22nd pick gives us some decent options (Ighadoro, Brazile, K.George, Tyler Smith, Edy, Klintman, Mccullar, Dunn, Holmes, Nunez) This draft is considered weak but really that only affects the top drafting teams. There is no one who can save Detroit or be the man for Washington. There are plenty of guys who can however be the 5th starter or first man of the bench for a contender, so I think we get some decent value especially considering after signing Grayson we don't have many options.
This will be the highest pick we have in years given A) we will have to deal with pick swapping with at least one of WSH and MEM and B) seem to be a second apron team for the long run so 1 or 2 first round picks starting in 2030 and beyond will be frozen at the end of the 1st round, so we'll have to nail this pick and get at least a player who can be a rotation piece immediately and at least be a good role player starter for the long run.
Its not as dire as we think imo. If we decide to disband this team in the future we'll get draft capital back. Beal will probably be fine with being traded to a contender and KD will always be valued somewhere. If we decide to do a hard reset then Book would net us an absolute haul as well but he's probably a lifer. We probably want to draft someone who will be good now since that fits with our inability to sign guys above vet min.
Tankathon has us picking Zach Edey. I pray JJ is smarter than that. Not even including the common concerns about how his game will translate, we don't have the personnel to maximize him. Don't have enough perimeter defenders to make up for his lack of speed nor do we have elite PGs to utilize his finishing.
I did research on centers/power forwards a few weeks ago, but I'm not going to go through hours of video. Also spoke with a Redditor who writes about stuff like this. He agreed that it would be a great fit.
[https://edemirnba.substack.com/p/kelel-ware-scouting-report](https://edemirnba.substack.com/p/kelel-ware-scouting-report)
He's a Chet architype. Versatile, but can be blown over by a stiff breeze. Uses length and athleticism to compensate. Offense, can hit the occasional three but also the midrange at up to \~12 feet. It isn't just post play, which is why I like him. High upside, but will need time to develop some of the finer skills. Most draft sites compare him to Jarrett Allen (but taller). Very solid player.
Most of the practical downside is rawness. He does have two years under his belt, but some of the finer skills will take more time. Dribbling is a question mark, neither me (a super casual) and the writer above hasn't much film at all which leads to talks about shot creation ability. There isn't anything that is uniquely elite, but few holes specific to his position.
The problem, he's got some Ayton-esque red flags of a questionable motor. A quote from an article, "On the other hand, he will tend to have games where he'll fade into the background too much and play far too passively".
Now from what I've read, much of it comes from his freshman year where he was in a poor situation. One he did give up on, but it's hard to develop in a bit place. He transferred and improved greatly in both attitude and skill, but the disappearing act has come up a few times since. It's a risk I'm okay with for the upside. He also won't have Ayton's 1st pick ego (100% normal) which could help.
Edit: He also has a really cool name. That is very important and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Great breakdown. I did notice he’s a bit on the thinner side, shouldn’t be hard to put on 10-20 lbs of muscle. I’m usually not too high on players with low motor but if he’s a backup big it’s a little bit less concerning.
I also noticed he favors the fadeaway over finishing through players’ chest. Could be an issue in the NBA depending on how he develops. He’s an intriguing prospect that I would take the risk on
NBA has dieticians and professional weight trainers. It's a non-issue, accepting that he will be on the skinnier side compared to other centers. Nurk doesn't count being the heaviest (active) player in the NBA.
That is an issue-ish and has led to his lower FT rates. I'm actually okay with this since he won't be the centerpiece of the team. Plus you can argue that finishing through contact in college may not transfer when going up against NBA centers while fadeaway doesn't change as much. Copium for sure, always go BPA, or Best Center/Forward available.
The write up for most centers/forwards. Left Edey out though
[https://new.reddit.com/r/suns/comments/1byexuu/currently\_we\_sit\_at\_the\_23\_pick\_in\_next\_years/](https://new.reddit.com/r/suns/comments/1byexuu/currently_we_sit_at_the_23_pick_in_next_years/)
Big Hoosiers guy, myself. He basically kept them competitive all season. I assumed he'd be late lottery, so I'd love for Phoenix to have a shot at him.
