Suns Off Season Changes for 2025-26

Phrazbit

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And who would the Pelicans have drafted with that pick?

Maluach, no doubt.

I doesn't necessarily take a lot of picks to rebuild a team. It takes making good picks.

I don't disagree, I am excited about Maluach... but man... an unprotected pick from the Pelicans next year... that is going to be a juicy pick. Unless Zion plays like 60+ games, they're likely the worst team in the league.
 

Proximo

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That's a fair offer for the pick and I'd be upset if Maluach wasn't there and they turned it down. As is though I don't trust the Suns to use the extra pick wisely so I believe passing was the best decision.


Maluach falling to use was a blessing. We didn't need another Halliburton situation where we pass on a highly touted prospect.
it probably all depends on where that pick ends up falling next year. I am not super high on maluach. He may work out well but it would take a lot of development that may or may not happen.
 

Proximo

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And who would the Pelicans have drafted with that pick?

Maluach, no doubt.

I doesn't necessarily take a lot of picks to rebuild a team. It takes making good picks.
No they would have drafted queen. That is who they were after, and ended up getting a few picks later with the same offer.

I’m not sure why you are falling for the propaganda that maluach was some amazing steal, he is raw as hell and not every team wants to go on that journey.
 

Yuma

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No they would have drafted queen. That is who they were after, and ended up getting a few picks later with the same offer.

I’m not sure why you are falling for the propaganda that maluach was some amazing steal, he is raw as hell and not every team wants to go on that journey.
The only thing about your theory, is if they were after Queen they would have either taken the deal, or they would have taken Queen over Maluach anyway. There's video evidence from the Suns war room showing they wanted Maluach, and were celebrating when he fell to us.
 

95pro

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No they would have drafted queen. That is who they were after, and ended up getting a few picks later with the same offer.

I’m not sure why you are falling for the propaganda that maluach was some amazing steal, he is raw as hell and not every team wants to go on that journey.

hindsight
 

Proximo

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The only thing about your theory, is if they were after Queen they would have either taken the deal, or they would have taken Queen over Maluach anyway. There's video evidence from the Suns war room showing they wanted Maluach, and were celebrating when he fell to us.
It was a well known fact New Orleans was after Queen - it was widely reported. That was their guy and why they were willing to give up an unprotected first that many GM's have called them crazy for doing.

It's not my theory.

Yes the Suns wanted Maluach, I think after that convo with Rich Paul they promised not to trade the pick if he was there at 10.
 

JCSunsfan

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I don't disagree, I am excited about Maluach... but man... an unprotected pick from the Pelicans next year... that is going to be a juicy pick. Unless Zion plays like 60+ games, they're likely the worst team in the league.
Will that pick be better than #10? Maybe. Anyone remember "the Laker pick" that we treasured so for so long and then traded it away for -- I forget--only for that pick to be not very good anyway.

And then will the player we get with that pick be a better prospect? Not likely.
 

JCSunsfan

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It was a well known fact New Orleans was after Queen - it was widely reported. That was their guy and why they were willing to give up an unprotected first that many GM's have called them crazy for doing.

It's not my theory.

Yes the Suns wanted Maluach, I think after that convo with Rich Paul they promised not to trade the pick if he was there at 10.
I think Yuma was replying as if you were saying that the Suns wanted Queen.
 

AzStevenCal

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Will that pick be better than #10? Maybe. Anyone remember "the Laker pick" that we treasured so for so long and then traded it away for -- I forget--only for that pick to be not very good anyway.

And then will the player we get with that pick be a better prospect? Not likely.
Sure but you have to play the odds anyway.
 

Hoop Head

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Will that pick be better than #10? Maybe. Anyone remember "the Laker pick" that we treasured so for so long and then traded it away for -- I forget--only for that pick to be not very good anyway.

And then will the player we get with that pick be a better prospect? Not likely.

That coveted Laker pick actually ended up being the pick we used to take Mikal. It got passed around and ended up going to Philadelphia and then back to us.

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Phrazbit

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Will that pick be better than #10? Maybe. Anyone remember "the Laker pick" that we treasured so for so long and then traded it away for -- I forget--only for that pick to be not very good anyway.

And then will the player we get with that pick be a better prospect? Not likely.

That Laker pick was a long term projection, and the Lakers did what they always do and had some superstar fall into their lap despite their own incompetence.

The Pelicans next year on the other hand... they're going to be aaaaaaaaawful. Barring some Zion miracle of health resurgence (and possibly even with that because the supporting cast is so bad) they're a lock for a top 5 pick and I fully expect them to have a bottom 2 or 3 record.

I hope we're right and Maluach pans out, but I would lay extremely heavy odds that the Pelicans pick next year lands in the top 10 and most likely top 5.
 

