If the Suns trade up or trade down from the No. 22 pick in this year's draft, it'll probably be with one of these teams.

-Gerald Bourguet

Which teams could Suns target to trade up or down in 2024 NBA Draft?

As of right now, the Phoenix Suns hold the 22nd overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. They could use that pick to target a few wing prospects, or they could look at a few tantalizing bigs, depending on who falls that far.

Knowing owner Mat Ishbia and general manager James Jones, they could also do something more aggressive, like trying to trade up or down in the draft.

Technically speaking, you could say that about any team. Looking at all 58 picks in the draft order, there are a few obvious teams with multiple picks to target, and quite a few of them won't have a room for two, three or even four new rookies. That makes them prime candidates for a trade-up or a trade-down situation, and Phoenix won't be alone in surveying all of those possible avenues.

However, the Suns also understand the significance of this upcoming draft. The only picks they control over the next seven years are their No. 22 pick this year and their 2031 first-rounder, both of which become tradable on June 26. As we've covered with our trade scenarios for Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little and David Roddy, they could package one or both of those picks with a Suns player to add established talent that can help Phoenix right now.

But the options there feel slim, so what about the possibility of packaging No. 22 with either the 2031 first-rounder, or a player like Nurk or Little, in order to move up in the draft? As the PHNX Suns Podcast discussed on Wednesday, it's something the Suns are considering:

If the Suns were to trade up in draft that's been labeled as significantly weaker than most, they'd have to really be sure they're getting a sure-fire rookie who can not only help in their immediate title window, but well beyond that. It'd have to be someone who's a fixture in the organization for years to come, and if they were to misfire in their evaluation, that type of mistake would be brutal.

Given how much talent has been drafted in the 20s over the last few decades, and how this year's draft is pretty well balanced after the top prospects, staying put at No. 22 -- or even trading down, depending on how the picks shake out leading up to the Suns' selection -- feels like the more advisable choice.

But in order to cover our bases and get a feel for the landscape, we'll take a look at some potential trade partners for the Suns if they were to trade up or down in the 2024 NBA Draft, what those teams might want in return, and what Phoenix would hope to get out of them if they were to make a deal.

Unlikely trade candidates with multiple picks

Charlotte Hornets -- The Hornets have picks at No. 6 and No. 42, but those picks are too high and too low for the Suns to trade up or down from No. 22. Charlotte probably wants to start improving soon, but given how bad they've been the last few years, they're a young team that should be taking multiple stabs at drafting cornerstone pieces. Maybe the equation changes if the Hornets aren't high on anyone in the top-10 and Phoenix includes their 2031 pick, but Jusuf Nurkic and No. 22 won't move the needle enough for Charlotte to sacrifice No. 6.

Sacramento Kings -- If the Suns decide to trade into the late lottery, Sacramento probably isn't the right target. They've got pick No. 13, but they could use another rookie talent more than Nurk as a Domantas Sabonis backup, and they don't have the cap space to absorb Nurk's contract without sending something back to Phoenix. Attaching the 2031 first-rounder to only move up nine spots in a weaker draft feels dicey. The Kings also have a second-round pick at No. 45, but since the Suns are a second tax apron team, they can't send out cash in any trade, which means they cannot simply buy a second-round pick without sending a pick or a player in return.

Miami Heat -- The Heat have picks at No. 15 and No. 43, but Pat Riley isn't letting Phoenix trade up seven spots without that 2031 first-rounder attached, so the player available there would really have to be worth it. Maybe No. 43 could be in play separately, but it's difficult to see how, since the Suns aren't allowed to buy a second-rounder and Miami is a fellow tax apron team.

Los Angeles Lakers -- Aside from the fact that LA may be Phoenix's main competition for Bronny James, attaching a real asset like the 2031 first-rounder just to move up five spots to No. 17 feels unlikely. The Lakers have no pressing need for Nurk or Little, and they also have a pick at No. 55, which most mock drafts believe will be used on Bronny.

