The Phoenix Suns have become the laughing stock of the league because a ton of teams around the NBA are itching to get their hands on their first-round picks, effectively looking to bet on the team’s downfall. Teams are desperately trying to trade for Suns picks because they believe Phoenix is going to be bad for years to come.
“A couple of first-round picks that belong to other teams that are like the gold of the league,” said Fred Katz of The Athletic. “And now, the number one gold of the league is easily, if you have a Phoenix Suns pick, it’s like, ‘Congratulations.’ Congratulations to you, you have Phoenix Suns picks. Congratulations to the Washington Wizards, they have, potentially, three Phoenix Suns swaps. Three. Three.”
For the Suns, it’s a pretty brutal spot to be in.
What can the Suns do about it?
To be frank? Not much.
The Suns put themselves in a tough position when they traded for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. And unfortunately for them, the ‘Big 3 Era’ with Durant, Beal, and Devin Booker didn’t work out.
Fast forward to now, and the Suns have cut ties with Durant and Beal, one via a trade to the Houston Rockets, the other with a waive-and-stretch, and are looking to retool their roster around Booker.
In their first offseason doing so, they’ve done a solid job, adding young pieces like Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koby Brea through the draft, and trading for Mark Williams.
However, with the Western Conference being as stacked as it is, they are likely looking at at least a few years of being in the lottery, unless some of their young players take a leap (or Jalen Green elevates his game to another level).
Who owns the Suns’ picks?
In 2026, the Washington Wizards have the right to swap picks with the Suns in the first round, which they landed in the Beal trade that originally sent him to Phoenix. (The Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies are also in on the swap.)
The Suns’ 2027 pick belongs to the Houston Rockets. Phoenix sent it away in the Durant trade with the Brooklyn Nets, but they moved it to Houston in a deal to get all of their own picks back (which they traded away in the James Harden deal).
Phoenix’s 2028 pick swap belongs to the Wizards from the same Beal trade. The 2029 pick belongs to the Rockets from the Durant trade. The 2030 swap is owned by Washington. And the Utah Jazz own the Suns’ 2031 first, as Phoenix traded it for three first-round pick swaps.
It’s not until 2032 that the Suns will have control over their own first-round pick, and teams around the league are desperate to get their hands on the selections.