PHOENIX – For a team with limited draft capital, the Phoenix Suns aren’t operating as one. The franchise traded three second-round picks and cash to the New York Knicks for the 30th overall pick to draft Arizona’s Koa Peat. A heartwarming and cool moment to select the hometown kid, but it does murky up the future draft assets.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Since trading for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal back in 2023, Phoenix has had to get creative over the years to accumulate draft picks. General manager Brian Gregory has done a stellar job of doing that, but in the past two NBA drafts, he has traded seven second-round picks to move and take players. The aggressive approach has left the Suns in a dangerous position if those selected don’t work out.
Mar 26, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) reacts after a pay against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the West Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
Breakdown of Suns future picks:
- First Round picks:
- 2027: Least Favorable of Utah, Cleveland and Minnesota
- 2028: Least Favorable of Philadelphia, Washington, Brooklyn and Phoenix
- 2030: Least Favorable of Washington, Memphis and Phoenix
- 2032: Own (frozen)
- Second Round Picks:
- 2032: Least Favorable of Phoenix and Houston
Jun 10, 2025; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns general manager Brian Gregory during an introductory press conference at the Verizon 5g Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Four future first-round picks sounds quite good, until one realizes the swap breakdown. Three of the four picks sees Phoenix as the team to get the worst pick of a four-team swap. There is a slim chance of all those teams being bad, and the Suns getting decent picks. The more logical assumption is that pick will be in the 20s. The only pick that isn’t a swap is their own pick in 2032, which is frozen because of the team’s time over the second apron.
A team over the second apron will see their pick seven years in the future frozen. Thus, that pick will be the 30th pick and unable to be traded until it is unfrozen. To do that, Gregory will need to keep the team’s salary under the second apron for three of the next for seasons, which could be as early as the 2027-2028 season.
Phoenix Mercury and Suns owner Mat Ishbia (left) talks with new Suns general manager Brian Gregory during the second quarter between the Phoenix Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx at PHX Arena on July 9, 2025. © Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The good news is the second-round pick situation is much easier to understand, and the bad news is why it’s easy to understand. The franchise only has one future second-round pick all the way in 2032. While second-round picks are seen as low value assets, combining multiple of those into a single trade could be the difference of being able to move up in the draft or not. Tuesday was a prime example of that, with Gregory trading three in a single trade.
Phoenix could always buy a second-round pick from a team. In a single league year, a team can send up to $7.96 million in trades. Depending on how much the Suns sent the Knicks for Peat, they could spend the rest on a second-round pick on Wednesday. It could limit trades down the line, but if the front office sees someone they like, it wouldn’t be surprising if they pulled the trigger.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