Trade-up candidates (or snag a second-round pick)

Memphis Grizzlies -- If the Suns want to trade up in a weaker draft class, they might as well really go for it. Whether their 2031 first-rounder is enticing enough for Memphis to drop 13 slots is another (dubious) question. Players like Nurk or Little -- even if they were appealing to the Grizz -- couldn't just be dumped on a fellow tax apron team. The Grizzlies have picks at No. 9, No. 39 and No. 57, but it's difficult to see how the Suns land one of those second-rounders when both teams are in the tax apron and Phoenix only has first-rounders to trade.

Orlando Magic -- Is moving up from No. 22 to No. 18 really worth it for Phoenix to attach another asset? Their 2031 first-rounder would be off the table, but maybe Orlando would be interested in bolstering their center depth with Nurkic? Then again, the Magic don't really have much reason to add someone behind Wendell Carter Jr. and Moritz Wagner, even though they have the cap space to absorb his salary. From Phoenix's perspective, losing your starting center to move up four spots in a weaker draft is a massive gamble, and the Suns would then have to fill their gaping hole at the 5, armed with only veteran minimum deals. Even if Orlando threw in their second-rounder at No. 47, it's hard to see this type of exchange benefitting either party.

Philadelphia 76ers -- The Sixers have picks at No. 16 and No. 41, so again, if the Suns are moving up only six spots, their 2031 first-rounder is not worth that type of sacrifice. Maybe Philly would enjoy having a high-end backup for Joel Embiid and they'd be willing to absorb his $18.1 million contract into their ample cap space, but more than likely, they'll look to sign big-name free agents instead. Nurk and No. 22 for No. 16 and No. 41 doesn't move the needle enough for Phoenix to just dump their starting center.

Toronto Raptors -- The Raptors have picks on either side of the Suns at No. 22, but their 19th overall pick wouldn't help Phoenix move up far enough, and their 31st overall pick would probably be moving too far down, unless Toronto was willing to throw in something notable and James Jones was comfortable with the way the draft board was unfolding. Even if trading down nine spots somehow did make sense for Phoenix, would the Raptors have two prospects they like that much in the 19-22 range? As for the alternative of Phoenix trading up, Toronto would have no interest in Nurk, and the 2031 pick isn't worth moving up three spots.

Potential trade-down candidates

Indiana Pacers -- Is someone like Nassir Little or David Roddy worth a second-round pick? Because the Pacers have picks at No. 36, 49 and 50, so maybe one of those could be available. Phoenix can't just buy an extra second-rounder, so it'd cost them a tangible asset in the form of a player. More than likely, they'd be better off keeping Little and Roddy rather than dumping them for No. 49 or No. 50, because No. 36 would probably be off the table from Indy's perspective.

Milwaukee Bucks -- The Bucks pick right after the Suns at No. 23, and then they'll be back on the board at No. 33. True enough, Milwaukee could just keep those picks and add two potential rotation players on rookie salaries, which would help them as a second tax apron team. The only way they'd want to trade up with Phoenix is if their No. 1 prospect was somehow on the board at No. 22 and the Suns threatened to take him. But that scenario where the Bucks surrender both picks just to move up one measly spot for a guy they really love feels like fantasy.

Minnesota Timberwolves -- Now we're getting closer. While Milwaukee would only move up one spot in our last hypothetical, Minnesota would be looking to move up five spots from No. 27, and their No. 37 pick feels more expendable than the Bucks' second pick at No. 33. If the Timberwolves really liked someone by the time Phoenix got on the board, would it be worth it to them to sacrifice that early second-rounder? If the Suns have multiple prospects they like at that point in the draft, trading down to No. 27 while snagging No. 37 in the draft to add two younger, cheap rotation pieces wouldn't be the worst outcome!