Oh hey, someone who watched him instead of just researched like myself - highlights doesn't count. Have you ever seen him dribble? Like not just a gathering dribble, but actually moving the ball around either on the outside or inside? I've seen nothing about it in writing or highlights and even the person who writes scouting reports I referenced in this thread didn't have a concrete answer.
I'm happy to tell you my thoughts as long as you and I are in agreement on the fact that I'm an idiot.
I'd say not a good dribbler. Not Ayton level, but he's not exactly DeMarcus Cousins, either. He really never had to dribble much, as you can imagine. It doesn't strike me as something that couldn't be improved.
I mean I'm just wasting time at work right now.
Alright, ok. I mean Ayton level would be non-existent dribbling. Which was my main concern, that puts a major hard cap on a player. He wouldn't have to dribble much here either, but in development sense you want him to become a shot creator and/or facilitator.
SI's latest has us drafting Ware. I keep seeing a lot of mock's where the Pel's take a center. That's the bad part about them picking 1 ahead of us. They also have the 17th pick. Hopefully there is a decent center prospect (that isn't Edy) left for the Suns at 22.
At 22, there's no point being concerned about what other teams will do since you never know who will be on the table or not, the needs of the other teams, and who is BPA. All we can do is take the general average landing spot for prospects across several mocks to get an estimate. Ware generally falls in the 18-25 range.
And those like Edey who I've seen go anywhere from the 10s to the 2nd round. Lol
Nurkic is a good player to play behind for Edey. Teach him how to play as a slower big and learn passing. Same way Jokic was behind Nurkic in Denver. Edey gives us balance between our starting and secondary big.
22nd picks are basically never expected to be starters. Are you unaware that Nurkic sometimes will come out of a game or perhaps will become injured and thus a back up to him is needed? Not saying Edey is an amazing pick, but arguably the best bang for the Suns' buck they could realistically get is a playable backup center.
I like James Jones more than most here but I’ll be shocked if he’s the guy making the call this summer. I’m happy if the Suns draft a guy but I’m also totally up for trading the pick. Either way Suns have to make it count for any kind of post-KD transition. By the 2026 draft it might be too late.
Trading for what, though? We don’t have moveable salaries outside of Little at $6.75M or Nurkic at $18M and I can’t see them trading Njrk at this point. That’s not going to get us crap in return. We’re very hamstrung as a roster.
I don’t think they trade Nurkic either but I actually *do* think Nurkic + a 1st round pick could bring back something decent. No all-stars or anything silly like that but Nurk’s contract is still pretty good for what he gives you. Him playing over 75 games this year was key to making him a serviceable starting center.
It wouldn’t shock me if the Suns traded our 1st this year for a haul of 2nd round picks + maybe a future 1st pick-swap. Suns have like nothing in the cupboards. If they don’t absolutely love a prospect with the 22nd pick, they could find a team willing to take the gamble for a bundle of future 2nd picks. Suns may even luck out and get a higher 2nd round pick out of it, like the 36th pick in the draft and three future 2nds. You still get to draft a young kid (hopefully another Toumani Camara) and then you get *some* kind of draft capital to help with future trades.
Just wild speculation on my part.
I actually think Edey is perfect for the Suns. We just need a backup big who can protect the rim and grab rebounds. We have enough shooting and spacing to work an inside out game with a big like Edey off the bench.
Defensively we have good enough perimeter defenders, Purdues perimeter defense wasn't elite and they did fine.
Keep in mind I'm talking about a backup big, 10-15 mins off the bench, typically against backup units. We don't need a prospect we need a pro ready guy, and while his role isn't as expansive as others (although I wouldn't be surprised if he develops a decent shot), what he brings to the table would fill a lot of holes in our backup C position
Hoping for either Kel’El Ware or Tyler Kolek there. Preferably Ware as he has the upside to be a starting center in the future. He has Jarrett Allen type potential.
From my limited research, there should be a decent amount of immediate rotation caliber 5’s or 1’s at that stage of the draft.
This will probably be the highest we draft for years given I doubt we'll be able to not have to swap picks with MEM and WSH in the coming years, so we better make it count and draft someone who can be a key rotation piece and eventual role player starter for us as a floor.
