7:20 pm: Fleming has officially been drafted at No. 31, using the pick the Suns agreed to acquire from Minnesota. Charania reported on ESPN’s draft broadcast (Twitter video link) that the Celtics were believed to be eyeing Fleming at No. 32, so Phoenix moved ahead of Boston in order to be able to select him.
6:01 pm: The Suns have reached their third trade agreement of the day, having struck a deal with the Timberwolves for the No. 31 overall pick, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
According to Charania, in exchange for the first pick of the second round, Minnesota will receive No. 36 and a pair of future second-rounders from Phoenix. Those future second-rounders are the least favorable of the Nuggets’ and Warriors’ 2026 picks and the most favorable of the Suns’ and Rockets’ 2032 picks, tweets Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
Saint Joseph’s forward Rasheer Fleming is the top target for the Suns at No. 31, Charania adds (via Twitter). Fleming is coming off an impressive junior season in which he averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks per game in 35 appearances (31.1 minutes). He posted a shooting slash line of .531/.390/.743 for the Hawks.
According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link), Fleming was a top-20 prospect on the Suns’ board entering the draft.
Phoenix came into the day with the 52nd and 59th overall picks in the second round, but was clearly intent on moving up. The Suns initially agreed to acquire No. 36 from Brooklyn for two future second-rounders before trading up from there to No. 31. The club also made a separate deal with the Warriors, sending Golden State No. 52 and No. 59 in exchange for No. 41.
For now then, the Suns appear poised to use the 31st overall pick on Fleming, then would be on the board 10 picks later at No. 41 — if they haven’t traded it before then.
None of these deals will be made official yet, since they involve picks the Suns are acquiring from Kevin Durant trade, which can’t be formally completed until July for salary-cap reasons.
Maybe the Suns will take another C…
As my prediction,
Suns are going to trade trade trade all season long
Tonight: 3 trades by 5pm (2nd round)
Damn wanted the Sixers to get him as a Yabu replacement
Last year the Suns traded away almost all of their future first round picks. Are they now trading away most of their future second round picks in another attempt o contend this year?
Second round picks past 35-40 mean nothing. They are easily acquired and a lot of teams sell them for cash.
Nope. Last year, they traded 1 FRP last year (2031) and received in exchange 3 FRPs (2025, 2027 and 2029, all less favorable of picks). This year, they sent two of the 3 less favorable picks to CHA for Williams. They still have 2027. They also kept the 10th pick they got from HOU.
Look, PHX has done a lot of stupid things in prior years (the aquisitions of KD and Beal in particular), but it doesn’t mean that everything they do is stupid and/or can be summed up by a single silly/lazy narrative. If you pay attention, then you might actually conclude that PHX is a MUCH stronger organization going forward from today than they were a few weeks ago.
Very well said
I agree they have had a good offseason so far
Meh. they still are not a realistic championship contender and have limited ways to improve.
Sounds like the Suns ran a maze to get from 52 and 59 to 31 and 41, and did not have to give up a future 1st. But gave up 4 future 2nd round picks
Just heard the Suns are talking to the Bulls about a deal sending Beal to the Bulls and cash and maybe a player for future seconds. Sounds like they are trying to get back up in the 32 to 35 selection in the second round, heard they are looking at Proctor from Duke, or Lanier from Tennessee.
Source on the Beal trade? Just curious.
Heard it driving home from work on the AZ sports radio station I listen to sometimes, said that Chicago and that there is a couple other team that have inquired about Beal.
Suns upgraded big time this year….,
They replaced KDs 26 pts a gm. With Jalen and Dillon 34 pts. Added a future DPOY. And now with #31 pick they select Fleming. A solid all around type talent. Solid rotation piece and team player.
Maluach is major for me. If they could just move Beal. This Suns team is better than last year.
You know the suns actually have a pretty good draft record when they use their picks instead of trading them away.