New York Knicks -- The Knicks have selections at No. 24, No. 25 and No. 38. While it'd be unrealistic for them to give up No. 24 and No. 25 just to move up 2-3 spots, maybe if there was someone they really liked on the board at No. 22 -- and they were fearful that player would be gone in the next 1-2 picks -- they'd be willing to throw in No. 38? Trading down 2-3 spots to No. 24 or No. 25, all while adding an early second-rounder at No. 38, wouldn't be bad asset management for Phoenix.

Utah Jazz -- Danny Ainge squeezes every ounce of value out of his assets, so although the Jazz could potentially create cap room for Nurkic's contract, don't expect them to accept an offer of No. 22 and Nurk in exchange for the 10th overall pick. Ainge would want that 2031 first-rounder, which is too steep a price unless Phoenix was in love with someone still available at No. 10. But even if that's a nonstarter, the Jazz also have picks at No. 29 and No. 32. If the Suns aren't overwhelmed by who's available by the time they're on the board, maybe they consider trading down seven spots and snagging No. 32 in the process? This would be contingent on Utah really liking someone who's still available at No. 22...after already taking one of the top rookies at No. 10.

Washington Wizards -- The Wizards' second overall pick isn't happening in this universe, so let's just put that to bed. Washington also has a pick at No. 26, but if Phoenix were to trade down four spots, they'd need another asset to incentivize them to do so. Unfortunately, the Wizards' next pick -- No. 51 -- is probably too far back to be that asset.

The prime targets

Portland Trail Blazers -- With picks at No. 7, No. 14, No. 34 and No. 40, the Blazers' phones will be busy on draft night. The seventh overall pick would be out of reach for a team like Phoenix, especially since Rip City should continue to add young talent to its ongoing rebuild. But No. 14 could be in play if the Suns were willing to sacrifice No. 22 and their 2031 first-rounder, and if that were the case, Phoenix could then ask for No. 34 or No. 40 in return to balance the scales.

If the Suns could offer cash for a second-rounder, Portland would be an ideal target at No. 40, but more than likely, the potential deal would look something like No. 14 and No. 34 to the Suns in exchange for No. 22 and their 2031 first-rounder. Does that move the needle enough for Phoenix to sacrifice such a potentially valuable asset? Would the Blazers prefer to just keep their two lottery picks, or try to package them elsewhere?

These are the unanswerable questions that won't be solved until draft night, but there's no doubt Portland should be at the top of Phoenix's call list if they're looking to move up in the draft while still landing another pick in the second round.

San Antonio Spurs -- With picks at No. 4, No. 8, No. 35 and No. 48, the Spurs are another prime trade candidate. No. 4 would be off limits to Phoenix, and there's a fair chance No. 8 would be too. But San Antonio needs more size, brute strength and an enforcer to protect Victor Wembanyama in the early stages of his career. Jusuf Nurkic could provide that, and the Spurs have the potential space to absorb his contract, possibly while sending the Suns a few pieces that could help like Zach Collins or Tre Jones.

If the Suns decided to get even more aggressive, could a package of Nurkic, No. 22 and their 2031 first-rounder be enough to move up to No. 8 while snagging No. 35 as well? No. 48 in place of No. 35 should be a dealbreaker for Phoenix, given that they're shipping off their starting center and their last tradable pick in 2031. But moving up from No. 22 to No. 8, while sending off a pick of unknown value for an early second-rounder, seems pretty even on the asset scale. It could easily prove to be completely lopsided down the road, but that's the risk the Suns would be taking in any trade-up scenario.

If Phoenix really likes a prospect they consider to be a sure-fire winner at No. 8, it's worth a phone call. But that's also a lot to surrender to move up in a weaker class, and there'd be plenty of risk involved, even while doubling their number of picks in this year's draft. The Spurs would have to buy into the idea of Nurk as Wemby's enforcer who spares him from the physical toll of being a full-time center, and they'd have to be comfortable with their pick at No. 4 in order to move back from No. 8 all the way to No. 22.

There's a lot of potential question marks there, but there's no doubt that a team with two top-10 picks and two second-round selections should also be high on Phoenix's call sheet on draft night.