The Phoenix Suns might have finally moved on from Kevin Durant, but that doesn't mean their future is any clearer. Right now the organization is staring into a future that has three distinct roads laid out in front of them. The first is to flip the newly acquired Jalen Green for different assets, and see if they can build out their roster with whatever they get back in return.
The second is trading Devin Booker and officially blowing this thing up altogether. That would come with the added bonus of Bradley Beal likely wanting to skip town as well, and they keys would then be giving to Green. Owner Mat Ishbia could expect a revolt from the fanbase if that were to happen, as Booker means everything to Phoenix basketball and has for a long time.
Which makes the third path of drafting a center the way to go.
The Suns now have the ability to do just this - and get a big with real upside - thanks to the 10th overall pick in this year's draft that they got from the Houston Rockets in the Durant trade. Although one intriguing big is now likely to be off the board thanks to a random trade between the New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets, there will still be plenty of options to choose from.
But it is still likely that Maryland's Derik Queen and Michigan's Danny Wolf are going to be available when the Suns are picking, and Jake Fischer has already mentioned both by name as players Phoenix are interested in taking. Really this is the best avenue for the franchise to take because - no matter what else happens this offseason - they need a long-term option at center anyway.
Danny Wolf is one of the funkiest players in his class. As unorthodox as his game may be, his passing feel and vision will translate.
— ALBERT GHIM (@albertoeghim) June 24, 2025
Even if he sees significantly less of the ball, his passing will still be valuable at the next level.
We @NoCeilingsNBA recently mocked Wolf… pic.twitter.com/hZryRChM0E
Kristaps Porzingis has just been traded to the Atlanta Hawks so he has off the board - despite the Suns being known to have some interest in him prior to that deal getting done - and there are no options to get excited about currently available. Robert Williams III of the Portland Trail Blazers is likely available, but he's also always injured.
So better to take a young big now - and then no matter what happens from there - the Suns are hopefully set at this position. Green's trade value isn't particularly high at the moment - he was exposed badly at times in the Golden State Warriors series - so it is better to let him play to see if he can rehab his stance around the league before making a call on him.
An athletic big with similarities to Deandre Ayton would make Booker's life easier - and even if the front office took the nuclear option and jettisoned their franchise player - whatever rookie center they have in place would surely be a nice building block to start with. There currently exists the question of Booker playing point guard again next season, which is not an ideal scenario for him.
This should be the first big move made for the organization as part of life after Kevin Durant. Nick Richards is better coming off the bench anyway, while Mason Plumlee is the kind of player you have when you think you're going to contend. That's not going to be the case next season, so let the re-tooling begin with Green and whoever they select with the 10th pick.