© Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns entered the 2024 NBA Draft with only the No. 22 overall pick. They left with two players they liked and an additional future second-round pick.
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First, Phoenix traded its No. 22 pick to the Denver Nuggets for the No. 28 and No. 56 picks, as well as Denver’s 2026 and 2031 second rounders. With the No. 28 pick, the Suns drafted Virginia forward Ryan Dunn, who they had high on their board even originally at 22.
In a smaller deal, the Suns flipped the only other future second-round pick they had available, a 2028 selection from the Boston Celtics (protected 31-45) for the 51st overall pick from the New York Knicks.
Then in the second round of the draft, Phoenix ended up trading the No. 51 and 56 picks to New York again for No. 40, which they used to select Marquette big Oso Ighodaro.
Following the draft, the Suns agreed to a two-way deal with undrafted Baylor forward Jalen Bridges. They also agreed to Exhibit-10 deals with Northwestern guard Boo Buie and Florida forward Tyrese Samuel.
According to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro, the Suns were looking to fill three roster holes this offseason: a point guard who can play more than 20 minutes per game, a backup big upgrade and a young, athletic wing.
They presumably have filled the latter two spots with Dunn and Ighodaro.
So what grades and analysis did experts give the Suns for their overall draft haul and individual picks in the NBA’s first-ever two-day draft? (None factor in the post-draft signings.)
Note: Team grades are singular, player grades are specified as outlets had different ways they ranked
“Based on their pair of picks, the Suns came into this draft determined to add defensive versatility. Dunn’s ability to generate steals and blocks and defend multiple positions makes him the top player available by that metric, while Ighodaro also stood out for his ability to switch on defense. Phoenix still needs both players to be viable enough offensively to utilize their defensive tools — the reason they were available where they were — but the best-case versions of Dunn and Ighodaro fit ideally with the Suns’ offensive stars.”
“Dunn was the best perimeter defender in college basketball during his two years at Virginia but only shot 20% from 3-point range and didn’t look much better at the combine. Ighodaro is a steal at 40 with his elite passing and physicality, but it’s puzzling to figure out how both players will fit with the current roster.”
On Dunn: “One of the best defensive players in college basketball, he is an explosive athlete who didn’t get to show it much because of Virginia’s pace. He’s also a great cutter who can show it with the Suns’ spacing. If he can get to the point where defenses have to show him even a little respect as a shooter, he will be a long-term NBA player. But he’s not there at all as a shooter yet.”
On Ighodaro: “Phoenix acquired this pick via the Knicks and selected Ighodaro, giving them a springy lob threat and all-around forward who presents versatility on defense and as a passer. He has room to grow his game on offense as a shooter and only took two 3s in four college seasons, but what he does, he does well.”
On Dunn: “Phoenix has enough offense, so they got some defense. It’s a good thing that they don’t need help on offense, because Dunn isn’t ready to provide much on that end. However, he’s arguably the best defender in the draft, and it showed in the box score as he came away with a ton of steals and blocks last season. He should play a significant reserve role for the Suns this season and make a big impact on the defensive end. If Mike Budenholzer can find ways to utilize him enough on the offensive end, he has the makings of an elite fantasy player. Dunn is one of my favorite players in the draft, and he should bring smiles to fantasy managers everywhere with his stocks in year one.”
On Ighodaro: “Phoenix acquired this pick from Portland, and it could pay immediate dividends. In addition to his abilities as a defender, Ighodaro is an excellent passer for a big and can operate as an offensive hub. Depending on what the Suns do to address the point guard position and whether or not free agent center Drew Eubanks returns, Ighodaro could have immediate fantasy value behind starter Jusuf Nurkic.”
On Dunn: “Phoenix opts to select the best-educated player in the draft in Ryan Dunn, a Virginia product who profiles as a defensive specialist (Editor’s note: Hollinger is a Virginia grad). He lost all confidence in his shooting this past season, and his jumper is a down-to-the-studs teardown that would give Chip and Joanna Gaines pause, but he is a defensive terror who can guard all five positions.”
On Ighodaro: “Ighodaro was one of my favorite sleepers in this draft, and he’s an Arizona native who gets to come home and join the Suns. With his ability to pass from the elbows and switch onto the perimeter defensively, I think he is capable of playing backup five minutes immediately, although he doesn’t do some of the “traditional” big things (rebound, block shots) at a super high level.”
On Dunn: “The Suns are certainly at a crossroads with this strange three-star build that hinges on the structural integrity of both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Should they stick with their main guys, Phoenix needs stoppers more than anything. That’s what Dunn is. At some point, the prophecy of an anti-positional defensive wrecker upheld by the likes of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Andre Roberson, and Dominic McGuire will shine. Dunn might be the one to hold the torch. A hyper-athlete with explosive leaping ability, elite recovery speed for his size, and superior instincts, Dunn is the most impactful defender in the class. Just don’t make me talk about the other end. That’s not where his bread is buttered.”
