The Phoenix Suns on Tuesday gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at how the 2025 NBA Draft unfolded last month.
The results for first-year general manager Brian Gregory included tons of wheeling and dealing over the two draft days. The Suns traded for center Mark Williams, declined simultaneous trade offers for the No. 10 pick to add center Khaman Maluach and moved up in the second round to select forward Rasheer Fleming and shooter Koby Brea.
Perhaps the most intriguing bit is how on edge Phoenix’s war room, which included owner Mat Ishbia and CEO Josh Bartelstein, was leading into the No. 10 pick.
Maluach’s agent, Rich Paul, published a video that appears to be the voice of Ishbia contacting him about the chances of the Duke center falling to the No. 10 pick.
“Keep 10, I’ma mention a name and you tell me how much you like him. Khaman Maluach, if I can get him there,” Paul said in the video.
“A lot. That’d be my first choice,” Ishbia responded.
“OK, done deal,” Paul said. “That’s all I need to hear … I’m going to try my best, because you’re our first choice. If we can get past Brooklyn, then yeah. Let me make those calls.”
The Suns’ behind-the-scenes video includes Phoenix staffers sweating out the picks from No. 7 through No. 9.
“Well, the only way that would work (where Maluach falls to 10th) then is we need (Oklahoma guard Jeremiah) Fears to go in the top eight,” Gregory said.
And that’s just what happened.
The New Orleans Pelicans picked Fears at No. 7 before the Nets went with BYU guard Egor Demin at No. 8. After the Toronto Raptors selected South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles at the No. 9 slot, the phones started ringing on Phoenix’s end. Teams were rightfully curious about a trade since Maluach had fallen down the board as reports surfaced that the Suns had added Williams at center.
“A lot of calls came in,” Gregory said in a voiceover of the draft night video. “We had some great offers, but we really believed in him as a player and as a person.”
Maluach was in the top five of Phoenix’s board, Gregory added.
Following the lottery selection, Gregory made a point to phone star Devin Booker, keeping him in the loop.
“As you know, we were worst defensively at the rim and we just dramatically improved that,” Gregory told Booker. “It was a good day, my man. You were the first call.”
Suns prepped for NBA Draft’s second round with a flurry of trades
Phoenix knew who it wanted to add in the second round, and Gregory’s team made sure to have the entire board at its disposal by acquiring the 31st overall pick.
“We felt there was a sincere need for Fleming,” Gregory said. “We felt it was important, with what we did yesterday, to add another piece for our future.”
The Suns also moved up to grab the No. 41 pick, where they were stuck between Brea and another anonymous player to join on a two-way deal.
“He’s got an NBA skill and he is 6-7,” Gregory told Bartelstein and Ishbia. “I’m the GM, we’ll take Koby Brea. Take the best shooter in the country.”
