Welcome back to another NBA Draft for the Phoenix Suns. While Phoenix has made its major hires at general manager and coach and now await more seismic roster activity, we are just two weeks out from the first round.
It is an often belabored point in our space to stress the draft’s importance, because the reality is, it always is!
When Phoenix was a contender, it was about that extra piece that could put the Suns over the edge, and an affordable one at that. When they were rebuilding, establishing the pillars of the next iteration’s foundation was stressed.
Right now, Phoenix is in a roster construction purgatory between those two ideas. It is going to retool its roster this summer, establish principles this upcoming season, develop young players and hope to be successful enough in that transformation to be back in the playoff picture before 28-year-old Devin Booker starts to age out of his prime.
All that is not possible without the Suns garnering huge returns on the draft, and they have to do so with pick capital in the first round that has low odds of selecting anywhere inside the top-20 over the next five years. Our big variable here is the Kevin Durant trade, one that could occur while this series is churning out. It could involve a first-round pick in this draft that sits ahead of Phoenix’s No. 29 selection.
Until that shoe drops, the focus is on 29th overall. And much like the cliche PR bullet point you hear in every coaching search, we are going to cast a wide net here. Also, because catchy titles are fun, let’s go commercial-fishing big for the size of that net with 29 prospects for you to know about before June 25. The hope is we cover the guy they pick at No. 29, and maybe we get lucky with some names that could be relevant with either another pick acquired or even Phoenix’s second-rounder at No. 52.
We will split up the 29 for 29 into five subgroups, retaining a theme while giving you an idea of the type of talent available in this portion of the draft and the type of archetypes the Suns will target.
Using basketball’s hottest new analytic KBBO (Kellan’s Blog Boy Opinion), the 29 draft options will not include a group of the draft’s top 18 players that KBBO feels — based on a decade’s worth of evaluating the draft (whoa ego alert) — will not be on the board at No. 29. Along with the top bunch of lottery hopefuls who won’t be relevant to our exercise, which you can pluck from ESPN’s top-14 here, names like Michigan State’s Jase Richardson, Georgia’s Asa Newell, UConn’s Liam McNeely and Cedevita Olimpija’s Joan Beringer won’t drop that far, barring something from tanking a prospect’s stock.
This is less about picking out my favorites and more about covering the entire canvas. As far as the former, more is coming on that during draft week.
So, with that canvas in mind, we begin with a group of five players who should be gone by the first 28 picks. But if they’re not, Phoenix’s selection should be easy enough in a formulaic “best player available” ideal scenario. For help on knowing where guys might/should go, refer to ESPN’s big board ranking for each prospect, as they are the most “intel-based” and generally have a good idea on the range to know.
Which NBA Draft prospects would Suns be lucky to land?
Nique Clifford, G/F, Colorado State, 23 years old
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Measurables: 6-foot-7, 202 pounds, 6-foot-8 wingspan Stats: 18.9 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 4.4 APG, 0.6 BPG, 1.2 SPG, 2.6 TPG, 49.6 FG% (13.3 FGA/G), 37.7 3P% (4.9 3PA/G), 77.7 FT% (5 FTA/G) Big board rankings: ESPN: 22, The Ringer: 14, Yahoo!: 18
The appeal of Clifford should be that, at 23 years old, he still has some untapped potential left in him based on the trajectory of his collegiate career.
Clifford spent three years at Colorado in a sparsely used role, despite being a starter for half of that time. He then transferred to Colorado State, where after a year of proving far more effective with more usage, he exploded in his fifth season, becoming one of the best players in the country.
The 3-and-D profile is here for Clifford, who always flashes on tape with a combination of energy and smarts. His tremendous play in the Mountain West Tournament was crucial because it got him in the NCAA Tournament. And there, it became evident that he just moves like someone who belongs in the NBA, standing out even against athletic squads like Memphis and Maryland.
Nique Clifford’s college career ended with a strong NCAA tournament, dropping 35 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists in two games against high-level competition. Though his jumper wasn’t falling, Clifford demonstrated the myriad ways he impacts winning on both ends. pic.twitter.com/vvQ9PwVR5d
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) March 25, 2025
On that note, the only downside for Clifford is that some of his shooting numbers dipped against quality competition. But the idea for some scoring pop beyond the glue guy traits, like there was for Mikale Bridges and Cam Johnson a few years ago, isn’t a necessity.
Speaking of those two knuckleheads, they are a good litmus test to show where Clifford is at right now. With similar size and athleticism, the good is Clifford’s playmaking and shooting off the bounce are ahead of where those two were at. The bad is he’s a fine defender and shooter, respectively, but nowhere near a speciality level like Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson were at.
The latter could force Clifford to tumble if teams are blah on all the accentuating skills. We’ll see, but he seems safe to deposit in the top-20, especially after a handful of guys in this range went back to school. His fall would be a major win for the Suns.
