We don't quite know what the Phoenix Suns will do with the No. 1 overall pick in the year's NBA Draft but for now, the franchise is leaning towards keeping the pick, per general manager Ryan McDonough.
McDonough met with the media on Friday after the first day of pre-draft workouts and was asked if the Suns would strongly consider trading the pick for a superstar-caliber player.
About the possibility of the @Suns trading the No. 1 pick, GM Ryan McDonough’s criteria for doing so makes it “very likely we keep the pick and draft No. 1.” pic.twitter.com/AZ3ZhMNdtu
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) May 25, 2018
"There's a small grouping of young players that we consider trading for," McDonough told Fox Sports Arizona. "It would have to be a young, proven star player with multiple years on his contract or multiple years of team control."
Speculation of the Suns trading the pick rose when ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on The Lowe Post podcast that the Timberwolves and Karl-Anthony Towns were “not in a good place internally.” On the same day as Windhorst's report, Suns guard Devin Booker posted a photo on Twitter of Towns wearing his Suns No. 1 jersey. Booker and Towns were both teammates at Kentucky in 2015.
Despite hinting that the No. 1 pick will remain with Phoenix, McDonough also said the Suns won't shy away from potential offers.
"The overwhelm likelihood is that we keep the pick, however we're open if those teams call us or we call them. As of now we're keeping (the No. 1 pick). We want to go through the process."
McDonough later added that if the Suns were to trade the pick, it wouldn't be until "draft night or just before the draft."
As of now, the Suns look to draft either former UA freshman Deandre Ayton, overseas star Luka Doncic or possibly another player.
