If the Phoenix Suns are going to avoid an extended stay in basketball limbo, then they must refrain from trading future assets for short-term gains this coming summer. It's a big ask of a franchise that's desperate to hold on to Devin Booker, but the last thing the Suns need is to sacrifice the future for an already unstable present.
Temptation will surround Phoenix as the reality of a failed Big Three hangs over its head, but it's done too much to close in on stability to give up on the process now.
Phoenix will entertain trade offers for Kevin Durant, which is admittedly the first step toward something in between a rebuild and a retooling. Until a deal is completed, it will also likely look for ways to salvage what was once viewed as a championship-caliber trio with Bradley Beal, Booker, and Durant.
Regardless of what decision it lands on, the one thing that the Suns can't afford to do is sacrifice draft capital for short-term gains.
Phoenix isn't in this position because Beal, Booker, and Durant never learned how to play together. The reason the Suns lost in the first round in 2023-24 and missed the playoffs in 2024-25 is the simple fact that they failed to create a supporting cast that can alleviate the stars' burden.
If the Suns hope to build a brighter future with Booker or any other player at the helm, then they need to learn from past mistakes and prioritize the value of their first-round draft picks.
Suns must utilize NBA Draft to create depth, escape limbo
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Phoenix has navigated questionable past decisions to reload its arsenal of future picks. It's now in possession of first-round selections for every draft from 2025 through 2030—a stunning feat considering it has seven outgoing Round 1 picks, four of which are swaps, between 2025 and 2031.
Rather than simply digging itself a deeper hole by repeating past mistakes, the Suns must utilize the picks at their disposal to rebuild the depth of the roster.
Phoenix proved how valuable even a late first-round draft pick can be just one year ago. It selected Ryan Dunn at No. 28 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft and received early displays of his elite defensive potential during the 2024-25 season.
The Suns will now have the No. 29 overall selection in 2025, which it can utilize to add another cost-effective player to its rotation.
For a Phoenix team that's nearly $26 million over the second apron, [cost-efficient talent should be the top priority](https://valleyofthesuns.com/this-move-could-doom-the-suns-future-and-it-s-not-a-kevin-durant-trade-01jvazj1exnj). Trading Durant could admittedly create new opportunities, but the Suns' safest bet in the interim is to make the NBA Draft a source of affordable players.
It may not yield the immediate results that a team with three All-Stars is hoping to see, but it can prevent Phoenix from having to depend on minimum-salary players on one-year rental deals.
Furthermore, with a player like Dunn, the Suns have an all-too-rare opportunity to help him become the exact player his teammates need him to be. They can also work closely with him to address perceived flaws and learn the intricacies of the identity the team will look to forge [under their new head coach](https://valleyofthesuns.com/latest-head-coach-update-proves-suns-finally-learned-past-mistakes).
Phoenix has an uphill battle ahead of it, and the temptation to trade for proven players will be present, but it must emphasize cost-efficient and developable talent to avoid true disaster.