We weren’t sure yesterday if we’d care about today. But after the Phoenix Suns traded their 22nd pick in the 2024 NBA Draft to the Denver Nuggets, we now do. Phoenix obtained the 28th pick, as well as the 56th and two future second round picks. So, with the NBA Draft now being a two-day affair, we tuned in to see what the Suns would do with 56.
James Jones moved up from 56, trading for the 40th overall pick (which Portland traded to OKC, who then traded to the Knicks, who traded it to Phoenix. You got all that?). The Suns selected a player from Marquette, but not Tyler Kolek. No, it was the guy who benefitted from playing with Kolek, center Oso Ighodaro.
The Knicks are trading No. 40 to the Suns, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 27, 2024
The Suns were in need of a rim-running big, and Ighodaro meets that need. A tad undersized for the center position — because when do the Suns actually have real size? — Oso is a quality passer, solid screener, and a good passer. He’s like having an athletic version of Nurkic.
From The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor:
PLUSES
Well-rounded defender best suited in a switching scheme next to a rim-protecting center. He has the quickness to play out on the perimeter, and the size to help at the rim. He brings mobility, intelligence, and grit to a defense.
Playmaking hub for Marquette who could be a connective piece in the NBA with his feel in two-man actions. He loves to fire bounce passes from the elbows to cutters, and he often threads the needle with pinpoint passes. There’s a flair to his game, too. And he produces highlights while limiting turnovers.
Strong screener who rolls hard to the basket. He’s a lob threat. And if the option isn’t there, he’s comfortable passing out of the short roll, a skill that could be most valuable if paired with a shot-making guard.
Feathery-soft touch on hook shots out of the post, contested layups in the paint, and when using runners, the last of which could be of great value at the next level.
Major transition threat. If he’s not running the floor hard, he’s ripping down rebounds and bringing the ball up himself.
MINUSES
Undersized as the lone big on the floor, unless it’s a small-ball lineup. He doesn’t rack up rebounds or offer elite rim protection.
He’s a non-shooter at this point. He doesn’t take jumpers, and he’s a subpar free throw shooter. But considering his success from floater range, there could be some untapped potential as a spot-up shooter.
Congrats to Suns fans. Dunn at 28 and Ighodaro at 40 is a great haul. I hope Budenholzer both invests minutes in them right away. They’re both ready. https://t.co/hmVuVnHgPX
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 27, 2024
In order to move up to the 40th pick, the Suns traded the 56th pick and the 51st pick. Oh, they had the 51st pick? Yes. Phoenix traded their 2028 second round pick (via Boston) to the Knicks to acquire 51, and then traded it back to New York with 56 for 40. Whew. That’s draft gymnastics.
Let’s look at some highlights:
Ighodaro is almost 22 years old and played high school basketball at Desert Vista High School in Ahwatukee. He was a four-star recruit who played four years at Marquette, averaging 13.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists last season while shooting 57.6% from the field.
Due to the Portland having the pick, the Suns now have two draft picks who wore a different hat when picked (Ryan Dunn wore a Nuggets hat when drafted last night).
Phoenix got a couple of high-motor players in the draft that should make watching Summer League in a couple of weeks much more entertaining.
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