Suns have become laughingstock of the NBA - and are years away from digging out

The Phoenix Suns have become the subject of intense interest from multiple NBA teams eager to acquire their future first-round draft picks, as league executives anticipate prolonged poor performance from Phoenix. These teams view the Suns' picks as highly valuable assets, with one analyst describing them as "the gold of the league" and specifically highlighting the Washington Wizards' possession of three potential pick swaps.

This predicament stems from the Suns' previous roster decisions, particularly the trades for stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal that formed a short-lived "Big 3" with Devin Booker. After that strategy failed, Phoenix traded Durant to the Houston Rockets and released Beal through waive-and-stretch provisions, committing to a rebuild around Booker. Though they've made offseason moves by drafting Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koby Brea while acquiring Mark Williams via trade, the team faces significant challenges in the competitive Western Conference and will likely remain in the draft lottery for several years unless their young talent develops rapidly.

Phoenix's draft pick obligations are extensive: Washington holds swap rights for 2026 (with Orlando and Memphis also involved), the Rockets own the 2027 first-rounder, the Wizards control the 2028 swap, Houston possesses the 2029 pick, Washington has the 2030 swap, and Utah owns the 2031 first-round selection. These were acquired through previous trades involving Durant, Beal, and other deals where Phoenix traded picks to regain control of earlier-committed selections.

The Suns won't regain full control of their first-round draft pick until 2032, creating high demand among rival teams who view their upcoming selections as prime opportunities to capitalize on Phoenix's expected decline.