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PHNX Daily: Suns Pull Stunner In 1st Round Of NBA Draft

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The Suns stunned the masses by trading for, and drafting, a center at the NBA Draft.

Happy Thursday! We’re making our way through the week, and I hope yours is going well.

Did you catch the first round yesterday? It sure wasn’t lacking drama, but I’ll get to that below. Day two of the draft is today, and our PHNX Suns crew will broadcast live yet again at 5 pm. I’m honestly not sure how today could possibly be any more lively than yesterday, but if you didn’t witness the fun that was had, make sure you tune in this afternoon!

Looking forward to one more night of picks. On to the show!

— Patrick Brown, PHNX Sports Daily Editor

The Suns stunned the masses after trading for, and also drafting, a center at the NBA Draft.

Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Khaman Maluach celebrates after being selected as the tenth pick by the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

When the 2025 NBA Draft kicked off in New York yesterday, the Suns were in desperate need for a center.

That changed in the blink of an eye, all while Phoenix was on the clock.

The Suns stunned the masses just before picking 10th overall, first trading yesterday’s 29th pick, a 2029 first-rounder and Vasilije Micić for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams. Literally seconds later they drafted who many believed was the best center in the draft — and no one thought would be available at 10th overall — Khaman Maluach, out of Duke.

Just like that, the Suns have depth at center, and young depth, at that.

Instant Reaction to the Suns’ First Round Action

The mock drafts didn’t see this one coming.

When it became clear Maluach was going to be available 10th overall, Suns fans were noticeably giddy waiting for the announcement, because it felt like for the first time in a long time, a little luck fell into their lap.

Once the Williams trade was announced — first by ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania — it was anyone’s guess who general manager Brian Gregory was going to pick via the Houston Rockets at 10th overall. The drama was short-lived, and the Suns indeed selected the standout Blue Devils center.

What comes next is anyone’s guess.

Williams is a former first-rounder himself, having been drafted 15th overall by the Hornets in 2022. The 23-year-old has battled multiple injuries throughout his first three NBA seasons, appearing in just 106 games over that span.

Maluach, meanwhile, will be a work in progress having just completed his freshman season at Duke. The 7-foot-2 big man is athletic with potential to have a strong shot, as well.

Here were some of the best posts following the Suns’ action, and in the interest of saving you some scrolling, I’m simply copying the text from the posts. That said, the original source is linked in case you want to check them out!

Jake Fischer, The Stein Line:

“Khaman Maluach has to be a dream scenario for Phoenix at No. 10.”

Jonathan Givony, ESPN:

“Definitely puts the Kevin Durant trade in a very different light. His ability to anchor their defense with his 7’6 wingspan and provide vertical spacing should prove essential for the Suns.”

Frank Kaminsky, the legend:

“I have no idea what’s going on, to be honest with you. So the Suns are just going to roll out a lineup of shooting guards and centers next season?”

Stephen A. Smith, every Suns fan’s favorite personality:

“Respectfully, what the hell are the Suns doing?”

Mark Williams, new Suns center:

☀️

My Take: I feel like this was a meaningful day for the Suns, who addressed a huge gap in a stunning way. The question here, though, revolves around what lies ahead. Unlike most of the national pundits, I’m not great at giving my opinion, rather, I’m more of a storyteller. But I also can’t help but chuckle at how critical everyone is being after the Suns addressed a huge need that was called out by nearly everyone before the draft. Frankly, the young Maluach will find himself in a strong position, learning the ranks of being an NBA center behind experienced players.

This could be a long play, or it could be the start of some bigger moves ahead, but either way, patience is key. Though we’ve witnessed the Suns’ futility over and over, this is Gregory’s first shot at building a winner. Let’s give him a chance to do it.

Take a Deeper Dive: If you missed the PHNX Suns podcast yesterday, you really missed out. Make sure you check it out before Round 2 kicks off tonight!

Heading Home: The Diamondbacks fell to the White Sox 7-3 in the final game of their road trip, and now return to Chase Field beginning with a three-game set against Miami tomorrow. The D-backs finished the nine-game trip at 5-4, and on a happy note, no one got injured yesterday!

Nice Gesture: Despite the loss, props to the White Sox, who displayed support for D-backs star Ketel Marte following yesterday’s ugly incident with a fan that was ultimately kicked out. This is somewhat out of format, but worth the share:

Wild’n Out:Wildcats closer Tony Pluta continues to add to his haul of awards, as he was selected to the College Baseball Foundation’s 2025 All-America Team. It’s the fifth-such award for Pluts, who is just the second Wildcat to earn All-America honors from the College Baseball Foundation.

Spurred On: Congrats to Arizona’s Carter Bryant, who was selected 14th overall by the Spurs. Bryant was a standout in his lone season with the Wildcats, and joins second overall pick Dylan Harper — Ron Harper’s son — in San Antonio. Congrats, Carter!