams trade

Which tells me, I hope - they have a plan for Richards. Otherwise, more cap incompetence to trade a player they could easily waive for $8m of cap space

Richards doesn't make enough to be traded for Williams

[BobbieL]

I thought they already guaranteed it.

They did guarantee it

I don't get why they didn't just waive Martin and Micic and include Richards in the Williams trade

Which tells me, I hope - they have a plan for Richards. Otherwise, more cap incompetence to trade a player they could easily waive for $8m of cap space

Richards doesn't make enough to be traded for Williams

Okay -- got it . They must have a plan to trade or release Richards. But Richards at 5m - seems like he could be trade bait tonight.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

[SkyBill40]

I'm curious to see how the Suns navigate out of the 2nd apron. To me, it appears another team will have to help the Suns out a lot or being okay with 2nd round draft picks as compensation to take on Beal.

This is the only trade that makes sense to me.

The Wizards and Pelicans trade expands to a four-team trade after Blazers learn that Jrue Holiday absolutely does not want to be in Portland.

Suns -
Jrue Holiday
Kelly Olynyk

Wizards -
Bradley Beal
2nd round picks from Suns

Blazers -
CJ McCollum
2 2nd round picks from Suns

Pelicans -
Jordan Poole
Saddiq Bey

Suns save $5 million in salary cap space. Suns trade Cody Martin, Royce O'Neal for 2nd round picks and cap space.
Blazers get McCollum back, Wizards get Beal back.

Jrue / Gillespie
Booker / Green
Brooks / Grayson
Dunn / Olynyk / Oso
Williams / Maluach / Richards

This would be a dream scenario IMO, but it doesn't seem so farfetched.

Not a bad premise, but I don't know if I see WAS giving up on McCollum and sending him back to POR after they just acquired him (and Poole was sent out). He's a solid vet presence and they'll likely want to keep him. But, as we all know, it's a business and moves are bound to happen. And Poole and Bey are already in place in NO, so what's their hand in this? As for Holiday? I'm all for it and we could use him. Olynyk is just filler.

[Maze]

I would have been happier if we got him at 15 or later not necessarily at #10 though.

Would have been nice to keep the #29 and add another forward or even a PG but maybe the front office can trade a few of the 2nd to move up in the 2nd round tomorrow? At least we plugged one gaping hole now off to plug the other holes somehow.

To be fair, from a lot of places I've looked at, including in the NBA draft forum on RealGM, he's pretty consistently been mocked to go before #10 and as high as in the top 5 (I don't agree but I've seen it). So #10 isn't really a stretch for him and most expected him to go in the top 10 anyway. But regardless if we got him at #10 or #15, he's still not my favourite type of prospect.

I saw that too and I don't understand why. He was a great defensive center in college but he's going to be hunted endlessly by NBA wings. Given his combine results, I don't see how he ever stays in front of NBA players. College and NBA is a very different game.

I agree.Just don't see it with this guy.I'd be shocked if he's anything more than a career back up.This is quickly starting to feel like the Alex Len/ 3 point guard era all over again.

[SkyBill40]

Nick Richards for 2025-26: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed on 6/29/25.

We have 3 days to decide about Richards contract.

I thought they already guaranteed it.

They did guarantee it

I don't get why they didn't just waive Martin and Micic and include Richards in the Williams trade

Which tells me, I hope - they have a plan for Richards. Otherwise, more cap incompetence to trade a player they could easily waive for $8m of cap space

They couldn't just waive either as that adds even more dead money to our books. We have to do something SMART and waiving is not that. I expect more trade movement. There's talks about Martin going back to CLT but that might be moot now.

[BobbieL]

Read on Twitter

Richards traded for picks and nothing coming back - or his contract just not guaranteed
Martin released
Allen or O'Neale traded for less coming back

Beal
1) stretched as he is willing to take the pay cut to go knowing a team will make him whole with what he gives up
or
2) a multiplayer traded like the Blazers just as an idea with a bit of savings

this is how I think they get under apron levels

[Fo-Real]

If Maxime Raynaud could fall to us in the second round, I would be ok with not focusing on a guard. He looks like he would be a great stretch 4 with amazing size (height and weight), shooting, an absolute motor with some athleticism and he seems skilled/smart. He also has some swag/ flair bubbling up from his French soul!! Not a chance he falls though.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Just gotta say - I really like the NBA stretching the draft to 2 days. Gives teams an opportunity to breathe and reassess, negotiate, and hopefully use the second round as an opportunity to address outstanding roster issues before plunging into free agency, and use the first round to set up deals to be done on day 2.

We'll see what materializes, but I hope we see some interesting action today.

[bwgood77]

Just gotta say - I really like the NBA stretching the draft to 2 days. Gives teams an opportunity to breathe and reassess, negotiate, and hopefully use the second round as an opportunity to address outstanding roster issues before plunging into free agency, and use the first round to set up deals to be done on day 2.

We'll see what materializes, but I hope we see some interesting action today.

I like it more too, but mainly so I can have two nights to watch and get semi excited about. Back in the day it would have been "really excited".

[dremill24]

Just gotta say - I really like the NBA stretching the draft to 2 days. Gives teams an opportunity to breathe and reassess, negotiate, and hopefully use the second round as an opportunity to address outstanding roster issues before plunging into free agency, and use the first round to set up deals to be done on day 2.

We'll see what materializes, but I hope we see some interesting action today.

I like it more too, but mainly so I can have two nights to watch and get semi excited about. Back in the day it would have been "really excited".

My only issue is they cut 30 picks out of the first day and still somehow didn't cut down the time it took to finish

[Puff]

I feel like some of you aren’t as good of GMs as you claim to be. It’s very Simple. When healthy Mark Williams is a big time asset. Unfortunately he isn’t able to stay healthy so when malawach slid on the draft board we jumped at the chance to take him. You now have a center that can come in immediately and start, and then you have a guy who can step in get some minutes and learn behind a guy that has a similar play style as well as being able to step in when Williams is injured.

I was fine with giving up this years pick @29 but when I heard that it also included the 2029 pick along with major injury concerns being mentioned from Windhorst I did not like it at all. This is after the Laker trade for him was voided due to health related issues.

If we would have done this trade even if we knew Maluach was going to be available at 10, I guess I am OK with it. I wanted 2 bigs and we got them so I should be happy but I wanted one of them to be a PF. Fleming was a guy I wanted at PF and he would have been there for us at 29.

What we do with Beal and the acquisition of a PF will determine the outcome of this off season. I hope we get it right and I hope Williams is a great complement to Maluach. I am not all that concerned about PG. Especially if we choose to keep Beal. I can see us playing a three guard lineup with two bigs. Maybe our new coach can magically turn Bol Bol into a productive piece for us.

Cody Martin should have good value around the league. He could be on the move today. It really appears like a buy out for Beal is in the offing to get us below the 2nd apron.