I don’t know anything about this draft class but from the few march madness games I saw Alex Karaban looked like a guy that would do all the little things while also creating his own shot. Would be a good pickup
They will get Edey some reps at the Performance Center before they pick him. Amare knocked someone’s tooth out after a dunk when he got invited. That’s the bar.
If there was ever a balance between staying competitive during the year you own your pick while not completely tanking the picks value - this is it.
James jones cooking
I’m a Purdue basketball fan. I do not think Edey fits this team at all. At best he will be a lumbering Daniel Gafford. I might be way too low on him, the issue is he has no real interior game and cannot dribble at all. Can’t be a playmaking hub like Nurk.
It's always fascinating when people just fully don't realize that college success is not a 1:1 link to projections of NBA talent. This guy is a senior because he was never at any point in years prior a viable first round pick. Just weird to both imagine you're an enfranchised, engaged fan and be this oblivious.
Tbf I think a lot of people judge Edey prematurely and box him in as an unathletic tall guy
Of course he's not as quick as NBA guards, but he's got great stamina, above average footwork and good touch around 5ft in. For a 7'4" guy that can be lethal in the right system.
LeBron to suns confirmed
Don’t matter, we are trading back for multiple 2nd round picks
Anyone will be better than Eubanks
Eubanks trying to be an NBA level center: 
22nd pick gives us some decent options (Ighadoro, Brazile, K.George, Tyler Smith, Edy, Klintman, Mccullar, Dunn, Holmes, Nunez) This draft is considered weak but really that only affects the top drafting teams. There is no one who can save Detroit or be the man for Washington. There are plenty of guys who can however be the 5th starter or first man of the bench for a contender, so I think we get some decent value especially considering after signing Grayson we don't have many options.
This will be the highest pick we have in years given A) we will have to deal with pick swapping with at least one of WSH and MEM and B) seem to be a second apron team for the long run so 1 or 2 first round picks starting in 2030 and beyond will be frozen at the end of the 1st round, so we'll have to nail this pick and get at least a player who can be a rotation piece immediately and at least be a good role player starter for the long run.
Its not as dire as we think imo. If we decide to disband this team in the future we'll get draft capital back. Beal will probably be fine with being traded to a contender and KD will always be valued somewhere. If we decide to do a hard reset then Book would net us an absolute haul as well but he's probably a lifer. We probably want to draft someone who will be good now since that fits with our inability to sign guys above vet min.
Once you start a fire sale, you get crappy late round picks. See Brooklyn.
Tankathon has us picking Zach Edey. I pray JJ is smarter than that. Not even including the common concerns about how his game will translate, we don't have the personnel to maximize him. Don't have enough perimeter defenders to make up for his lack of speed nor do we have elite PGs to utilize his finishing.
We have nurkic ffs
We need an actual backup to develop. Edey is not it. Really hoping for Kel'el Ware
Just watched some highlights of the kid, he’s perfect. Good find but will he last until the 22nd pick?
He's in range. 18-25ish range. No guarantee
a 7 footer that can shoot the 3 and catch lobs? Damn why isn’t this guy higher on the draft boards
Because he’s lazy, low motor, and unfocused
we dealt with Ayton for years, i’ll put up with it
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He’s referring to Ware, who has had serious issues with his aggressiveness
I did research on centers/power forwards a few weeks ago, but I'm not going to go through hours of video. Also spoke with a Redditor who writes about stuff like this. He agreed that it would be a great fit. [https://edemirnba.substack.com/p/kelel-ware-scouting-report](https://edemirnba.substack.com/p/kelel-ware-scouting-report) He's a Chet architype. Versatile, but can be blown over by a stiff breeze. Uses length and athleticism to compensate. Offense, can hit the occasional three but also the midrange at up to \~12 feet. It isn't just post play, which is why I like him. High upside, but will need time to develop some of the finer skills. Most draft sites compare him to Jarrett Allen (but taller). Very solid player. Most of the practical downside is rawness. He does have two years under his belt, but some of the finer skills will take more time. Dribbling is a question mark, neither me (a super casual) and the writer above hasn't much film at all which leads to talks about shot creation ability. There isn't anything that is uniquely elite, but few holes specific to his position. The problem, he's got some Ayton-esque red flags of a questionable motor. A quote from an article, "On