The NBA lottery is done with, though the Phoenix Suns were already well out of that mix despite missing the playoffs. How do the mock drafts treat Phoenix a day after the Dallas Mavericks won the top overall pick?
Before we go there: The draft-pick picture got a little lost with all the maneuvering the Suns did last season.
Phoenix tried and failed to trade Kevin Durant, acquired center Nick Richards and split an unprotected 2031 first-rounder into three lesser selections. One of those picks from the Utah Jazz fell to No. 29 in this upcoming draft because it originated from the very good Cleveland Cavaliers.
RELATED STORIES
Bickley: Suns dodge major blow during NBA draft lottery, better nail next move
The Suns also shipped out Josh Okogie and three firsts to the Charlotte Hornets for Richards and a 2025 second-rounder via the Denver Nuggets.
So, Phoenix has 29 and 52 to work with in reshuffling the roster. Perhaps a Durant move changes their draft capital.
But as of now, here’s what mock drafts see the Suns doing:
2025 NBA mock draft roundup: Phoenix Suns
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo
29. F Yaxel Lendeborg, UAB
Key stats: 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks, 1.7 steals, 53 FG%, 36 3FG%
Lendeborg has some cash on the table to attend Michigan next year if he pulls out of the draft. As a 6-foot-9 jumbo wing, he is a smooth but not explosive athlete. He has flashed a versatile skillset that includes shooting, playmaking off the bounce, efficiency and strong rebounding abilities.
His two-way productivity, size and improving skill level holds some appeal as a depth option wtih developmental upside at power forward. Lendeborg will need to win teams over on the workout circuit to play his way firmly into the type of range it might take to keep him in this class versus next year’s.
52. G Tyrese Proctor, Duke
Key stats: 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 45 FG%, 41 3FG%
Proctor has grown steadily in three years with Duke and at 6-foot-6 projects well as a shooter. Example A: He went on a heater at the end of last season, shooting 6-of-14 from three in one game against Louisville to end the ACC Tournament before going 13-of-16 through two games to start the NCAA Tournament.
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie
29. G Ben Saraf, Ratiopharm Ulm
Key stats: 12.8 points, 4.6 assists, 1.3 steals, 42 FG%
We’ll let Vecenie set the table for this young prospect:
He won MVP of the Under-18 European Championships this past summer while putting together one of the best scoring performances in the event’s history. Since then, he’s been a bit up and down. He’s averaging 12.1 points and 4.3 assists this season while shooting 45 percent from the field because he’s excellent with his gathers on drives and sharp with his midrange game, but he also has games when he’ll miss several shots and look out of sorts if teams fight to take away his left hand. He’s extremely dominant on that wing, and he needs to continue adding to his overall handle package.
The Suns could use more playmaking and ballhandling across the court, and Saraf’s combo-guard tendencies in addition to his passing vision would be a strong fit.
52. G Alijah Martin, Florida
Key stats: 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Martin at 6-foot-2 doesn’t have tons of positional versatility but has decent scoring chops and a strong build to disrupt at the point of attack. Suns fans can think of Jevon Carter.
The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann
29. G Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn
Key stats: 11.6 points, 3.0 assists, 1.6 turnovers, 42 FG%, 37 3FG%
Pettiford’s slim build makes him a point guard by necessity, and a developmental pick here would be a surprise for the Suns. He would take some pressure off Devin Booker, but it’d be some time before he is ready to make a winning impact.
One could argue that Pettiford’s ability to shoot and pass the ball out of a live dribble, both beyond the arc and with some functional artistry and flair in the midrange, is in the same tier as Dylan Harper’s. But to play a primary role on a competitive team at his size, he’ll need to be a bulldog when guarding the ball and a technician with his feet and decision-making in the paint on offense. If the Suns trade Kevin Durant and retool around Devin Booker, they could give Pettiford plenty of reps so he can blossom in that direction.
CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone
29. F Yaxel Lendeborg, UAB
The top transfer in this year’s portal class has options after leaving UAB — among them being a potential first-round pick. He’s committed to Michigan as things stand now and remains one of the big names on the fence leading into the withdrawal deadline. A defensive playmaker with true two-way ability on the wing.
Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin O’Connor
29. G Walter Clayton Jr., Florida
Key stats: 18.3 points, 4.2 assists, 45 FG%, 39 3FG%
Clayton’s experience playing four years of college ball (two at Iona and two at Florida) was on display in the Gators’ title run, and his draft stock went up each weekend of the tournament. He’s a traditional combo guard by size, but his shooting chops and fearlessness as a scorer should translate, even if you want to make a Jalen Suggs comparison only to realize he’s just one year younger (22) than the four-year NBA veteran.
Clayton could end up much higher than this after leading Florida to a national championship, depending on how his week goes at the NBA Draft Combine. But he slips in this mock because many of the teams drafting ahead of the Suns already have smaller guards, or perhaps opt for a younger player. This could work to Phoenix’s advantage since Clayton could come in right away as a fearless shooter with the versatility to take a shot at any moment. In a potential post-Kevin Durant era (and hopefully post-Bradley Beal era) there’d be a need for more scoring in the years to come next to Devin Booker.
52. F Eric Dixon, Villanova
Key stats: 23.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 41 3FG%
Dixon was a high, high volume scorer for Villanova in 2024-25. But perhaps his 16.6 points-per-game average a season prior was more representative of his profile. He is not going to bully NBA bigs inside at just 6-foot-8, so that three-point shot that went up in volume and accuracy will have to stick.
Dixon is a burly forward who brings a toughness and physicality to the game. As Villanova’s all-time leading scorer, he showed versatile scoring skills, but in the NBA his lack of athleticism will put a limit on the type of usage he can receive. The pros outweigh the cons for a team in need of a tone-setter like the Suns though.
Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sweeney
29. G Liam McNeeley, UConn
Key stats: 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 38 FG%, 32 3FG%
The shooting splits weren’t pretty, but McNeeley’s stock is based around the belief he’s a competitive wing who will thrive with less on his plate. His NBA role as a shooter is expected to be on the table still.
If McNeeley’s still here at No. 29, it’d be close to a no-brainer for Phoenix. He’s a prospect that has earned plenty of praise for just his sheer competitiveness and work ethic, traits that would be welcomed in Phoenix right now. Plus, the pedigree is there for him to be one of the top three-point shooters in this draft, which makes him an easy plug-and-play rotation piece in Phoenix.
NBADraft.net
29. PG Labaron Philon, Alabama
Key stats: 10.6 points, 3.8 assists, 32 3FG%
Philon is a shifty guard who uses his change-of-pace to score and set up teammates. Like Pettiford, time to develop would be necessary.
52. G Caleb Love, Arizona
Key stats: 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 40 FG%, 34 3FG%
Love did his best to shed his reputation as a selfish player by playing the right way and not being a defensive liability, but he is who he is as a player who can get off a shot at any time with low efficiency.
Follow @kzimmermanaz
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Post-lottery NBA mock drafts make matches for the Suns )
Also on site :
- CM Punk Pays Tribute To The Late Sabu On WWE Raw; May 13th Wrestling News Round-Up
- I won titles with MJ, Kobe and Shaq and carried a gun wherever I played – now I’m a chef, vegan activist and cannabis investor
- I bought brand new £25k car riddled with issues but dealership said MY driving was to blame