![Should the Suns consider trading down in the NBA Draft? Should the Suns consider trading down in the NBA Draft?](https://i1.wp.com/arizonasports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/bronny-james-2024-nba-draft-suns.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1)
Dayton’s DaRon Holmes II is one type of prospect the Phoenix Suns could target with the 22nd pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. In this series of 22 draft conversations, there are a few more examples to come.
The Suns, however, should consider not only picking at a different spot, but also trading up to add picks.
The Bronny James camp created a month-long news cycle here in late May when Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that James would have a workout in Phoenix.
If we all do our best Brian Windhorst double-point meme and ask why the Suns would do that, beyond the dumb idea of luring LeBron James here, Bronny is one of the few prospects we know working for Phoenix. So far, all of them are firmly ranked in a range from second-round picks to undrafted.
The Suns, as they should, are certainly doing their homework in that section of the draft. Mmmmm.
A momentary review of the value of NBA Draft picks:
There are a few steep drop-off segments when judging draft talent: after the top three, the mid-to-late lottery, and then the 20-25 range when the last remaining certified “first-round prospects” come off the board. Towards the end of the first round is when teams start picking players they like, value be damned. And typically, the quality of performance of second-round picks plummets after the 40th pick or so, something to keep in mind when looking at downside trade scenarios.
Another common draft trope is the team that has too many draft picks. It’s nice to have a bunch of picks until you have seven in the same draft and now you have to figure out how to get rid of some because you can’t just sign seven rookies. This happens more with late first round picks and especially second round picks.
The 2024 draft is a great example of this.
The New York Knicks choose numbers 24, 25 and 35. The Minnesota Timberwolves choose numbers 27 and 37, while numbers 29 and 32 are those of the Utah Jazz.
The Portland Trail Blazers are already young enough that they will be up twice in the lottery, seventh and 14th, before two more second-round picks at 34 and 40. The Indiana Pacers are scheduled to go to the second round three times with the numbers 36, 49 and 50.
One of those teams will watch the draft unfold in the late teens and notice that a certain prospect they love is still on the board. General managers will start making phone calls looking for negotiating possibilities. Phoenix, a team with virtually no young talent and several open roster spots next season, should have a busy phone line.
Look at what the Denver Nuggets did last year in a similar salary cap-plagued situation. They acquired Indiana’s Nos. 29 and 32 in exchange for the 40th overall pick and a future first-round pick.
Denver also owned No. 37, so it selected Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett and Hunter Tyson. Now, none of those three guys broke into the rotation as rookies, but the Nuggets are optimistic that will come in due time.
Phoenix could even take that page out of Denver’s book and involve the 2031 first-round pick if it really wanted to go crazy. Going back to the Blazers’ four-pick scenario, the Suns could throw away that completely unprotected pick and No. 22 in exchange for Nos. 7, 34 and 40. Asking for 14 instead of 34 seems greedy, but trade those two if you want. You want to feel better with the thought exercise and get even more out of the future.
The point is that it’s worth looking at the current draft capital and using it to make this current team as young as possible. Don’t confuse it, this all has to do with the now.
Phoenix is too committed to marijuana. He now has to figure out how to give himself the best odds of landing a rotation player for the final two runs of Kevin Durant’s contract. Considering the other options available, the draft is the best way to go.
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