On Ighodaro: “The Suns are really working the margins, which certainly feels like what a team that’s holding on to its Big Three would do. Ighodaro is a legitimate does-all-the-little-things kind of player. He’s smart, he has great vision and access to passing angles playing out of the post, and he sets hard screens. He can move his feet on the perimeter. If you give him a lane, he’s dunking. There is utility in a high-IQ, no-nonsense small-ball 5 at the next level, but without the requisite size and length for full-time duty, Ighodaro’s ceiling is fairly capped. The Suns signed Thaddeus Young back in February for all the things that Ighodaro can theoretically provide them with—and Oso’s 15 years younger.”
On Dunn: “The Suns have an overloaded roster led by Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. They now have a certified stopper to play alongside them in Ryan Dunn.
“Dunn’s defense is the best in this draft class. He has all of the physical tools you want in an all-purpose wing stopper, and his level of engagement is elite. He blankets opponents on the ball and disrupts their actions away from it. All-Defensive honors could be a part of his future.
“But does he bring enough on offense to stay on the court? He can cut, finish and keep the ball moving, but he could be the kind of shooting liability who shrinks the offensive end.
“It’s not just that he struggles with accuracy (23.5 percent from three, 52.5 percent at the line in college), it’s that he often doesn’t even look at the basket. Teams will leave him unattended on the perimeter, and he sometimes just accepts that and moves off the ball as quickly as possible.
“The Suns clearly think they either have enough scoring or a great enough need for defense (or both?) to make Dunn worth the pick. That’s a reasonable gamble to make at this stage of the draft.
On Ighodaro: “Perched over the second apron, the Suns have limited resources with which to build their roster around Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. They are doing what they can in this draft, though.
“In the first round, they snagged a defensive stopper in the first round (Ryan Dunn) with the No. 28 overall pick. At No. 40, they’re now injecting passing, athleticism and defensive versatility into their center rotation with Oso Ighodaro.
“The big man is a tricky evaluation with some unique skills and some worrying weaknesses.
“On the plus side, Ighodaro is an instinctual passer as an athletic 6’10” big, and he is mobile enough to handle defensive switches. On the other hand, he isn’t a shooter or a great paint protector, so he could be tough to plug into many lineups.”
“The Suns’ roster is handcuffed by their star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, leaving them with limited cap space and assets. That makes building through the draft vitally important, and I thought they did a great job finding instant contributors.
“Dunn is the best perimeter defender in this class with shades of Pelicans forward Herb Jones. Ighodaro is a coordinated big man who can defend, handle the ball and pass. He reminds me of Warriors 2023 second-round pick Trayce Jackson-Davis, who gave Golden State impact minutes as a rookie.”
“There may not be a team that can successfully utilize Dunn’s combination of All-NBA defensive potential with extremely poor offense. He’ll make life easier on defense for the Suns’ trio of stars, and their scoring prowess will take the pressure off Dunn. Still, as a complete non-shooter, he’ll ruin Phoenix’s spacing if he isn’t surrounded by four 3-point threats at all times. Ighodaro is also a non-shooter, which is a tad concerning.”
On Dunn: “Dunn is an incredible defender who can’t shoot at all. Phoenix has so much shooting in place already with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal that added an athletic defensive playmaker like Dunn makes some sense. They just need to teach him how to shoot at least a little bit because otherwise opposing defenses will totally ignore him.”
On Ighodaro: “(Ighodaro) is a gifted playmaking center with plenty of athleticism to finish dunks around the rim. He’s weird little push shot became a deadly weapon at Marquette. He’s a little small for an NBA player, but his IQ and leaping is appealing.”
Our grade: B
You’re not going to get perfect prospects at No. 28 and 40, but Dunn and Ighodaro certainly have a lot of upside. They can presumably fill rotation spots right away and bring a defensive intensity Phoenix did not have before. The big reason this grade is not higher is that there are still some weaknesses in these players, most notably Dunn’s offensive abilities and if Ighodaro can be the backup five the Suns need with his unique skillset and non-shooting ability. Phoenix still has holes to answer in free agency, but did address two important positions it did not have before with these two prospects: a young, athletic wing and backup center.
That said, it’s hard to fully envision the fit of any role players on this team, as Grayson Allen was really the only addition that thrived consistently with the Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. This lack of consistent production next to the stars and never knowing what you were going to get night in and night out is arguably the biggest reason why Phoenix ended up getting swept in the first round. Maybe new coach Mike Budenholzer and staff can fix some of these inconsistencies and get players to buy into their roles next season.
Going back to the draft haul, the Suns get more capital and future assets with Denver’s 2026 and 2031 second-round picks. As said in the opening, the Suns walked in with one pick and now they get two guys they like, giving them a little flexibility if one or the other doesn’t pan out. Now, we wait to free agency to see what else Phoenix adds on its roster.
Suns trade up to 40th pick, draft Marquette center Oso Ighodaro
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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