Yuma

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It was a well known fact New Orleans was after Queen - it was widely reported. That was their guy and why they were willing to give up an unprotected first that many GM's have called them crazy for doing.

It's not my theory.

Yes the Suns wanted Maluach, I think after that convo with Rich Paul they promised not to trade the pick if he was there at 10.
I thought you meant the Suns wanted Queen.
 

Yuma

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That Laker pick was a long term projection, and the Lakers did what they always do and had some superstar fall into their lap despite their own incompetence.

The Pelicans next year on the other hand... they're going to be aaaaaaaaawful. Barring some Zion miracle of health resurgence (and possibly even with that because the supporting cast is so bad) they're a lock for a top 5 pick and I fully expect them to have a bottom 2 or 3 record.

I hope we're right and Maluach pans out, but I would lay extremely heavy odds that the Pelicans pick next year lands in the top 10 and most likely top 5.
That pick could also end up not working as much as Maluach. There have been a lot of top picks that busted. There's no guarantee you end up better.
 

JCSunsfan

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That coveted Laker pick actually ended up being the pick we used to take Mikal. It got passed around and ended up going to Philadelphia and then back to us.

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Ha! I had forgotten all about that.
 

Raindog

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That Laker pick was a long term projection, and the Lakers did what they always do and had some superstar fall into their lap despite their own incompetence.
I don't think the Lakers ever really care too much if they blow a draft pick. The mystique of their home market and the actions of the league itself always ensures they will never be more than a year (or two, at worst) from being relevant.
 

JCSunsfan

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That pick could also end up not working as much as Maluach. There have been a lot of top picks that busted. There's no guarantee you end up better.
if you really like the player, and really like his prospects, you take him. I've made so many mistakes in my life trying to squeeze out a little better deal, only to have wished I had taken the obvious one in front of me. We won't know for a while. Maybe those preferring the trade will end up correct. That is a real possibility. I am glad we did what we did.
 

Yuma

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if you really like the player, and really like his prospects, you take him. I've made so many mistakes in my life trying to squeeze out a little better deal, only to have wished I had taken the obvious one in front of me. We won't know for a while. Maybe those preferring the trade will end up correct. That is a real possibility. I am glad we did what we did.
I'm glad we didn't take the pick, and you know we may have tried to use it to get an aging star to add to the roster. It does seem the Suns finally got the memo they were undersized, not athletic, and old.
 

JCSunsfan

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So apparently the Suns were offered New Orleans 1st next year unprotected and the 23rd pick for the 10th pick - the same deal they later made.

I think the Suns made a mistake not taking that, but I guess only time will tell for sure.
I dunno man. Viable young 7 footers with talent are very hard to come by.
I am pretty happy with what we got...and we dont have stress later when ownership trades away the unprotected pick for some 30 year old wunderkid on his last legs....and watch it turn into a top three pick
 

95pro

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I dunno man. Viable young 7 footers with talent are very hard to come by.
I am pretty happy with what we got...and we dont have stress later when ownership trades away the unprotected pick for some 30 year old wunderkid on his last legs....and watch it turn into a top three pick

we were one of the worst defensive teams in the nba, scrambling for a center, used him as a starter last season. Now we one proven starter and backup, and a rookie to round into shape.

We had to take Maluach.
 
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I dunno man. Viable young 7 footers with talent are very hard to come by.
I am pretty happy with what we got...and we dont have stress later when ownership trades away the unprotected pick for some 30 year old wunderkid on his last legs....and watch it turn into a top three pick

we were one of the worst defensive teams in the nba, scrambling for a center, used him as a starter last season. Now we one proven starter and backup, and a rookie to round into shape.

We had to take Maluach.


I'm really torn by this.

Hope Maluach develops, but a player like Danny Wolf at #23 and a future unprotected first round draft pick for use or trade is very tempting.

The Suns could have had Mark Williams, Danny Wolf, Rasheer Fleming, Koby Brea plus that unprotected 2026 first round pick in what appears to be a superior draft.
 

Cheesebeef

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I don't disagree that I have a narrow view of players I would want to pursue, especially in light of what is available, and in our current situation we need to be very weary of any long term commitments, especially ones that will cost what few assets we possess.

If you look among the flashier names I've crapped on in recent years... Kuzma, Poole, Jerami Grant, Zach LaVine, now Kuminga... they're all cut from similar cloth, dudes who put up numbers, their teams play better without them and got paid or acquired by their current clubs out of desperation.

Committing money to players cut from Kuminga's cloth is how a team becomes the Kings, or the Wizards or the Hornets or the Blazers, or the Bulls, teams perpetually settling to overpay for marginal talent, because that is what is available and locking themselves into a longer cycle of being trash.

Phrazbit, hate to break it to you, but with Booker’s ridiculous contract and Green’s deal, we’re already one of those teams. And probably near the bottom of them.
 
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