Arizona Fans Would Love This Suns Draft Target. Here’s the Catch.

The Phoenix Suns are sitting on a single pick in the 2024 NBA Draft — No. 47 in the second round. But they might not stay there. According to NBA insider Jake L. Fischer, the Suns are exploring a trade up into the first round, and the name floating around is one that Arizona Wildcats fans know intimately: forward Koa Peat.

Peat, who played just one college season at Arizona before declaring for the draft, averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in about 26 minutes a night. He’s a local kid who spent his whole prep career in the state and then stayed home for college. So yeah, a Peat-to-Phoenix connection writes itself in terms of fan appeal.

The Path to Landing Peat

Here’s the thing about Peat in this draft — he’s not projected to go high. Late first round, maybe. ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel has Peat going to the Denver Nuggets at No. 26 in his latest mock. That’s not a huge reach for Phoenix to overcome. If the Suns can find a trade partner willing to deal a pick in that range, Peat is absolutely gettable.

Denver is a team to watch here. The Nuggets have been trying to trim costs, and adding a guaranteed first-round salary isn’t something they love doing. That pick at No. 26 could be available if Phoenix puts together a package that appeals to Denver’s front office. It’s not a done deal by any stretch, but the pieces fit on paper.

What You’re Actually Getting With Peat

But let’s be real about what Peat is right now. He is not a finished product. He’s a project, and maybe a long one.

“When it comes to physicality and strength, Peat checks off the boxes to be in the league right now,” Siegel reports. “However, his jump shot will need a lot of work if he is to have a long NBA career.”

That tracks with what scouts have said all year. Peat is an explosive athlete who can run the floor, rebound in traffic, and finish in transition. He’s a rim-runner who creates havoc when the game speeds up. But in half-court settings, his offense is limited. He doesn’t have a reliable jumper yet, and teams will sag off him unless that changes.

The Suns would be betting on development here. They’d also be betting that Peat’s motor and physical tools are enough to keep him on the floor while the shot catches up. It’s the kind of swing you take with a late first-round pick, not a top-10 one.

For Arizona fans, this is easy to root for. A Wildcat coming home to play for a Suns team that needs cheap, young talent. But for Phoenix, the question is whether they can afford to wait. Their championship window is open now, and draft picks — even late ones — are currency. If they move into the first round for Peat, they’re playing the long game.