Why the Phoenix Suns Are Targeting a Ball-Handling Guard at No. 47 — Tre Donaldson and the Plan to Ease Devin Booker’s Load

Table of Contents

1. Key Highlights
2. Introduction
3. Why Phoenix Prioritizes Ball-Handling Help Now
4. Tre Donaldson: Profile, Production, and Projection
5. Robert McCray and Other Targets: Why Multiple Workouts Matter
6. Draft Night Realities at No. 47
7. Where Donaldson Fits Next to Phoenix’s Core
8. Case Studies: Late Picks Who Turned into Immediate Contributors
9. What to Watch in the Pre-Draft Process
10. Contract and Roster Mechanics: Making a 47th-Pick Matter
11. How This Pick Reflects Phoenix’s Short-Term Window
12. Potential Red Flags and How to Mitigate Them
13. Draft-Day Scenarios and Tactical Recommendations for Phoenix
14. What Success Looks Like for a Suns Pick at 47
15. Long-Term Considerations: Development Pathways and Organizational Commitment
16. What This Draft Pick Communicates About Phoenix’s Front Office
17. What to Watch Between Now and Draft Night
18. FAQ

Key Highlights

• The Suns used pre-draft workouts on Tre Donaldson (Miami) and Robert McCray (Florida State), signaling a clear intent to add a guard who can shoulder ball-handling duties and reduce playmaking pressure on Devin Booker and Jalen Green.
• Tre Donaldson projects as an NBA-ready, multi-role guard: improved playmaking (5.7 APG last season), year-over-year scoring growth (16.4 PPG), and inconsistent but capable perimeter shooting — traits teams prize in second-round or late-first-round picks who must contribute quickly.
• Phoenix’s choice at No. 47 will reflect immediate-contender priorities: an older college guard with a dependable floor is favoured over a long-term developmental prospect; the front office can also convert the pick into roster flexibility through trades or two-way deals.

Introduction

The Suns enter draft night with a clear short-term imperative: lessen the offensive burden on Devin Booker and Jalen Green without destabilizing a roster built to compete now. Their reported workouts with Tre Donaldson and Robert McCray make the target explicit — a guard who can handle the ball, create for others, and step into rotation minutes immediately. At No. 47, Phoenix has limited margin for a high-upside raw project; the pick should ideally yield a player who blends playmaking competence with enough shooting and defensive wobble-resilience to be a reliable depth piece from day one.

That combination explains why the Suns examined Donaldson, a 22-year-old senior whose college numbers show notable development; teams around the league have also shown interest. This profile fits the Suns’ timeline: they need role players who integrate quickly next to star scorers, not prospects who require multiple seasons of seasoning. The rest of this piece examines the pick’s strategic logic, Donaldson’s strengths and limitations, comparable NBA case studies, realistic draft-night scenarios, contract and roster mechanics the Suns can use, and what to watch in the weeks leading to draft night.

Why Phoenix Prioritizes Ball-Handling Help Now

Phoenix’s core offensive engine—Devin Booker and Jalen Green—carries heavy playmaking responsibilities. Both are prolific scorers and capable ball handlers, but heavy reliance on two primary creators can produce late-clock isolation plays, fatigue, and turnovers against versatile defenses. Adding a guard who both handles the ball and initiates offense allows Booker and Green to conserve energy, operate off the ball more often, and attack from advantageous moments rather than being the first responder every possession.

Contending teams frequently structure their benches around one or two guard-types who can run the offense when starters rest. These guards are not always traditional “floor generals”; often they are instinctive decision-makers who defend, push the pace, and create secondary offense. The Suns’ reported workouts indicate they prefer a guard who can function in multiple lineups: as an on-ball playmaker next to two scorers or revert to more off-ball scoring when paired with traditional combo guards like Collin Gillespie or Jordan Goodwin.

