Phoenix Suns Rejected Massive Unprotected 2026 For First-Round Pick And The 23rd Overall Pick In The 2025 Trade Offer From Pelicans

It has been a busy offseason for the Phoenix Suns as they have completely overhauled their roster after another disappointing season last year.

Of course, the Suns have broken up their star trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal as they traded Durant to the Houston Rockets and bought out Beal’s contract.

Now Booker is the only one remaining and it is clear that Phoenix is looking to build around him for the future after they gave him a massive two-year contract extension.

For the Suns, they have added a ton of talent this offseason via trades, free agency and the draft with the headliners being Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Khaman Maluach and Mark Williams.

During the draft, the Suns selected Maluach 10th overall with the pick they received from the Rockets in the Durant trade but they reportedly turned down an offer from another Western Conference team during the draft.

According to The Athletic’s John Hollinger, the Suns turned down an unprotected 2026 first-round pick and the 23rd overall pick in the 2025 draft from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for the 10th pick.

Of course, the Pelicans would later trade both picks they offered to the Suns for the 13th overall pick from the Atlanta Hawks that they used to select Derik Queen.

This is a move that may haunt the Pelicans as they could end up being one of the worst teams in the NBA again next season due to the loaded West but it could also come back to hurt the Suns as well.

For the Suns, it is clear that they have high hopes for Maluach but if they would have pulled off the trade with New Orleans and the Pelicans end up being a bottom feeder once again next season, they could have gotten the first pick in next year’s draft.

Instead, the Hawks now own the Pelicans’ first-round pick next season and it remains to be seen whether not making this trade will come back to haunt the Suns in the future.