The Phoenix Suns find themselves in an unusual situation regarding the upcoming NBA Draft as they lack a lottery pick, despite being classified as a lottery team. Their disappointing 36-46 record led to their absence from the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season. This situation arose from the significant trade they made to acquire Kevin Durant, during which they traded their 2025 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets. That pick has since been passed on to the Houston Rockets.
Currently, the Rockets, who obtained that pick, have a slim 3.8% chance of claiming the lottery, which features Duke freshman Cooper Flagg as the expected top overall choice.
The NBA Draft Lottery is set to take place on May 12 in Chicago, starting at 4 p.m. (Phoenix time) and will be broadcast by ESPN. The teams with the highest odds of winning the No. 1 overall pick are the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets, each holding a 14% chance.
In terms of their own positioning in the draft, the Suns will make their selections at the 29th overall spot in the first round and the 52nd in the second round. Their 29th pick was acquired through a prior trade that saw them swap a series of first-round picks with the Utah Jazz and secure the least favorable pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Jazz. The Cavaliers had a stellar season, finishing with a 64-18 record, thereby giving Phoenix the 29th overall selection. Additionally, the Suns obtained the 52nd pick from the Charlotte Hornets in a deal that included Josh Okogie.
This unique situation for the Suns might spark discussions among fans about their future strategies as they look to return to the playoff picture. Given their recent trade activity and draft positioning, the Suns have a chance to shape their team significantly with these upcoming picks.