It is finally here. Draft day, the day in which franchises hitch their hopes to the prospect of a prospect prospering under their colors. And while I still don’t like that the NBA Draft has become a two-night event, that doesn’t mean it comes without intrigue for the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns currently hold the 47th overall pick and aren’t scheduled to make their selection until tomorrow night. But given the aggressiveness we’ve seen from the organization in recent drafts under the direction of Brian
Gregory, no night is safe. If Phoenix somehow finds a way into the late first round, I wouldn’t be surprised. That’s part of what makes tonight interesting. The Suns may not be scheduled to participate, but that doesn’t mean they won’t.
So what should they ultimately do?
It’s a question we’ve been asking ourselves for the better part of two months. We’ve tried to balance need versus talent, knowing that whoever is drafted isn’t expected to make an immediate impact. That’s reserved for teams at the top of the lottery that are desperate for instant contributors. For Phoenix, this selection is more about depth and development.
What would I like them to do? I see two paths.
If they stay at 47, I think Jaden Bradley is the move. He would likely be a two-way contract player, leaving an open roster spot on the big league club and allowing the Suns to maintain both flexibility and cost control. That doesn’t mean he isn’t someone who could eventually impact the team.
He’s the type of guard I find myself liking more the longer I watch him. He plays fearlessly, gets into the paint, finishes through traffic, and displays many of the traits modern combo guards need to survive offensively. What stands out most is the combination of pace, toughness, and playmaking. He’s a really good distributor, especially when navigating traffic, and he has a natural willingness to attack defenders.
Bradley also has sneaky athleticism and creates separation in ways that look very similar to what many successful smaller guards do at higher levels. I see a little Brunson in him. He knows how to touch the paint and still create separation.
Defensively, he’s probably never going to wow anyone, and he still needs to improve fighting through screens. As a playmaker, there’s room to grow when it comes to seeing the entire floor. But the shooting numbers are encouraging, the jumper looks smooth, and there’s enough skill here that if developed properly, he can become a very useful NBA guard.
At minimum, he feels like an ideal two-way contract candidate with a pathway toward becoming a rotation player. At maximum, he could become the backup point guard to Collin Gillespie two years from now if the Jalen Green experiment ultimately runs its course.
But what if the Suns move up?
I don’t know what it would take to get there. With multiple teams holding multiple picks, including the Knicks, Kings, and Grizzlies, there’s certainly opportunity for movement. If Phoenix can find its way into the late first round or early second round, I’d love to see them draft Zuby Ejiofor.
If you’ve been reading along this offseason, you know this is the guy I love most. When I wrote my article outlining how to fix the Suns from start to finish, the plan involved trading Royce O’Neale and a pick to Memphis for Taylor Hendricks and an earlier draft selection. The reason was simple. I wanted a shot at Zuby.
Why?
Because he embodies everything the Suns claim to value when it comes to player traits. He brings qualities that directly contribute to winning basketball. He’s technically sound, attacks the glass, plays aggressively, and consistently makes the kinds of plays coaches love. What stands out most is the motor. He plays with heart, desire, and toughness every possession. He’s the kind of player who embraces physicality and competes with an energy that can change the feel of a game.
Simply put, he’s a motherfucker in all the right ways. When I watch him, I think back to my pre-draft lover affair with Obi Toppin in 2020. This is Temu Toppin, and I’m here for it.
The shooting still needs work, and he may not be the cleanest fit in Phoenix. But considering where he’s projected to be drafted, the value is incredibly appealing. You could bring him off the bench, play him at the small forward spot, and suddenly become bigger, more athletic, and tougher as a team. Players with his mindset and willingness to do the dirty work are always valuable.
Yes, lineups featuring him and Oso Ighodaro would be interesting. That might not be something you seriously explore until next season or even the season after that. And who knows where the Suns will be by then.
So now that we’ve arrived at draft day, those are the two paths I’d prefer to see Phoenix take. There are plenty of prospect names out there. There are plenty of paths available.
That’s the beauty of draft night. Months of scouting reports, mock drafts, workout rumors, and thought exercises all give way to a few decisions that can alter the direction of a franchise. Maybe the Suns stay patient and take a developmental swing at 47. Maybe Brian Gregory gets aggressive and moves up the board again. Either way, the philosophy remains the same: find players who fit the culture, embrace the work, and help build whatever comes next.
