Phoenix Suns' Pick Tracking Thread

Good thing is that the Rockets have drafted well and have a deep squad, that is about to get deeper this 2025 draft. Here the Rockets look like a legitimate title contender, and will likely be able to pick in the lottery with the Phoenix pick.

Feel bad for Phoenix fans that their ownership traded away their hope for a pipe dream.

But we’ve had to deal with our own pipe dream blunders. In 2026 the Rockets don’t have a first round pick because of the ridiculous Westbrook for Chris Paul trade.

 

If we got # 2 pick, would you trade it, Cam, Reed and the PHX picks for # 1?

 

We're winning 60 games next year, so that pick doesn't matter

 

I would still trade all the Phoenix picks Cam and Reed for Cooper. He is an instant all-star and the fit with our team would be extraordinary. The problem is the other team would not go for it. The probability of the lottery winner to give up Cooper Flagg is barely less than SA giving up the rights to Wemby. The guy has no weaknesses in his game and has a body type that looks to be solid for a very long career.

I don’t know if it is within NBA rules, but let’s say Washington wins the lottery and Cooper can decide to go back to Duke. Can the Rockets talk to Flagg and Washington and say we will give you 5 picks, Cam, and Reed for the 1st pick with assurances from Flagg that he will stay in the draft under that scenario or go back to Duke if Washington declines?

 

I wouldnt. Imagine if we traded Jalen, Sengun, Jabari and Tari for Cade way back in 2021.

 

Would I, if I were the Rockets GM, make such an offer? Absolutely.
Would the GM of the team with the #1 pick tell me, "Thanks for calling, now f*** all the way off, then go f*** off some more if you have any jam left"? Absolutely.

 

The Westbrook trade turned out to be 2026 which is a low FRP and Topic.

Its a small price to pay for one last push in the Harden era.

 

So you would trade Jalen, Sengun, Jabari, Tari and Cam Whitmore for Cade back in 2021?

 

Another guy I'm really liking is Carter Bryant, he looks like Ryan Dunn but younger and can shoot.

This draft is hella deep, if we get a pick in the 3-4rth range I wouldnt mind trading down and getting 2 picks in the low teens. We pick up Rasheer Fleming and Carter Bryant and thats basically Jabari and Tari all over again.

 

No way the Rockets want multiple picks unless they were both top 3. It is much more likely if we got the 4th pick that we would trade it for a vet and maybe a 2026 pick (since we don’t have one) or put it in a larger package for a vet star. I think the most likely outcome is we end up with a pick between 10-12 and we use it on a future back-up center.

 

The Rockets of course would not give up their own future pick for a Jalen to Cade swap given that they were tanking. Not to mention Cade was never considered anywhere near the prospect that Flagg is considered right now.

Flagg is 18yrs old, player of the year in college, has the measurables, the shooting, the passing, the defense, can fit with this team seamlessly, no major injury/off court flags, his floor is basically top-50 player. Whatever the Rockets are willing to give up for a Devin Booker trade, they would be willing to give more for Cooper Flagg.

 

If the Rockets keep the pick in the 9-12 range, I like the idea of a backup center. I've not paid attention to Michigan so I don't know if Danny Wolf is good or not. Not sure if Rasheer Fleming can be a small ball 5 in the NBA as a backup.

I think odds are the Rockets try to trade out of the draft unless there is someone they absolutely love that can shoot threes or be a backup center at pick 9-12. Too many guys projected in the Top 20 that can't shoot threes.

 

No.

 

Yeah but we all knew Westbrook is a one man stat machine. I know it wasn’t Chris Paul’s best year but I’d still rather keep him than trade for a G that can’t shoot. The fact that we trade with all those picks (which turned out to only be 2 thankfully) was insane. Tillman should have known better.

 

I think the top 5 players are certainly much better than Reed. They have star potential. I think Reed might have been selected around 10 in this draft.

 

If this pick lands at #9 in the lottery odds then ends up in the top 4 like last time, Stone is actually a genius, IDK man. I've been critical of him before, but this will be me:

 

I'm not taking a backup center at 9 or 10.
No way.
A five can be grabbed, similar to the way we did with Adams.

We either deal it for a veteran stud or end up with a damn good prospect with starter+ upside.
Even a trade up to 3 or 4...

You maximize this asset by doing one of these.

 

I mean where else do we have minutes available? With Maluach there's some shooting upside and he's mobile enough to play some minutes at the 4--he could become Evan Mobley-esque, potentially. He might be the best we can do, if he's even still available.

 

I think the Rockets might trade the pick by packaging a player along with Cam for a young vet.