Roster construction also influences the pick. When a team is a contender, draft choices near the end of the second round tilt toward prospects with immediate utility and limited developmental risk. That profile implies an older college guard with demonstrable assist growth and college-level decision-making rather than an 18–19-year-old long-term ceiling bet. Tre Donaldson fits that mold: he is older and produced noticeable assists growth between seasons, suggesting a more NBA-ready floor.

Tre Donaldson: Profile, Production, and Projection

Tre Donaldson emerged at Miami as a player who improved steadily year-to-year. Last season’s production—16.4 points per game and 5.7 assists—shows a clear progression from earlier roles where his playmaking was minimal (1.2 APG in his rookie collegiate season). That trajectory is the type of late-blooming development teams prize for a plug-and-play second-round selection.

Strengths

• Playmaking Growth: The jump to 5.7 assists indicates both expanded responsibility and improved court vision. For a team seeking a ball-handler who can relieve Booker and Green, that trend is significant: it suggests Donaldson understands timing and teammate reads, essential when stepping into NBA rotations late in games or when starters rest.
• Scoring Versatility: Averaging 16.4 PPG as a senior points to creation skills beyond spot-up shooting. Donaldson can create his own shot off screens, attack closeouts, and finish through contact — practical attributes for a bench scoring guard who needs to produce in limited minutes.
• Age and Maturity: At 22, Donaldson brings a more fully formed body of work than teenagers with high ceilings but uncertain short-term impact. Contending rosters tend to value that maturity because it reduces projection risk.

Limitations and Caveats

• Shooting Consistency: Donaldson shot 35.9% from three last season, a respectable but not elite number for an NBA wing/guard expected to provide spacing. His earlier collegiate seasons featured 40% three-point marks in limited roles, so evaluators must determine whether last season’s dip reflects volume adjustment or a true decline in shooting trait.
• Defensive Projection: College defensive metrics sometimes fail to correlate with NBA positional defense, and many guards who can create in college struggle against NBA wings’ length and speed. Any fit analysis must weigh his lateral quickness, defensive instincts, and willingness to accept on-ball responsibilities against the Suns’ defensive schemes.
• Sample Size and Role Change: Donaldson’s assist uptick coincides with a more central role in Miami’s offense. Scouts will ask whether his decision-making holds under the faster pace and tighter windows of NBA defense, and whether he will retain the confidence to run an offense that includes multiple star-level facilitators.

Projected Role in Phoenix If selected at 47, Donaldson’s most realistic immediate role is a multi-purpose bench guard who starts as a ball-handler in second-unit lineups that rest Booker and Green. He could run pick-and-rolls, push tempo in transition, and take over as a secondary creator in late-game minutes. When starters return, Donaldson would likely slide into a scoring or spot-up role, emphasizing spacing and catch-and-shoot offense.

This flexibility is important for Phoenix. A guard who can alternate between creation and spot scoring allows coach to deploy lineups without losing offensive identity, and it gives Booker and Green brief but meaningful respite.

Robert McCray and Other Targets: Why Multiple Workouts Matter

Phoenix’s reported workout with Robert McCray of Florida State confirms a broader plan: evaluate several guards with overlapping skill sets and slightly different profiles. Teams often bring in multiple players who occupy adjacent niches to test variables that tape cannot fully reveal, such as shot mechanics under pressure, resistance to contact, and interpersonal fit with current stars.

Why teams conduct workouts beyond game tape:

• Mechanics Under Pressure: Live workouts reveal shooting mechanics when cornered, passing accuracy in live reads, and ball-handling stability when pressured.
• Physical Measurements and Durability: Team medical staff check for lower-body durability and previous injury concerns that might otherwise be hidden by college minutes.
• Schemes and Communication: How a prospect communicates on court, handles coaching correction, and integrates into set plays matters for a team needing immediate assimilation.
• Comparative Evaluation: With multiple guards under consideration, teams can rank them on nuanced, team-specific criteria. A player marginally better on tape might fall behind another who performed better in workout timing or on-court tempo.