Maxime Raynaud, C, Stanford, 22 years old
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Measurables: 7-foot-2, 237 pounds, 7-foot-1 wingspan Stats: 20.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.4 BPG, 0.9 SPG, 2.4 TPG, 46.7 FG% (16.1 FGA/G), 34.7 3P% (5.5 3PA/G), 77 FT% (4.2 FTA/G) Big board rankings: ESPN: 24, The Ringer: 36, Yahoo!: 14
Shoutout to prospects going to the combine and participating in the 5-on-5 scrimmages, unafraid of damaging their stock and instead taking a positive mindset on the opportunity it presents. That is why Raynaud will be a first-round pick, as he had a brilliant week in Chicago, showcasing his in-and-out potential on both ends of the floor.
The selling point here is the number 193. That is how many 3-pointers Raynaud took in his senior season after attempting a total of 130 in his first three years at Stanford. An intriguing percentage of 34.7% for a guy that big is surely worth raising an eyebrow of curiosity over, perhaps both.
At 7-foot-1, he shot more than five 3s a game. The seven-footers in the NBA to launch on that volume in the last five seasons are Brook Lopez, Lauri Markkanen, Kristaps Porzingis, Alex Sarr, Karl-Anthony Towns and Victor Wembanyama, per Stathead.
That’s a select group and Raynaud was not just a floor spacer for Stanford last year.
Stanford’s Maxime Raynaud has been a standout at the NBA Combine & also a prospect I’ve raved about all year.
7’1, dominant interior/post-up scoring, highly skilled perimeter + rebounding skill — 37.1% on C&S 3’s + 68.6% at the rim.
A late 1st round stretch option to consider. pic.twitter.com/K9R7enPQvQ
— Mohamed (@mcfNBA) May 15, 2025
As you can see, there are some medieval catapult vibes to the shot. He’s going to need time to get that off, while also speeding it up when defenders get closer. But anyone at his size that could offer enough on the interior while shooting league average from 3 would prove to be quite valuable. Those higher on Raynaud see some potential off the dribble on line-drive attacks and some passing too. I’m not quite there, but the flashes do exist.
If teams buy the jumper, he’s going midway through the first round. Perhaps enough don’t, and the Suns could steal a stretch 5 late, the type of skill set Devin Booker hasn’t been able to play with for a few years and would be of great benefit to him.
Will Riley, G/F, Illinois, 19 years old
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Measurables: 6-foot-10, 186 pounds, 6-foot-9 wingspan Stats: 12.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.3 BPG, 0.3 SPG, 1.2 TPG, 43.2 FG% (10.3 FGA/G), 32.6 3P% (4.1 3PA/G), 72.4 FT% (3.3 FTA/G) Big board rankings: ESPN: 17, The Ringer: 19, Yahoo!: 26
Riley should majorly benefit from June, when teams are going to get an up-close look at him in workouts and see his tools on display. He’s nearly 6-foot-10 and is a tremendous shooting talent who is comfortable taking jumpers in any situation with any amount of space. His season averages do his game zero justice.
Those workouts will allow a brief window into Riley’s physicality as well. Proving there is some physicality is a nonnegotiable for him with how he has to compete offensively, and a nod to the weight he has to continue putting on. He is aware of it and has made progress with it over the last year.
Riley has bunches of upside as a shot creator, an amount that is rare to find outside the lottery at his size. Illinois’ season had moments when Riley, a reserve, had to be the primary pin, putting pressure on opposing defenses despite the Illini being led by a lottery pick in Kasparas Jakucionis.
Oftentimes, Riley delivered. He is one of the best scorers in this class.
The more I watch Will Riley, the more confident I am in him becoming a highly impactful player at the NBA level.
At 6’8”, Riley brings strong off-ball play, multi-level scoring punch, finishing touch & good connective skills — 32.6% from 3PT (8.9 3PA/100) + 61.3% FG at the rim. pic.twitter.com/u57wD2ojKJ
— Mohamed (@mcfNBA) May 4, 2025
His efficiency might scare teams away, which can be attributed to the aforementioned statement on what was asked out of a freshman in a wide-ranging role.
While Riley competed on defense, he’s got a ways to go with his feel in that department.
So if NBA teams don’t buy him as a scorer or above-average shooter, that’s how Riley drops. If he did, it’s the type of ceiling the Suns should be salivating over at the end of the first round. It’s not often you can point at a guy sitting beyond the lottery and say he’s got All-Star potential. Riley does.
Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown, 19 years old
(Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Measurables: 6-foot-11, 263 pounds, 7-foot-6 wingspan Stats: 14.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.0 BPG, 1.5 SPG, 2.3 TPG, 53.2 FG% (10.4 FGA/G), 16.2 3P% (1.5 3PA/G), 72.4 FT% (4.4 FTA/G) Big board rankings: ESPN: 18, The Ringer: 16, Yahoo!: 21
Sorber looked like a bubble first-rounder until he went to Chicago and measured out at a 7-foot-6 wingspan. That was big for him in multiple ways, mainly because surgery for a toe injury in February has him out of action all summer, preventing him from working out for teams.
