The Phoenix Suns had a productive 2024 NBA Draft, as they took two players and added a third undrafted big man to a two-way contract. It is too early to tell if any of these three individuals can be actual players for a fringe contender - first round selection Ryan Dunn looks the safest bet at this point, but there's no doubting the Suns were active.
The addition of these three youngsters gives a needed boost to a franchise that had a certain malaise on their way to winning 49 regular season games last season. Maybe that's just the way it is when you have three star players, but the vibes didn't always look fantastic for this group.
Which is why taking the draft seriously actually remedied some of the issues that had been stopping the Suns from reaching their full potential.
Alongside Dunn, the organization also took Oso Ighodaro in the second round, with Jalen Bridges the undrafted big out of Baylor to join on a two way deal. With the introduction of the Valley Suns (nice name...) to the G League next season, all of a sudden it feels like there's more of a long-term vision to what owner Mat Ishbia is trying to achieve.
Which is just as well, because the game plan of trading everything for Kevin Durant and saddling themselves with Bradley Beal's horror show contract hasn't reaped the rewards just yet. Adding youth to 27-year-old Devin Booker to bridge the gap between now and the day Durant leaves though, well that seems like a much smarter way to approach business.
3. Provides much needed depth
One of the main issues the Suns faced last season was having to sign so many players to minimum deals as a result of paying their top three players so much money. They had only a single second round selection in 2023 in Toumani Camara, and he was in Portland with the Trail Blazers long before the regular season even got underway.
This meant that when Beal was injured (limited to 53 regular season games) or Grayson Allen missed a game or two, there were glaring holes in the rotation. The influx of three rookies doesn't solve this problem immediately, but it certainly helps.
Say 👋 to the newest Sun! pic.twitter.com/Tvhvdh2pEt
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) June 27, 2024
Head coach Mike Budenholzer will have to two the line between developing these players and trying to win it all, an unenviable task. But where Dunn in particular is going to help is with that aforementioned regular season malaise that crept in last year, with his energy and defensive IQ the perfect remedy for those listless nights in places like Charlotte and Washington.
The Suns of 2023-24 had to rely on guys like Eric Gordon and even Nassir Little once guys started dropping with injury, but the addition of Dunn and Ighodaro pushing for minutes should bring the level of the roster up across the board. This group have needed young and hungry players for a while now, and they've gone and gotten three to begin this offseason.