The Suns’ use of both Donaldson and McCray workouts suggests they prioritize a specific outcome: a guard who is ready to step into minutes in 2026–27. The broader league interest in Donaldson—he reportedly worked out for upward of a dozen teams—means Phoenix must balance the risk that he disappears before No. 47 against the alternative: settling for a different guard or using the pick differently.

Draft Night Realities at No. 47

Pick 47 sits in a unique range where multiple outcomes are possible: a team can find a rotation player, a two-way candidate, or package the pick for future assets. For a contender, each path requires pragmatic assessment.

Three realistic scenarios for Phoenix on draft night:

1. Select a Ready Guard: Use the pick on a guard like Donaldson — older, proven, and likely to contribute in year one.
2. Trade the Pick: Convert 47 into a veteran depth piece or future pick if the front office views current roster holes as better addressed with experience rather than rookie development.
3. Draft-and-Stash or Two-Way: Opt for an overseas prospect with upside or use the pick to secure a two-way contract player who can be developed in the G League.

Factors driving the choice:

• Availability: Donaldson’s extensive workout tour increases his draft stock; teams pick based on both need and perceived market demand.
• Contender Window: Phoenix’s urgency to win incentivizes a pick whose ROI is immediate playing time, making a polished senior more attractive.
• Roster Flexibility and Salary: Contenders often prize short-term, cost-effective additions that keep flexibility. Second-round picks can be structured as partial guarantees or two-ways to minimize financial and cap risk while retaining upside.

Historical context clarifies the potential value of pick 47. Several guards selected in the late second round or undrafted have transitioned into rotation players quickly. Examples include:

• Malcolm Brogdon (36th overall, 2016): Brogdon became Rookie of the Year and a reliable starter, demonstrating that late picks can produce starter-quality playmaking.
• Monte Morris (51st, 2017): Morris grew into a dependable backup point guard who handled heavy minutes in spot starts and provided low-turnover ball-handling.
• Duncan Robinson (59th, 2018): Robinson transformed from a late second-rounder into a starter known for elite perimeter shooting after time in a development system.
• Norman Powell (46th, 2015): Powell carved out a high-impact scoring role, underlining that late picks can emerge as primary bench scorers or starters.

These examples show what the Suns hope for: a low-risk pick with a reliable floor that can be scaled up in minutes as trust develops.

Where Donaldson Fits Next to Phoenix’s Core

A successful fit depends on how well Donaldson complements the Suns’ primary scorers and the rest of the rotation. In Phoenix’s likely second-unit plans, the guard must do several things well:

• Run the Offense with Control: Maintain an assist-to-turnover ratio that stabilizes bench units. Donaldson’s college assist improvement suggests capability here, but the NBA’s speed and defensive schemes can expose decision-making lapses.
• Provide Perimeter Spacing: Even if not a 40% marksman, the ability to threaten from three on catch-and-shoot opportunities prevents defenses from clogging driving lanes for Booker and Green.
• Defend Competently in Space: Rotations often hinge on the bench unit’s ability to match defensive assignments. Donaldson doesn’t need to be an elite defender, but he must be sound enough not to create mismatches that opposing teams exploit.
• Blend with Other Guards: The Suns likely retain players such as Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin. Donaldson’s ability to toggle between lead-ball-handler and off-ball scorer provides tactical versatility when different guard combos are required.

Real deployments might include:

• Donaldson as primary ball-handler with second unit: push tempo, create shots for cutters and roll players, and reduce reliance on isolation offense.
• Donaldson as secondary creator alongside a true facilitator like Gillespie: defer to the facilitator when optimal, then attack closeouts aggressively.
• Donaldson in tight rotations for late-game ball-handling when a fresh playmaker is needed.

Coach Mike Budenholzer’s schemes—favoring spacing and motion—require guards who can read screens and pass into cutting lanes. A player with Donaldson’s college assist profile could fit those demands if his processing speed and pick-and-roll reads translate.

