The Phoenix Suns traded an unprotected 2031 first-rounder to the Jazz in January to get three first-round draft picks, including the 29th overall choice in 2025 they turned into Mark Williams in a draft night trade. They used two picks from this deal to get the center they needed, but this trade is still a nightmare. The Suns still receive the worst of Minnesota, Cleveland, and Utah’s selections in 2027. All three picks figure to be near the end of the first round, while the Suns could be parting with a lottery pick in 2031.
Phoenix made this trade to increase their assets. Most believed it was to make a splash before the February deadline in hopes of making a playoff push. Instead, the Suns held onto all three picks and missed the postseason entirely. Getting Williams for two of the three picks was a win, but teams have already called the Jazz about acquiring the Suns unprotected pick in 2031.
Phoenix just traded Kevin Durant and did not improve their chances of winning in 2026. Things are bordering on a total disaster with this trade looming as another nightmare.
Suns stunningly gave up unprotected pick to get 3 meaningless ones
This trade was strictly a swap of draft picks that got its first update with the 29th pick in 2025. Here are the full details after this draft.
- Suns received: Liam McNeeley, 2027 1st round pick (least favorable CLE, MIN, or UTH), 2029 1st round pick (least favorable CLE, MIN, or UTH)
- Jazz received: 2031 unprotected 1st-round pick
Trading an unprotected first-round pick is always risky. Look at the Mavericks and 76ers this season. Dallas made the NBA Finals in 2024 and stunningly ended up in the lottery only to land the first overall pick. Philadelphia thought adding Paul George would make them a title contender, but a nightmare season put them squarely in the lottery. The 76ers owed a top-six protected first to the Thunder, which did not convey when Philly moved up to third overall.
The Suns can have the worst record or the best. It doesn’t matter. Phoenix owes their 2031 selection to Utah no matter where it lands. It continued the franchise's trend of trading their draft capital to maximize their current assets. That is a short-sighted strategy. The Thunder just won the championship by doing the exact opposite.
Fans know more pain is coming from all of Mat Ishbia’s head-scratching moves. They owe picks for acquiring Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal into the 2030s. That is problematic for a franchise that just missed the postseason and did not improve significantly by trading KD.
The Phoenix Suns’ future is bleak and could quickly get worse. This trade was another regrettable move for a franchise that just keeps making them. Do not expect them to stop anytime soon. All fans can do is stay tuned and hope things improve. Sadly, there is no reason to believe they will under Mat Ishbia. The disaster likely just continues.