2025 Draft Night Picks Discussion

[RaisingArizona]

Given our roster, Kam Jones for me.

[Djedefre]

He was first C drafted and you'd be hard pressed to find many sites that didn't have him the top ranked C prospect. Shrug

Dragan Bender was pretty much consensus top5 pick that damned year, based on the same 'evaluation process' from all the same sites and draftheads. All that silly talk about some huge potential, great promise when almost none of them actually saw him play real games. His whole draft stock was built on that smoke of 'potential' and unicorn-ish appearance when in reality there was so small a sample to judge from, and even that was not particularly impressive whatsoever.

Back to Maluach - he did not play a ton of minutes, was on a loaded Duke squad, did not show any really impressive trait. Defense was good, but nothing out of this world, he was finishing the most basic things after being served on a pletter while being like half a foot taller than 99% of competition. Not an impressive rebounder for his size, like at all. He is tall, has big wingspan, played for Duke and that's why people are so high on him. Shooting and bball iq are big unknowns. I did not see anything from him that makes me particularly excited. Maybe he's a hard worker and will improve over the years, but he certainly has A LOT of work to do.

You just compared this pick to Bender. Are you being serious?

I brought Bender as an illustration how that argument of 'he was picked as a first C in the draft, all the sites and experts had him top10' means literally nothing. If Givony is going to decide which player you're picking, than you might as well give him a full-time job and save the money you're throwing at FO.

[BobbieL]

I think we are going to be forced to buy out Beal within the next week. If you guys are right and we cannot complete the KD trade if we are above the 2nd apron.

This 2nd apron stuff really causes a lot of issues. I may not end up pretty but whatever it takes we have to get there.

What would happen to the 10th pick we just made if we don't get there?

Can we waive and stretch Bradly Beal or not? I have heard we can and that we can't. Who is right?

I have read the Suns
CANNOT: his current 2 years $110 as that would eclipse the 15 or 16% threshhold

CAN: if he takes a 20m pay cut to $90m

[BobbieL]

Adding No. 36 for two future 2nds

I would think some of these draft picks could be included for a Beal trade - if it happens

Suns do not need THREE second round picks and 36 might be more appealing to the Bulls
but who knows what they want

[Slim Charless]

Maluach IS NOT the best center in this draft. No matter how many times you type it, it won't become a fact. He may become the best in 3-4 years, but right now the odds don't look so great. Not to say it's impossible, just that it's far more likely he becomes a bust than some kind of an anchor for us in years to come. With him, we're left with hope he develops into a solid starting C, and hope is a dangerous thing. We all know that.

He absolutely was. Highest ceiling and most potential along with being incredibly young.

The Mark W trade was an overpay as Maluach could've learned behind Nick Richards for a year than taken over. That was dumb, but picking Maluach was a great move.

[Sunsdeuce]

I feel no one has a full grasp of what the suns can or cannot do as no one has a full understanding of the cap rules. But I think the consensus is Beal is completely hindering the suns (or Booker or Green depending on how you look at it).

[dremill24]

Adding No. 36 for two future 2nds

I would think some of these draft picks could be included for a Beal trade - if it happens

Suns do not need THREE second round picks and 36 might be more appealing to the Bulls
but who knows what they want

I'd tend to agree, but that puts them on a deadline at this point.

[BobbieL]

Given our roster, Kam Jones for me.

Who do the Chicago Bulls want?

[Sunsdeuce]

Maluach IS NOT the best center in this draft. No matter how many times you type it, it won't become a fact. He may become the best in 3-4 years, but right now the odds don't look so great. Not to say it's impossible, just that it's far more likely he becomes a bust than some kind of an anchor for us in years to come. With him, we're left with hope he develops into a solid starting C, and hope is a dangerous thing. We all know that.

He absolutely was. Highest ceiling and most potential along with being incredibly young.

The Mark W trade was an overpay as Maluach could've learned behind Nick Richards for a year than taken over. That was dumb, but picking Maluach was a great move.

