Suns GM on draft pick predicament: ‘We’re always going to be good’

PHOENIX — Deservedly lost in the swirl of the Miles Bridges introductory press conference was Phoenix Suns general manager Brian Gregory speaking on the premium asset he gave up in the deal, and he explained himself with a brash amount of confidence.

The dealing of Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale also included giving up an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, and the return of Bridges also had attached a heavily swapped 2029 first-rounder and 2027 second-rounder coming to Phoenix.

It is a gutting loss on value when it comes to the picks, an opinion Gregory doesn’t jive with at all.

“We feel very comfortable with all the overall aspects of the trade,” Gregory said. “Getting another first-round pick back — multiple years ago the question was we have no first-round picks, (but) with that pick that we acquired we’re now going to have seven straight years of first-round picks. Who would have thought it? And an additional second-round pick in that as well.

“I think the one thing you have to look at when you’re talking about at an unprotected versus a least favorable among two teams in different things like that — we’re always going to be good, so where are our draft picks going to be?”

Wow. That is the GM of a team that just won 45 games, one that does not project to have a solidified long-term future when it comes to high-end talent on the roster, speaking with concrete conviction that Phoenix’s current draft pick situation isn’t really that dire because, “Don’t worry everyone we are just going to be good anyway so it won’t end up mattering.”

That is a timeline seven years out, by the way! Not even the best-positioned organization in the NBA right now, whether it is Oklahoma City or San Antonio, can make that type of claim for the next five years, let alone an additional two!

The Suns do not own any of their first-round picks until 2032, and that is a selection they are legally unable to trade. For a point of clarification, Gregory incorrectly points out Phoenix now owns first-round picks for the next seven years. They do not have one in 2031. It is instead a first-rounder in five of the next six years.

What he is also pointing out is that in terms of these past trades coming back to burn the Suns, they firmly do not believe that will happen because it can’t if they are a playoff team outside of the lottery, and that is the borderline guarantee Gregory just made for the next seven years. Seven!

It is also fascinating that after all the criticism the Suns took in trading away their own picks, that they feel like they can puff their chest out a little bit, now having replenished their draft pick pool in the first round. But you know when you see a sequel to a movie or play a sequel to a video game and it feels more like a “1.5” version of that followup instead of the fully-realized thing? That’s like these first-round picks the Suns have. It’s more like a 1.5-round pick.

The selections are layered with swaps and such that create overwhelming odds that Phoenix will be stuck drafting in the 20s of the first round over those five seasons. Could the Suns find a steal in that part of the draft? Sure! The draft’s history, however, shows there is immense value in picking in the top-3, top-5 and even the latter parts of the lottery (where Devin Booker was picked) compared to the back-end of the first round.

The draft is by far the best resource teams are provided at adding All-Star/All-NBA players. Phoenix is betting that it doesn’t need those benefits for nearly a full decade, and again, has incredible amount of belief in that!

And when it comes to the unprotected nature of the 2031 and 2033 picks, an organization that obviously didn’t value protections on those picks already has stated that is even more of the case now with the new lottery rules.

“Especially with the new rules and all those different things, that pick value down the road was not the same as it was a year ago because of the changes in the draft lottery and different things like that,” Gregory said. “So we felt very comfortable. We thought it was a fair deal, but more importantly, we got Miles Bridges, so that in my opinion tipped the scales for us.”

This is something I wrote about extensively once the reform happened.

Essentially, the argument on if unprotected first-round picks are more or less valuable in these new odds is subjective. It is not a stone-cold fact like Gregory presents it to be. What is objective about it is that the gamble franchises take not placing protections is ramped up even more, due to the increased odds for teams lower in the lottery.

And it’s no surprise to hear the Suns be on the side in favor of that gamble given the ones they already took in the past, whether it was the 2031 trade with Utah or giving up pick swaps in exchange for second-round picks.

All in all, it was one answer Gregory made over 63 seconds. But it was an incredibly interesting lens into the level of confidence the Suns front office has, in some extent to braggadocious levels. Perhaps that is riding the high of their shocking success last season that defied what many (including this writer) predicted.

It’s one thing to say the Suns have in ways earned the right to operate with bravado in what they say. It’s another thing to double down with that in their transactions. Suns fans sure better hope these guys can walk the walk like they talk the talk.

Related

The Suns are betting their credibility on Miles Bridges. They better be right.Suns GM: Miles Bridges will be held to high standard after ‘unacceptable conduct’Khaman Maluach earns most improved sophomore this Summer League by ESPN’s GolliverHow did former Arizona Wildcats, ASU Sun Devils and GCU ‘Lopes perform in NBA Summer League?Phoenix Suns’ offseason gets a B from The Athletic’s HallerSuns eliminated from Summer League playoff contention, play consolation game Saturday