New mock Durant trade has Suns getting top 10-pick in draft

Durant heading to New Orleans:

• Pelicans Receive: Kevin Durant

• Suns Receive: 7th pick in 2025 Draft, CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, Jordan Hawkins, a 2029 first-round pick (top-three protected) and a 2027 first-round pick swap (via MIL)

The main prize for Phoenix is the 7th overall pick in this year’s draft. The prospects for the 2025 draft are stacked, with plenty of future All-Stars littered throughout the lottery. Last year’s Suns team lacked youth and athleticism, so grabbing a top-10 prospect to pair with Devin Booker could be a stellar one-two combo for the foreseeable future.

Wasserman’s package includes the Suns receiving Jordan Hawkins. The 23-year-old was the 14th pick in the 2023 draft and had a stellar sophomore year, averaging 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists. New Orleans’s mediocre season has Hawkins shooting splits in the gutter, as he was one of the few players in the rotation to stay healthy. However, the former UConn Huskies guard still has plenty of time to develop into a knockdown shooter in the league.

The final two pieces for Phoenix’s return are McCollum and Olynyk. Both are on expiring contracts, which will help with the Suns’ cap situation. McCollum is one of the best players ever not to be named an All-Star in his career. The 33-year-old has averaged 20 points and shot above 37% from 3 every season since 2015.

Since arriving in New Orleans in 2022, McCollum has become a much better playmaker and could be a viable option as the Suns’ next true point guard next season. At his age, the Pelicans guard doesn’t have the physicality or athleticism to be a good iso defender but could be hidden in defensive coverages depending on the team’s next head coach.