The NBA Draft Lottery took place on Sunday, not that the Phoenix Suns were paying much attention to what was going on.
Thankfully the rich didn’t get richer as the Oklahoma City Thunder did not snag the first overall pick, otherwise the Suns would have had to have stopped rooting for them in these playoffs.
Giannis now needs Suns more than they need him
An interesting offseason wrinkle did appear for the Suns at the conclusion of the lottery however, as no team emerged as the perfect trade partner for Giannis X and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Many expect the Greek superstar to finally get traded this summer, and after the draft lottery about the only realistic partner for them out there right now are the L.A. Clippers and the fifth pick they ended up stealing from the Indiana Pacers.
If you’re Milwaukee, how enticing does the same package the Suns received for Kevin Durant last summer plus a pick or two move the needle? Not that Dillon Brooks should be going anywhere, only intel from the franchise would suggest they’re not sold on the idea of keeping him around long-term either.
The Bucks would surely want something more (or just different so as to not look silly) than Brooks and Jalen Green, and Suns’ owner Mat Ishbia has said countless times that the organization won’t be cutting corners in pursuit of a championship again.
But Giannis is Giannis, and the Suns are one of only a few teams that make sense for him to try and win a second championship. Of all the realistic landing spots out there, how many offer him the chance to play with somebody as good as Devin Booker?
It has long been rumored that Antetokounmpo wanted to help bring a championship to the New York Knicks and there’s no doubt that would be incredible for his own personal legacy. A close second?
Bringing the first title in franchise history to The Valley, who also happen to be the team he beat to win his own ring in 2021. At 31-years-old and with injuries mounting in recent years, Phoenix is currently on the same timeline as Giannis as well.
Booker is 29 while having Brooks means this roster will always be in win now mode, the Canadian doesn’t know how to play any other way.
We’re still some way off this becoming real, but the draft lottery crossed some potential trade partners off the board for the Bucks and Phoenix is still standing.
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