Just like any draft, can’t grade it till 2 or 3 years down the line. Everyone here thinks they are right. Someone is going to be and someone is not going to be. Sam Bowie was a great pick at the time. Except the greatest NBA basketball player of all time just happened to be in the same draft class. Imagine the change in history if the Blazers would have taken MJ.

[starbosa10]

I could live with buying out Beal (not my money lol). Just don't stretch him and hamstring 16m+ on our cap for 5 years

[Sunsdeuce]

I could live with buying out Beal (not my money lol). Just don't stretch him and hamstring 16m+ on our cap for 5 years

Buying him out also causes dead money and I think it really only frees up $10 million which still doesn’t put them under the second apron. Plus Beal has to agree with a buyout. Beal holds all the aces, suns hold nothing.

[BobbieL]

If the Suns have only two options with Beal: me -- its either the above with a couple second round picks or stretching Beal - I probably take the above as PWill counts the same as stretching him and there is a chance you get some value as you are not getting any value from 19m of dead cap space

But I like you, think if they can figure out how to hang onto Beal - that huge expiring is nice. Granted, Vucevic would be expiring this year and Carter or Ball is this year or Smith is next year. Would Vucevic have any value around the league to make that better

Granted, they have a lot of cap work to get these deals done as Week mentions, can't even do the Durant deal yet

It could be a situation where Patrick Williams just needs a change of scenery though I think I'm just being optimistic. I just don't want another negative culture type of player in the locker room.

This three team would be something I could get behind...

Suns -
Patrick Williams
Lonzo Ball
Rui Hachimura

Lakers -
Nikola Vucevic

Bulls -
Bradley Beal

I think Rui could be a quality PF starter. Lakers traded for Dorian Finney-Smith who could start at PF for them. Not sure they want to be the oldest team in the league though.

*I do think the Lakers will try to grab Nic Claxton if I had to take a guess.

Rui works for me - expiring contract like Vucevic

I still have NO CLUE why the Bulls would want Beal. Unless truly it is to get cap space earlier without PWill

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

He would now be my #2 on my big board for the 2nd round behind Maxime Raynaud, simply out of need positionally at the 4.

I have Maxime Raynaud at 1 bg because of his extreme skillset versatility and shooting compliment he'd bring alongside of Maluach and Williams. Overall the Suns hig board now (depending upon trade ranges) needs to become:

1- Maxime Raynaud.
2- Rasheer Fleming.
3- Adou Thiero. ( ** Then a floor spacing PF in trade or free agency).
4- Bogoljub Markovic.
5- Eric Dixon.

Late 2nd to undrafted range options

1- Steven Settle.

2- David N'Guessan.

3- Igor Milicic.

4- Jackson Moni.

5- Milan Momcilovic.

I am not a draft expert and don't know the guys well so can you list their positions next to them?

Sure man! No worries.

1- Steven Settle
PF- 6'11 175 lbs (Temple).
Dynamic Wing/Forward 3 & D specialist.

2- David N'Guessan
SF/PF- 6'9 205 (Kansas State).
Versatile/ Dynamic 3 & D smooth scoring Wing/ Forward.

3- Igor Milicic
SF/ PF- 6'10 224 lbs (Tennessee).
Athletic 3 & D Forward/ Wing.

4- Jackson Moni
PF/ C- 6'10 235 lbs ( North Dakota State).
Rugged 3 & D floor spacing PF/C.

5- Milan Momcilovic
6'8 220 lbs ( Iowa state).
Dynamic Shot specialist.

[Sunsdeuce]

If the Suns have only two options with Beal: me -- its either the above with a couple second round picks or stretching Beal - I probably take the above as PWill counts the same as stretching him and there is a chance you get some value as you are not getting any value from 19m of dead cap space

But I like you, think if they can figure out how to hang onto Beal - that huge expiring is nice. Granted, Vucevic would be expiring this year and Carter or Ball is this year or Smith is next year. Would Vucevic have any value around the league to make that better

Granted, they have a lot of cap work to get these deals done as Week mentions, can't even do the Durant deal yet

It could be a situation where Patrick Williams just needs a change of scenery though I think I'm just being optimistic. I just don't want another negative culture type of player in the locker room.

