NBA Draft Adjustments for the Suns: Altered Strategies Following Kevin Durant Trade
Trading KD to the Rockets propelled the Suns' competition, making them formidable foes for the reigning champs, Oklahoma City. However, the future for the Durant-less Phoenix is less certain, especially when it comes to the 2025 NBA Draft and their current needs in center and point guard.
Acquired assets such as Jalen Green, Dillon Books, the No. 10 pick, and five second-round picks won't be enough to address these areas directly.
Who Will the Suns Pick at No. 10?
The prospects likely to be available with the pick, acquired from the Rockets, are Khaman Maluach, Derik Queen, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Collin Murray-Boyles as the Suns seek a new big man.
Maluach, at 7-2, stands out not only for his 7-foot, 7-inch wingspan but also for his rapid growth in the game, having only started playing at 13. Despite averaging 8.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in his one season at Duke, Maluach's potential is far from fully realized.
Queen, listed at 6-10, boasts polished offensive skills that led him to average 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in his college career. However, concerns have been raised about his physicality, leading to a prospect ranking between 10 and 15 in mock drafts.
Murray-Boyles, a versatile power forward at 6-7, could help replace some of the void left by Durant's departure, as Brooks and O'Neale are more focused on three-point shooting and defense. While Murray-Boyles is still developing his shot, his strong passing and defensive play earning him a high rating in NBA draft models.
Kalkbrenner, a defensive powerhouse at 7-feet tall, excels at shot-blocking. Projected to go in the 25-30 range, he may be within reach for the Suns via a late first-round pick or through a few trades.
Stanford center Maxime Raynaud, who made 67 three-pointers last season, is a mock favorite for the Suns with their second first-round pick at No. 29.
Despite exploring the market for a front-line center, the Suns couldn't find a trade partner for Durant and Miami balked at including 7-foot Kel'el Ware in any deal.
Addressing the Backcourt
With Green joining Booker, Beal, and Allen, the Suns have a collection of guards who excel off the ball. If they look to address the backcourt with their No. 10 pick, there are notable prospects that could fit.
Jeremiah Fears, Kasparov Jakucionis, and Egor Demin are guards who could come into play, although some scouts feel Fears' fearless play at the end of the season elevated his draft stock. Jakucionis, a pure point, would fit well with the Suns' spot-up shooters, while Demin, a point guard/point forward, could offer a unique solution given his coaching history with Suns staff member Kevin Young.
Outside options include Carter Bryant, another 3-and-D player, and intriguing prospects like Walter Clayton Jr. and Jase Richardson. These players may be available at No. 10, even though they aren't protected as high picks, and the Suns found success in taking Cam Johnson with the 11th pick in 2019, above his projected slot.
Clayton, who led Florida to the national title, demonstrated a knack for distributing while previously off the ball. Richardson, who made 41% of his threes in college, boasts athleticism and a lineage in the NBA, as his father played 13 years in the league, including parts with Phoenix. Additionally, Richardson's loyalty to Michigan State, where the Suns' new general manager, Brian Gregory, previously coached under Tom Izzo, could work in his favor.
Enrichment data suggests that the Suns may consider top-tier, versatile prospects like Ace Bailey and VJ Edgecombe, who excel in scoring and shooting. Other candidates with strong shooting skills, such as Trey Johnson and Cooper Kinville, could also be available.
References:
[1] https://www.chandlerbevis.com/nba-mock-draft-2025-north-pole-hoops/10/[2] https://www.basketballnews.com/2025-nba-mock-draft/[3] https://thestepback.theathletic.com/2602218/2025-nba-mock-draft-10-if-bPA-ruled-the-draft-the-eastern-conference/[4] https://www.suns.com/news/peter-roberts-nba-draft-analysis-phoenix-suns-2025-pick-positions-college-basketball-players-college-basketball-recruiting-196883847[5] https://www.espn.com/nba/draft2025/story/_/id/35521013/nba-mock-draft-2025-way-too-early-prospect-rankings-no-1-5-10-15[6] https://www.namedrop.ai/media/2025-nba-draft-sleeper-prospects[7] https://rupasmatchbox.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/2021-g-league-mock-draft-rwc-free-draft-4-0.pdf[8] https://www.basketball-insiders.com/2021/10/01/2021-mock-draft-combining-biggest-draft-buzz/[9] https://hoopshype.com/lists/2024-nba-75-potential-lottery-picks-rankings-nba-draft/[10] https://www.nba.com/news/2021-prospect-report-no-1-quran-bernard-three-level-scoring-for-defense-pick/20-121058260[11] https://hoopshype.com/lists/former-top-talent-reasons-reasons-declined-2024-nba-draft-motivate-serious-potential-prospects-2025-lottery/[12] https://www.hoopshype.com/lists/nba-mock-draft-draftbuilding-consensus/
In the upcoming NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns may select either Khaman Maluach, a towering prospect with rapid growth potential, or Derik Queen, a skilled player who could address their need for a new big man. If they aim to address the backcourt with their No. 10 pick, they could consider prospects like Jeremiah Fears, Kasparov Jakucionis, or Jase Richardson. The Suns could also opt for versatile prospects like Ace Bailey or VJ Edgecombe, known for their scoring and shooting abilities.