Case Studies: Late Picks Who Turned into Immediate Contributors

Examining how other teams converted late picks into contributors helps clarify Phoenix’s path. Each case offers a template the Suns might replicate or learn from.

Malcolm Brogdon (36, 2016)

• Path: Brogdon was a second-round pick who brought collegiate polish—leadership, efficient shooting, and sound defense. He stepped into rotation minutes immediately and earned Rookie of the Year.
• Takeaway: Teams that need immediate help can draft older, NBA-ready guards who will become trusted secondary creators.

Monte Morris (51, 2017)

• Path: Morris developed steadily through limited minutes but consistently displayed low turnovers and reliable decision-making. His skill set made him a desirable backup for teams prioritizing ball security.
• Takeaway: A low-turnover, high-IQ guard can be invaluable, even without explosive athleticism.

Duncan Robinson (59, 2018)

• Path: Robinson’s transition included significant G League time and an emphasis on shooting. The Heat invested development resources; Robinson emerged as a starting-level 3-point specialist.
• Takeaway: Even late picks can become specialists who alter team spacing when given time and a defined role.

Norman Powell (46, 2015) and Terence Mann (48, 2019)

• Path: Both became key rotation players through physicality and scoring instincts. Powell’s scoring efficacy and Mann’s two-way ability display the range of late-round outcomes.
• Takeaway: Teams should target traits—shooting, defensive instincts, playmaking—then be patient and clear with role definition.

Fred VanVleet (Undrafted, 2016)

• Path: VanVleet’s rise to All-Star-level play underscores the value of intangibles—grit, defensive tenacity, and implicit leadership. The Rockets’ and Raptors’ investments in his development paid off as he assumed major minutes.
• Takeaway: Undervalued players with elite competitiveness can outproduce draft position when organizational commitment to development is present.

Phoenix’s front office can use these models: a pick like Donaldson most closely resembles the Brogdon/Morris pathway—an older, polished guard who can step into a rotation quickly and potentially grow into more responsibility.

What to Watch in the Pre-Draft Process

Several measurable events and indicators will clarify whether Donaldson or another guard is the right choice and whether he will be available at 47.

1. Combine and Measurements

• Athletic testing (vertical, agility drills) will indicate whether Donaldson’s body translates to NBA lateral movement and explosiveness.
• Shooting reps in the combine’s closed and open sessions reveal consistency.

2. Team Interviews and On-Court Drills

• Evaluators will probe playmaking process: does he scan the floor, anticipate help defense, and adjust reads based on coverage?
• Coaches test communication and leadership: can he call sets, direct teammates, and stay composed with coaching instruction?

3. 5-on-5 Team Drills

• This live action shows how a prospect reacts to NBA-style spacing, whether he can manipulate defenses with jab steps and change-of-speed, and how well he executes reads against more sophisticated schemes.

4. G League and Summer League Plans

• If drafted, the Suns’ use of Summer League minutes and potential G League assignments will be telling. A plan that maximizes in-game reps while allowing meaningful minutes with the NBA squad demonstrates intent to accelerate readiness.

5. Market Movement

• Watch other teams with picks in the 20s–40s. Heavy interest in Donaldson could push Phoenix to trade up, trade down, or alter strategy entirely. The broader market’s valuation of similar guards will influence Phoenix’s leverage and options.

Contract and Roster Mechanics: Making a 47th-Pick Matter

Second-round picks provide structural flexibility unmatched by first-rounders who receive guaranteed rookie scale contracts. Phoenix can use that flexibility to align a pick with short-term-contender needs.

