Phoenix Suns First Round draft grades

They took the best center in the draft at 10. They traded 29. How did they do?

Grades. We dreaded them in school, but now we hand them out like candy, using them to issue snap judgments on draft picks and young prospects whose careers haven’t even started. We base them on the present moment, on what we think a roster needs, and on what a selection might mean. It’s all wildly subjective. But hey, it’s tradition.

The Phoenix Suns entered the 2025 NBA Draft holding two first-round picks: No. 10 and No. 29. Not bad for a team people constantly remind you doesn’t control its own draft capital. This stuff is fluid. Where there’s creativity and conviction, there’s always a way.

At the start of the season, the Suns had zero first-round picks in 2025. Then came the trade with Utah, where they shipped out a 2031 first-rounder to land No. 29 (and 2027 and 2029 firsts). And of course, the Kevin Durant deal delivered them the 10th pick. So maybe hold off on the “they don’t own their picks” refrain. This league moves fast. Control is never permanent. Flexibility is just a good phone call away.

So yes, the Suns had two picks. And in a matter of moments, when the Rockets were on the clock selecting in the Suns’ stead, the Suns made their selection.

And moments later, they traded their 29th overall pick.

https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1938043837521248413

So, how did the Suns do on Day One?

They entered the night with two picks and walked away with two players. Both centers, both from Duke. One is a 7’2” teenager with massive upside. The other averaged 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds last season.

The Bright Side crew is here with our grades.

John Voita

Draft Night Grade: A-

It feels strange, even a little unnatural, to say something genuinely optimistic about the Phoenix Suns. The past two seasons have been marred by disappointment, a haze of missed expectations and roster imbalance that dulled any sense of forward momentum. But after watching how Wednesday night unfolded, I can’t help but feel…hopeful? Genuinely ecstatic, even.

Khaman Maluach wasn’t supposed to be there at No. 10. By all accounts, the Suns didn’t expect him to be. That’s why moments after drafting him, they traded for Mark Williams. The original plan? Draft elsewhere and acquire size through a deal. But when the best big man in the draft is staring you in the face, you don’t overthink it. You take him. And they did. Credit to the front office for pivoting in real time and doing the smart thing.

I’m a best-player-available guy. Always have been. And Maluach is that. But I don’t mind adding Williams either. The Suns were likely going to decline Vasilije Micic’s $8.1 million option. Instead, they flipped him, along with the 29th pick and a future first, for a 22-year-old center who’ll cost $6.3 million next season.

And that’s the real story here. Day one of the draft is just one step in a larger effort to climb out of second apron hell. But for now? The Suns got big. Really big. Maluach is 7’2” with a 7’7” wingspan. Williams is a true 7-footer with defensive instincts. Together, they finally give Phoenix a viable interior presence and maybe a long-term cornerstone at the position.

I say that last part cautiously. Maluach still has much to prove. But I like his attitude. I like his motor. I love his story. This is a young man who appreciates the opportunity in front of him and sounds determined to make the most of it.

The only reason this isn’t an A+ for me is the 2029 first-round pick attached to the Williams trade. Maybe it wasn’t necessary. Maybe it was. But if that’s the only nit to pick, then this was clearly a win.

Brandon Duenas

Draft Night Grade: A+

Best. Case. Scenario. The board shook out beautifully for Phoenix tonight. I was fully expecting the Toronto Raptors to ruin the fun by sniping the Suns with the 9th pick. Khaman felt very Raptor-ish.

Is Maluach a sure thing? Absolutely not! But he possesses a high ceiling and a strong floor with his size, movement, and raw tools. Landing someone with this much talent in the back-half of the lottery is rare.

Mark Williams or not, you always gotta take the best player available. And that’s exactly what the Phoenix Suns did tonight. Phoenix is trying to create a new identity, and it’s clear that adding physicality and size are important for Brian Gregory and company. Tonight was a win. The job is far from finished… but we’re off to a great start.

