The Suns Won't Have Control On Any Of Their Picks Until 2031

The Suns won’t have control on any of their picks until 2031.

The Phoenix Suns haven’t had the season that they expected to have, in large part thanks to Devin Booker’s health. The supporting cast isn’t enough to win games without Booker, causing significant problems for the Suns thus far.

They’re fighting to stay in play-in contention with Booker out of the lineup and need to flip a switch if they want to compete in the playoffs. Phoenix missed the playoffs every year between 2011 and 2020, one of the NBA’s longest droughts. But since a surprise Finals appearance in 2021, the Suns have cracked open a title window for themselves — thanks to the presence of elite scorers Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

The Suns ripped apart their roster to land Durant in February, trading three players and four unprotected first-round picks — as well as a pick swap in 2028 — to Brooklyn in exchange for the former MVP.

The one thing that has become apparent this season is how weak the roster surrounding Booker is. They have a playmaker in Chris Paul and some offense in Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton, but they need a player that can drop 20+ points consistently outside of Booker. We recently listed four potential trade candidates who would give the Suns a second option. They should also look for another center to back up Ayton, as Jock Landale/Bismack Biyombo isn’t going to cut it in the playoffs.

The Bradley Beal trade is not yet finalized, but once it is, Phoenix will no longer control any draft picks until the 2031 draft. The Suns, once perennially in the NBA basement, are now one of the Association’s best teams — but without a championship to show for it yet, and no way to boost depth or develop players through the annual draft.