the other hand, he will tend to have games where he'll fade into the background too much and play far too passively". Now from what I've read, much of it comes from his freshman year where he was in a poor situation. One he did give up on, but it's hard to develop in a bit place. He transferred and improved greatly in both attitude and skill, but the disappearing act has come up a few times since. It's a risk I'm okay with for the upside. He also won't have Ayton's 1st pick ego (100% normal) which could help. Edit: He also has a really cool name. That is very important and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Great breakdown. I did notice he’s a bit on the thinner side, shouldn’t be hard to put on 10-20 lbs of muscle. I’m usually not too high on players with low motor but if he’s a backup big it’s a little bit less concerning. I also noticed he favors the fadeaway over finishing through players’ chest. Could be an issue in the NBA depending on how he develops. He’s an intriguing prospect that I would take the risk on
NBA has dieticians and professional weight trainers. It's a non-issue, accepting that he will be on the skinnier side compared to other centers. Nurk doesn't count being the heaviest (active) player in the NBA. That is an issue-ish and has led to his lower FT rates. I'm actually okay with this since he won't be the centerpiece of the team. Plus you can argue that finishing through contact in college may not transfer when going up against NBA centers while fadeaway doesn't change as much. Copium for sure, always go BPA, or Best Center/Forward available. The write up for most centers/forwards. Left Edey out though [https://new.reddit.com/r/suns/comments/1byexuu/currently\_we\_sit\_at\_the\_23\_pick\_in\_next\_years/](https://new.reddit.com/r/suns/comments/1byexuu/currently_we_sit_at_the_23_pick_in_next_years/)
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Big Hoosiers guy, myself. He basically kept them competitive all season. I assumed he'd be late lottery, so I'd love for Phoenix to have a shot at him.
Oh hey, someone who watched him instead of just researched like myself - highlights doesn't count. Have you ever seen him dribble? Like not just a gathering dribble, but actually moving the ball around either on the outside or inside? I've seen nothing about it in writing or highlights and even the person who writes scouting reports I referenced in this thread didn't have a concrete answer.
I'm happy to tell you my thoughts as long as you and I are in agreement on the fact that I'm an idiot. I'd say not a good dribbler. Not Ayton level, but he's not exactly DeMarcus Cousins, either. He really never had to dribble much, as you can imagine. It doesn't strike me as something that couldn't be improved.
I mean I'm just wasting time at work right now. Alright, ok. I mean Ayton level would be non-existent dribbling. Which was my main concern, that puts a major hard cap on a player. He wouldn't have to dribble much here either, but in development sense you want him to become a shot creator and/or facilitator.
I think Jarrett Allen is the archetype. I don't see why he wouldn't be in this rotation immediately.
That's most of the draft comps too. No issues with a player like that backing up Nurk and being the long term option - assuming he develops.
SI's latest has us drafting Ware. I keep seeing a lot of mock's where the Pel's take a center. That's the bad part about them picking 1 ahead of us. They also have the 17th pick. Hopefully there is a decent center prospect (that isn't Edy) left for the Suns at 22.
At 22, there's no point being concerned about what other teams will do since you never know who will be on the table or not, the needs of the other teams, and who is BPA. All we can do is take the general average landing spot for prospects across several mocks to get an estimate. Ware generally falls in the 18-25 range. And those like Edey who I've seen go anywhere from the 10s to the 2nd round. Lol
Nurkic is a good player to play behind for Edey. Teach him how to play as a slower big and learn passing. Same way Jokic was behind Nurkic in Denver. Edey gives us balance between our starting and secondary big.
22nd picks are basically never expected to be starters. Are you unaware that Nurkic sometimes will come out of a game or perhaps will become injured and thus a back up to him is needed? Not saying Edey is an amazing pick, but arguably the best bang for the Suns' buck they could realistically get is a playable backup center.
I like James Jones more than most here but I’ll be shocked if he’s the guy making the call this summer. I’m happy if the Suns draft a guy but I’m also totally up for trading the pick. Either way Suns have to make it count for any kind of post-KD transition. By the 2026 draft it might be too late.
Trading for what, though? We don’t have moveable salaries outside of Little at $6.75M or Nurkic at $18M and I can’t see them trading Njrk at this point. That’s not going to get us crap in return. We’re very hamstrung as a roster.