Matthew Lissy

Draft Night Grade: A+

The tears from Khaman Maluach were really all I needed to believe in the Suns again. But to get the player to go with it? Even better. The Suns now have size, and with the addition of Mark Williams, our depth chart shows several options to anchor the defense.

Real purpose, personality, and the power to bring Suns fans out of their seats has returned to the Valley. There’s a real reason to believe.

This feels like more than just a roster move and a draft pick, it feels like a shift in identity. The Suns aren’t just collecting talent; they’re building a team with grit, emotion, and presence in the paint. For the first time in a while, there’s a sense that this team can not only compete but inspire.

Bruce Veliz

Draft Night Grade: A+

Where are all the doubters on the Suns’ front office now? This was an absolute home run of a pick tonight for Brian Gregory on his first big day, where everyone’s eyes were on him. Khaman Maluach is an incredible talent with so much untapped potential at the position the Suns needed the most. I had full belief he would not make it this far in the draft, and it was a blessing from the gods for how terrible this past season was. His tears of joy upon getting drafted resembled how happy I was to see the Suns hit on this selection.

Maluach is going to be such an intriguing piece for this re-tool that Jordan Ott is now going to be ring-leading. I am very excited to see how he can make him stand out as Ott had success with a fantastic defensive big in Evan Mobley last year. Overall the night went the best it could have for the Phoenix Suns. They needed to hit on this pick, and my early prediction is they nailed it.

Then the cherry on top was adding Mark Williams from your good ole’ buddies down in Charlotte. Another cost-effective big similar to Nick Richards for a contract you were going to waive in Vailije Micic anyway, that’s a win for me. The Suns had a major gap at the center and now have too many, which I do not see as a problem for multiple reasons. Many teams need center still, and the ones that could be traded are on smaller contracts which is easy to navigate for this team. I expect more moves but so far, I am not disappointed.

Ashton

Draft Night Grade: B-

Somebody has to be the tough grader here. Absolutely ecstatic that KM fell to the Suns. I am not going to spell out Khaman Maluach’s name every time I reference him in the comments. So. out with the old KD and in with the new. KM.

So. everyone was expecting MSU picks. Instead, it turned into the Sun Dukies. If anyone else has a better name suggestion, please let me know. I will accept three suggestions, based on the current Duke members on the squad.

But, I am still trying to process what happened with gifting the 29th pick to Charlotte for Mark Williams. This was a draft that was pretty much even-keeled across the board.

Two centers? And Oso? Does anyone remember when the Suns had a hole at the PF position and how that turned out? Of course you do. In the 2016 draft the Suns were on a Bender Island and also asked for a Chriss(py) celery stick. Both libations were limp and unassuming. I have been watching a lot of Food Network, so forgive me.

Let’s see how round two turns out Focus on the PG position. please. Also, I beat Gambo’s power five projections. Maybe, I should grade on a curve. Fine, give the first round draft a B.

Kevin Humpherys

Draft Night Grade: C+

Taking the best player available is always the right way to go and Maluach falling to 10 was great for Phoenix, but no miracle. Then trading for Mark Williams, who is talented, but spent most of his time in Charlotte in street clothes due to injury. He’s played in 103 out of 246 potential games in his career (injury-prone Bradley Beal played 153 out of 246 games in that same span). Not to mention that the Suns now have five shooting guards and four centers on the roster heading into next season.

The Suns, to their credit, are doing a great job at building what should be a top 10 defense in the NBA next season. With Brooks, Dunn and the combination of Maluach and Williams, Phoenix has changed the identify of the team. However, the Suns need more high-level playmakers at any position, and have a plethora of trades to make before this looks like an NBA roster capable of winning over 30 games next season. Devin Booker is an incredible player but even he can’t carry all the playmaking responsibilities by himself.

Drafting Maluach was an A-, but then trading two picks for Mark Williams was a D- unless he actually plays over 60% of his games in a Suns uniform. The Suns desperately need to add more playmaking to the roster tomorrow night and when trading away all of its positional redundancies.

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