A recent report reveals the Suns had options in the draft.
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We’re deep into the offseason at this point, the news cycle is simmering down, and Summer League ended over a week ago. As rosters start to become more set for the upcoming season and reporters have more time to do more deep diving into prospects and the trade talks teams have had with each other since the season ended, new nuggets on what squads were thinking through the draft process have come out, including this one on the Phoenix Suns.
According to the Athletic’s John Hollinger, the Suns had an opportunity to make a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans for the 23rd pick and their first-rounder, but “opted to take the Duke project” Khaman Maluach with the 10th pick.
The Suns turned down an unprotected 2026 1st and the 23rd pick from the Pelicans for the 10th pick, per @johnhollinger
“Discussion over whether Phoenix fumbled the bag by not taking the New Orleans offer will only heighten if Maluach can’t give the Suns a quality big” pic.twitter.com/9c07g9ANDE
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) July 27, 2025
With the Suns limited on draft picks for the next few years, the Pelicans gave the Valley a chance at a high pick in 2026, along with a pick in this year’s draft, but they declined.
Hollinger’s piece:
Maluach, 18, averaged just 10 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 35.7% from the field and 23.1% from deep in three games in Summer League. In pre-draft assessments, he was widely considered a project based on his age, raw talent, and how recently he started playing basketball.
He had a lot of opportunities to catch lobs, roam the paint on defense, and get easy finishes, starting next to top-4 draft picks Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel when he was at Duke. His journey to getting drafted, coming from South Sudan, is an inspirational one that he says stems from him being “delusional.”
Considered someone with strong character and a force inside, Maluach will be playing alongside center Mark Williams, who also went to Duke and spoke to him throughout his college recruitment process. While many are high on Maluach in the Suns community, the Suns aren’t able to easily add young talent, and the Pelicans gave them a chance to continue to rebuild their draft assets that they depleted when they traded for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
While it’s not a sure thing the Pelicans will have a high pick this season, they had one of the league’s worst records last season and will be without starting guard Dejounte Murray for a significant part of next year due to a torn Achilles, and the team’s best player, Zion Williamson, has an unreliable injury history. New Orleans ended up trading the 23rd pick and the right to the better of the Milwaukee Bucks or their own pick next year to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the 13th pick, where they selected Maryland forward/center Derik Queen.
While Maluach’s potential is high, should the Suns have taken the Pels offer? You decide.
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