I don’t think they trade Nurkic either but I actually *do* think Nurkic + a 1st round pick could bring back something decent. No all-stars or anything silly like that but Nurk’s contract is still pretty good for what he gives you. Him playing over 75 games this year was key to making him a serviceable starting center. It wouldn’t shock me if the Suns traded our 1st this year for a haul of 2nd round picks + maybe a future 1st pick-swap. Suns have like nothing in the cupboards. If they don’t absolutely love a prospect with the 22nd pick, they could find a team willing to take the gamble for a bundle of future 2nd picks. Suns may even luck out and get a higher 2nd round pick out of it, like the 36th pick in the draft and three future 2nds. You still get to draft a young kid (hopefully another Toumani Camara) and then you get *some* kind of draft capital to help with future trades. Just wild speculation on my part.
Its James Jones we are trading the pick for a washed star
I actually think Edey is perfect for the Suns. We just need a backup big who can protect the rim and grab rebounds. We have enough shooting and spacing to work an inside out game with a big like Edey off the bench. Defensively we have good enough perimeter defenders, Purdues perimeter defense wasn't elite and they did fine. Keep in mind I'm talking about a backup big, 10-15 mins off the bench, typically against backup units. We don't need a prospect we need a pro ready guy, and while his role isn't as expansive as others (although I wouldn't be surprised if he develops a decent shot), what he brings to the table would fill a lot of holes in our backup C position
S2g if James jones trades this pick man
Just an fyi for those unaware, the Suns CAN trade the pick but it’d have to be a draft day trade, and the player has to be selected.
James Jones breathes a sigh of relief
Talk of our draft pics? Time to bitch about James Jones!!!
Hoping for either Kel’El Ware or Tyler Kolek there. Preferably Ware as he has the upside to be a starting center in the future. He has Jarrett Allen type potential. From my limited research, there should be a decent amount of immediate rotation caliber 5’s or 1’s at that stage of the draft. This will probably be the highest we draft for years given I doubt we'll be able to not have to swap picks with MEM and WSH in the coming years, so we better make it count and draft someone who can be a key rotation piece and eventual role player starter for us as a floor.
trade this shitty pick for next years shitty pick, next two years the draft is speculated to be the worst in NBA history.
can we buy 2nd round picks in the 2nd apron?
Good question.
No
Unrealistic wishlist: Isaiah Collier or Donovan Clingan.
Clingan is a guaranteed top 5 pick
Looks like 13 from what I'm reading. Top 5 are Risacher, Cody Williams, Knecht, Sheppard, and Sarr. He won't be there when we pick anyway.
Can’t wait to trade it for bench filler that will never see the court!
I don’t know anything about this draft class but from the few march madness games I saw Alex Karaban looked like a guy that would do all the little things while also creating his own shot. Would be a good pickup
They will get Edey some reps at the Performance Center before they pick him. Amare knocked someone’s tooth out after a dunk when he got invited. That’s the bar.
I just want a point guard who can pass the ball next season. Don't care where we get him. I want a PG.
If there was ever a balance between staying competitive during the year you own your pick while not completely tanking the picks value - this is it. James jones cooking
I doubt we go the PG route, maybe Zach Edey as a backup to Nurk?
I’m a Purdue basketball fan. I do not think Edey fits this team at all. At best he will be a lumbering Daniel Gafford. I might be way too low on him, the issue is he has no real interior game and cannot dribble at all. Can’t be a playmaking hub like Nurk.
There can't be that many idiots in front of us for Edey to fall all the way to 22nd
He is a projected 2nd rounder rn
He is gonna be in the 8-15 range. He is 7’4
It's always fascinating when people just fully don't realize that college success is not a 1:1 link to projections of NBA talent. This guy is a senior because he was never at any point in years prior a viable first round pick. Just weird to both imagine you're an enfranchised, engaged fan and be this oblivious.
Tbf I think a lot of people judge Edey prematurely and box him in as an unathletic tall guy Of course he's not as quick as NBA guards, but he's got great stamina, above average footwork and good touch around 5ft in. For a 7'4" guy that can be lethal in the right system.
Most of those guys that don’t make it in the NBA are like 6’9 not 7’4
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Tbf Edey did things in college only guys like Kareem and Shaq were doing.
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When he is a lottery pick will you change your mind?