New Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer and general manager James Jones were spotted at the NBA draft combine in Chicago yesterday.
spotted during yesterdayâs second combine scrimmage pic.twitter.com/CscVVza7dx
â Damon Allred (@iamdamonallred) May 15, 2024
On Friday, the Suns will host a press conference to officially welcome Budenholzer, who was hired on Saturday to take Frank Vogel’s place. After just one season with the Suns, Vogel was let go a week and a half after the team was swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round of the playoffs.
On June 26, the day of the NBA Draft’s first round, the Suns will have the option to trade both this year’s selection and their 2031 first-round pick.
Many people are speculating that the Suns may consider shopping both of these selections, particularly in light of the owner Mat Ishbia’s remarks from a few weeks ago.
“You ain’t going to like the Phoenix Suns if fans like to look forward and say, ‘Hey, I really like that 2031 draft pick, because maybe that seventh-grader is gonna be really good and we’re gonna draft them and one day he’s gonna be a player,'” Ishbia stated. “Because we’re going to say that great players are selected with draft picks.”
Though this draft has been regarded as one of the weakest in a while, the Suns may still have some excellent choices.
Phoenix clearly needs a point guard, an athletic wing/forward, and a center who can defend the rim. It may be difficult to select a reliable point guard this late in the draft, but in previous years, big men who can contribute right awayâsuch as Dereck Lively, Mark Williams, and Walker Kesslerâas well as seasoned wingsâsuch as Christian Braun and Jaime Jacquez Jr.âhave been successfully selected in the middle of the first round.