This is a fairly by-the-books profile. Sorber is an agile, mobile big that is going to benefit immensely from transitioning to the NBA’s pace and space. An average Georgetown team that was hardly inventive in its use of him did not allow for him to flash his athleticism and passing chops nearly as much as it should have.
In another unfortunate wrinkle, Sorber in the games I was able to see wasn’t switching enough as a big to get to see how he moved in space defensively. When he did, the quickness and intent were impressive.
Draft models will love him, and it’s easy to understand why. It has been 20 years since a first-round pick averaged at least eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and 1.5 steals per game, according to Stathead. Sorber will break that trend, joining a fun list of throwback forwards/bigs like Danny Granger, Kenny Thomas, Chris Webber, Robert Horry and Derrick Coleman.
Teams would have loved to see him shoot in workouts. Sorber will take middies and even dabbled with some 3s, making six of his 37 attempts, but the free-throw percentage in the mid-70s is a positive indicator that his inclination has some validity to it.
So altogether, he could be quite the modern big.
Thomas Sorber is undoubtedly the most versatile big man in this draft class that I believe WILL return T10 value.
6’10, 7’6 (!) wingspan. Physically imposing interior scoring + rebounding/rim protection skill (7.8% BLK) — strong short-roll passing with developing perimeter shot. pic.twitter.com/Ok8z3AKfDx
— Mohamed (@mcfNBA) May 19, 2025
There is a reason to doubt just about all of his profile, though, and I write that understanding the weight of that statement.
For everything on the interior, Sorber’s long arms can not fully make up for how he is undersized as a 5. He was listed at 255 pounds and still looked thin for that size, someone who had a lot of muscle left to grow into. He is nimble on his feet but not springy. That extra dynamic would really do more for him as a roller.
The passing is good. But is that the extent of it? Can Sorber be a hub for actions? Give you something off the dribble? Again, the Hoyas did not offer us this lens often enough to say. And, again, the jumper is just theoretical right now.
He’s a project, which will not appeal to some playoff teams picking in the Suns’ portion of the first round. Like Riley, though, the upside would be an easy decision to take a chance on.
Danny Wolf, C, Michigan, 21 years old
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Measurables: 7 feet, 252 pounds, 7-foot-2 wingspan Stats: 13.2 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.4 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 3.2 TPG, 49.7 FG% (10.1 FGA/G), 33.6 3P% (3.1 3PA/G), 59.4 FT% (3.6 FTA/G) Big board rankings: ESPN: 19, The Ringer: 13, Yahoo!: 32
Wolf, who worked out in Phoenix, according to AZCentral’s Duane Rankin, might be the most fascinating evaluation outside of the lottery. It’s not so much if you believe in what he can do, but if what he can do has a place in the NBA.
The seven-footer is a true playmaking 5. He does so with limited explosiveness, relying on craft and IQ. This is not just hub stuff, where he’s running dribble handoffs and such. Wolf is going off the bounce constantly to move defenses and open lanes. The handle and passing combination is better than you’d think.
Danny Wolf playmaking tape.
A 7’0 point forward with feel, handling & P&R passing skill — 18.9% AST + 1.07 AST/TO. pic.twitter.com/yXC63adzw3
— Mohamed (@mcfNBA) May 7, 2025
The ask is how this works in a supplementary role. If you buy that Wolf has star upside, then never mind. But the overwhelming odds are he does not, so is there a place for him to be the secondary creator in a starting lineup or as a change-of-pace big off the bench? A tweak on the Naz Reid formula in Minnesota?
Because the whole point of drafting Wolf would be to put the ball in his hands. He is not a good 3-point shooter yet, his free-throw numbers do not inspire confidence he will become one and his rebounding won’t fully translate because of the major leap in athleticism. He can move his feet a bit defending as a back-line guy, so while rim protection isn’t in his future, Wolf can provide at least some value defensively if he’s not directly on the ball.
You also want him in pick-and-roll. Wolf played with fellow draft prospect and center Vlad Goldin for a lot of these assists you see above. Can he be a 4 in the NBA, even in limited minutes, with the concerns of his jumper and on-ball defense?
So, again, what does that type of role player look like in the NBA? That is why he’s got the best chance out of any of these five to be there at No. 29. But if he is, is Phoenix the type of situation to get the most out of Wolf?
The Suns certainly have an opening for that type of talent, and taking a risk on something unique that could yield a major return. The thought is at least interesting, especially with the hiring of Jordan Ott, someone applauded for his offensive mind.
Follow @KellanOlson
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( 29 for 29: NBA Draft prospects the Suns would be lucky to have available )
Also on site :