This three team would be something I could get behind...

Suns -
Patrick Williams
Lonzo Ball
Rui Hachimura

Lakers -
Nikola Vucevic

Bulls -
Bradley Beal

I think Rui could be a quality PF starter. Lakers traded for Dorian Finney-Smith who could start at PF for them. Not sure they want to be the oldest team in the league though.

*I do think the Lakers will try to grab Nic Claxton if I had to take a guess.

Rui works for me - expiring contract like Vucevic

I still have NO CLUE why the Bulls would want Beal. Unless truly it is to get cap space earlier without PWill

Plus Beal has got to agree to the trade. Beal is the smartest NBA player in the league right now with that contract.

[BobbieL]

I could live with buying out Beal (not my money lol). Just don't stretch him and hamstring 16m+ on our cap for 5 years

Buying him out also causes dead money and I think it really only frees up $10 million which still doesn’t put them under the second apron. Plus Beal has to agree with a buyout. Beal holds all the aces, suns hold nothing.

There is going to be no perfect solution to Bradley Beal - there is going to be pain

1) trading more draft picks and taking on PWill contract for four more years

2) sucking it up and having him expire which means trading Allen, O'Neale and Richards and not getting much back with teams knowing the Suns are hosed

3) even if he accepts a $20m pay cut - that still means five years of his cap hit

I just don't think the Suns fans should expect three players picked tonight and if Beal is traded, that pick 36 is also going.

[starbosa10]

I could live with buying out Beal (not my money lol). Just don't stretch him and hamstring 16m+ on our cap for 5 years

Buying him out also causes dead money and I think it really only frees up $10 million which still doesn’t put them under the second apron. Plus Beal has to agree with a buyout. Beal holds all the aces, suns hold nothing.

True but I think a normal non stretch buy out only has dead money for the 2 years left, not past the current length of the contract.

Still not a fan of a buyout/stretch. If we can't trade him, run him off the bench and deal allen/royce to get under the apron.

Next summer might be easier to trade him as a 50m expiring

[Sunsdeuce]

I could live with buying out Beal (not my money lol). Just don't stretch him and hamstring 16m+ on our cap for 5 years

Buying him out also causes dead money and I think it really only frees up $10 million which still doesn’t put them under the second apron. Plus Beal has to agree with a buyout. Beal holds all the aces, suns hold nothing.

There is going to be no perfect solution to Bradley Beal - there is going to be pain

1) trading more draft picks and taking on PWill contract for four more years

2) sucking it up and having him expire which means trading Allen, O'Neale and Richards and not getting much back with teams knowing the Suns are hosed

3) even if he accepts a $20m pay cut - that still means five years of his cap hit

I just don't think the Suns fans should expect three players picked tonight and if Beal is traded, that pick 36 is also going.

Very good possibility.

[Djedefre]

Maluach IS NOT the best center in this draft. No matter how many times you type it, it won't become a fact. He may become the best in 3-4 years, but right now the odds don't look so great. Not to say it's impossible, just that it's far more likely he becomes a bust than some kind of an anchor for us in years to come. With him, we're left with hope he develops into a solid starting C, and hope is a dangerous thing. We all know that.

He absolutely was. Highest ceiling and most potential along with being incredibly young.

The Mark W trade was an overpay as Maluach could've learned behind Nick Richards for a year than taken over. That was dumb, but picking Maluach was a great move.

As i said, i do not see anything palpable to be convinced of that huge potential. I'm always wary of that kind of prospects - 100% potential and promise. Time will tell. Maybe i'm an idiot, we'll see.

[Saberestar]

Don’t get too excited y’all. Jase Richardson at 36 most likely haha

He is gone. #25 Orlando Magic.

[Sunsdeuce]

Update: The Phoenix Suns are trading a 2026 second-round pick that’s the least favorable between LAC and the most favorable of MIA, IND, BOS along with a 2030 Boston Celtics second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for the No. 36 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, sources told