Suns' Draft Drought Suddenly Looks Great After Eye-Opening Clippers Punishment

Suddenly, the Phoenix Suns don't feel so bad.

Feb 27, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia watches a game against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second quarter at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns' draft capital has long been a running headline (and sometimes butt of a joke) in NBA discussions since owner Mat Ishbia took over.

In true "screw those picks" fashion, the Suns dealt out a vast majority of their draft ammo in exchange for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal within a short time frame. Both are now gone, and Phoenix's future draft ammo ranks near the bottom of the league.

That won't change entering the future — but boy, did the Los Angeles Clippers take the cake.

As a result of the NBA's investigation into allegations of Los Angeles circumventing the salary cap to pay star Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers will:

• Pay a $30 million fine (out of owner Steve Ballmer's pocket)
• Suspend team president of business operations Gillian Zucker (one year without pay) and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank (six months without pay)
• Perhaps most importantly, forfeit five first-round picks in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033.

And all of a sudden, the Suns' situation doesn't look so bad.

“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?" Suns general manager Brian Gregory said this summer.

"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?”

The Suns don't control their first-round picks for the foreseeable future while Phoenix also has their 2032 first-round pick frozen.

Not ideal, but perhaps not as significantly diminished as the Clippers flat-out not having first-round picks.

The Suns also are shaping up to be in much better shape than the Clippers on the court, as Phoenix's outlook/roster isn't quite championship caliber — though Los Angeles is projected to be near the bottom of the league with many over/unders indicating 30 wins is the expectation.

Meanwhile, the Suns are hoping to string together back-to-back playoff appearances.