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NBA Draft 2014: Will the Phoenix Suns keep all of their first round picks?

By Trisity Miller

Apr 14, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) dribbles against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) dribbles against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Thanks to several trades that allowed Phoenix to acquire numerous assets, the Suns have options going into the 2014 NBA Draft. Coming off a season where they missed the playoffs despite winning 49 games,

Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com thinks there’s a less than 50 percent chance the Phoenix Suns retains all three of their first round draft picks in the upcoming draft.

From ESPN.com:

"B Mand (Sarasota, FL)What do you think the chances are that the Suns keep all 3 first round picks?Kevin Pelton (3:52 PM)40 percent? The chances of them bringing three first-round picks to training camp this year are much lower, but they could use one or more on European prospects to keep overseas."

Those three first round picks are the 14th pick, 18th pick (via Washington), and the 27th pick (via Indiana). The 14th pick seems the most likely to remain with the team as this draft is expected to be lottery heavy. ESPN draft expert Jeff Goodman has the Suns taking combo guard Zach Lavine at 14 in his latest mock draft. ESPN’s other draft expert in Chad Ford has the Suns taking Kentucky standout James Young at 14 while Draft Express pegs the Suns to take Michigan State combo guard Gary Harris. Each player mentioned is projected to be an immediate impact player and with a need to fill their wing position out, either of these selections are surprises.

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But after that, the Suns will surely create a package to net the team an immediate impact player in hopes of making a playoff push in 2014-15. There are benefits for keeping the 18th and 27th overall pick. It allows the team to obtain low contract players who can grow into impact players by the time their rookie contract is up. But with the Western Conference as deep as it is and the future not guaranteed to favor the Suns, that may not be what the organization has in their plans.

Ryan McDonough has done well to put the Suns in a situation where success seems imminent. What he does next will decide how soon that success arrives.