The Phoenix Suns traded up to the 40th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and selected Marquette center and Arizona native Osasasare (Oso) Ighodaro.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Phoenix traded the No. 51 and No. 56 overall picks to the New York Knicks for this selection. Phoenix obtained the No. 51 pick, which was also originally New York’s, by trading its 2028 second-round pick that was originally from the Boston Celtics (protected 31-45). The Suns acquired the No. 56 pick yesterday, as well as two future seconds, by trading back from the No. 22 pick to No. 28 with the Denver Nuggets. The full trade details were reported by Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.
To move up to #40 and draft Oso Ighodaro Phoenix gives up #51 and 56. Suns traded 2028 second of Boston that was protected for 51.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) June 27, 2024
With this No. 28 overall pick last night, Phoenix selected Virginia forward Ryan Dunn. Drafting both Dunn and Ighodaro addresses two glaring needs for the Suns: a young, athletic forward and a backup center.
Last season’s backup center, Drew Eubanks, is reportedly declining his player option and entering free agency, so Ighodaro will likely immediately slot in this role behind Jusuf Nurkić.
The 6-foot-10 Ighodaro played his high school basketball at Desert Vista in Phoenix, where he was rated as 247 Sports’ No. 81 overall prospect and No. 5 in Arizona in the 2020 class.
Ighodaro, 21, started 36 games in each of the last two seasons for the Golden Eagles. He averaged a career-best 13.4 points on 57.6% shooting and 6.9 rebounds to go along with 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals at Marquette last season. He was an All-Big East Second Team selection the last two seasons.
Ighodaro is more of a screener and rim-runner than a shooter, but also showed a high IQ and playmaking flashes offensively, averaging 2.9 assists per game last season and 3.3 in the 2022-23 season. Like Dunn, although Ighodaro has a shorter wingspan at 6-foot-11, he is considered one of the best defenders in the draft and demonstrated the ability to switch onto multiple positions.
Your newest Phoenix Suns Oso Ighodaro
Center. 6’10. From Chandler Arizona. Pick #40.
13.4 PTS, 6.9 Reb, 2.9 AST, 57.6 FG%
— ???? Mr. Az (@MrAzSports) June 27, 2024
What can the Suns expect out of him?
“Just a winner, someone that cares about everything that goes into winning, a great teammate, great person and a hard worker,” Ighodaro told ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth after being drafted.
Right now, Phoenix has seven players under contract for next season: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić, Nassir Little and David Roddy. There are multiple reports that Eric Gordon will opt out of his player option for next season, while ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski says that Eubanks will opt out of his. Forbes Sports’ Evan Sidery reported that Damion Lee will exercise his player option,
According to multiple reports, the Suns are hoping to bring back Royce O’Neale and Bol Bol, who are unrestricted free agents. Josh Okogie’s stance on his player option has not been reported yet, but he is said to love Phoenix, so he could be another returnee.
If Lee, O’Neale, Bol and Okogie are to return, this is how Phoenix’s roster looks now with the additions of Ighodaro and Dunn (unconfirmed players in parentheses):
- PG: Bradley Beal, ?, (Josh Okogie)
- SG: Devin Booker, (Damion Lee), David Roddy
- SF: Grayson Allen, (Royce O’Neale), Nassir Little
- PF: Kevin Durant, Ryan Dunn, (Bol Bol)
- C: Jusuf Nurkić, Oso Ighodaro, ?
Phoenix has now wrapped up its selections in the 2024 NBA draft unless it trades for another pick.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
