Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Who the Phoenix Suns would actually trade the #1 pick for

By Ross Ittel

Milwaukee, WI - FEBRUARY 26: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against the Phoenix Suns on February 26, 2017 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee, WI - FEBRUARY 26: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against the Phoenix Suns on February 26, 2017 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee, WI – FEBRUARY 26: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against the Phoenix Suns on February 26, 2017 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee, WI – FEBRUARY 26: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against the Phoenix Suns on February 26, 2017 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

With the 2018 NBA Draft today and the Phoenix Suns holding the #1 pick for the first time in their 50-year history, would the Suns do the unthinkable and trade that pick away? If they did, the only way to avoid public outcry would be to land a big name player.

The #1 pick in the NBA draft is one of the most valuable assets a team can hold and arguably one of the most sought after assets in the league. This is especially true in a draft with a potential franchise changing big and a 6’8″ point-forward who can do it all on the offensive end. There are not many players in the league that would warrant trading the pick straight up for.

Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough has repeatedly said that the only way he would trade the pick is if it were for a young budding star who had multiple years of team control left on his contract. This player would also have to fit in with the current core the Suns have (Devin Booker and Josh Jackson). He too would be hard pressed to trade for someone with an injury history.

There are not many players around the league that would fit this description when they can just make the pick and likely take the University of Arizona’s Deandre Ayton. Teams that are very close to or currently are the champions will not be giving away their superstar players.

Only five players immediately come to mind as players when thinking about who might actually be valuable enough to trade the first overall pick for him who fit that criteria. This is that list.

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