It’s a turbulent time on Planet Orange, which means no news is good news. Reprieves are small victories. Whew. The Suns emerged from the NBA draft lottery unscathed.
It could’ve been so much worse.
The big winner was clearly the Mavericks, who took the No. 1 overall pick and the right to select Duke star Cooper Flagg. It is a soothing cure for all the vitriol in Dallas, where basketball fans revolted following the controversial trade of superstar Luka Doncic. And it was a night of epic implications for the state of Texas.
The Mavericks and the Spurs came down to the final pick. Had San Antonio snagged Flagg, the Spurs might’ve been gifted an instant dynasty, just like they were with Tim Duncan. And we benefitted when the Rockets drew the No. 10 pick, lower than their projected slot at No. 9.
We avoided the nightmare scenario of Houston riding 3.8% odds all the way to the top of the board, like Atlanta did the previous year.
So much of our history is tied to the NBA draft.
The Suns famously lost a coin flip for the first pick in the 1968 draft, a twist of misfortune that cost the franchise Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and multiple NBA championships. The Suns won the lottery in 2018 and famously chose Deandre Ayton over Doncic, even though Doncic’s Slovenian national coach (Igor Kokoskov) was the Suns head coach at the time.
Fortunately, Monday’s draft lottery didn’t produce any further drama.
What’s next for the Suns after NBA draft lottery?
The Suns have three defining moments looming on the horizon.
They need to hire a head coach before the NBA draft. They need to get really luck with their selections at No. 29 and No. 52 overall. They must navigate the trade of Kevin Durant in a market where Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the biggest fish in the pond.
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There are reports that Durant would love Houston, but Houston isn’t so sure about Durant. After all, the Rockets are in control of the Suns’ first-round picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029. If they have strategized around the Suns’ demise, if they are the team that benefits most from our current dysfunction, their best play is to refrain from sending any of those picks back to Phoenix. Unless they decide they really need Durant.
There are reports that Miami is interested in Durant, but the Heat aren’t willing to give up much draft capital in return. In other words, NBA teams are going to test the resolve of Suns’ rookie general manager Brian Gregory, a man with only two years of NBA experience.
Chances are good we will all be underwhelmed by the net return in the Durant trade.
That means the Suns better nail their next big move. The fourth head coach in four years under new owner Mat Ishbia. A candidate who better bring everything Devin Booker ever wanted in a leader.
Reach Bickley at [email protected]. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7.
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