Options for the Suns:

• Guaranteed Partial Contract: Offer a contract with partial guarantees that protect the team financially if the player fails to make the rotation.
• Two-Way Deal: Assign the rookie to a two-way contract to split time between the NBA and G League while preserving roster and cap flexibility.
• Exhibit 10 & Non-Guaranteed Training Camp Deal: Invite the player to camp with the possibility of converting to a two-way or G League anchor role.
• Trade the Pick: Use 47 as a bargaining chip for a veteran guard or future pick, depending on Phoenix’s confidence in internal options.

For a contender, two-way deals or Exhibit 10 contracts often make the most sense when the player has clear development needs. But if the evaluation shows immediate rotation capability, a partially guaranteed contract both rewards the prospect and secures impacting minutes.

Two practical advantages of second-round flexibility:

• Financial Prudence: The Suns can protect cap space and preserve the option to chase upgrades at trade deadlines without long-term salary commitments.
• Development Control: Teams can design a hybrid path—Summer League and selected G League assignments—while maintaining the player on the NBA roster for injury contingencies.

How This Pick Reflects Phoenix’s Short-Term Window

Every draft decision reflects where an organization sits on the competitive timeline. For Phoenix, the pick at 47 should be evaluated against the immediate goal: maximizing wins in 2026–27 and keeping flexibility for the playoffs.

Why an older college guard is appropriate:

• Immediate Buy-In: Players with refined decision-making reduce learning curves and are more likely to contribute meaningful minutes right away.
• Lower Upside but Higher Reliability: A 22-year-old guard is less likely to become a star but more likely to provide consistent bench production the season the team needs it.
• Preservation of Core Strategy: Phoenix’s offense relies on both elite scorers and role players who maintain pace and spacing. Adding a guard who can assume ball-handling responsibilities keeps that balance intact.

Conversely, drafting a high-ceiling teenager or a raw big at 47 is riskier for a contending team. Those players require time, and the immediate payoff is less predictable.

Potential Red Flags and How to Mitigate Them

Every prospect has concerns. Teams should address these proactively.

Red Flag: Shooting Regression Mitigation: Targeted coaching on mechanics, off-season shooting volume, and gradual ramp-up in NBA minutes rather than immediate high-volume scoring responsibilities.

Red Flag: Turnover Proneness under Pressure Mitigation: Limit initial playmaking responsibilities to half-court sets with clear reads; build chemistry with primary scorers in controlled lineups.

Red Flag: Defensive Limitations Mitigation: Start with situational defense minutes, emphasize team defensive concepts, and pair with defensive-minded wings to mask shortfalls early on.

Red Flag: Availability — Other Teams’ Interest Mitigation: Maintain contingency lists, including guards with adjacent skill sets and high-upside two-way candidates. Also consider using the pick as trade leverage if target prospects are gone.

Draft-Day Scenarios and Tactical Recommendations for Phoenix

Phoenix has several tactical choices based on how draft night unfolds. Each choice should be guided by the front office’s evaluation of immediate need versus future upside.

Scenario A — Tre Donaldson is available at 47 Recommendation: Draft him and offer a contract structured to keep him accountable but give financial comfort. Deploy him early in bench-lineup ball-handling roles in non-critical stretches, then scale up based on performance.

Scenario B — Donaldson is gone but other guards or wings remain Recommendation: Prioritize players who can replicate the same duality—secondary creation and off-ball scoring. If no clear guard fits, consider a backup big who stretches the floor and complements the starters.

Scenario C — A veteran upgrade is available via trade Recommendation: If the front office can convert the pick and a small asset into a proven rotation guard, the move is defensible for a contender. The premium on certainty often outweighs the long-shot upside of late picks.

Scenario D — Best-player-available approach Recommendation: Only applicable if the prospect brings demonstrable traits that align with bench needs and can contribute within 15–20 minutes per game as a rookie. Otherwise, favor role fit over raw potential.

In all scenarios, Phoenix should assess the player’s ability to handle pick-and-roll reads, read defensive rotations, and create high-quality shots for teammates; these skills determine a bench guard’s immediate value.

What Success Looks Like for a Suns Pick at 47

A successful outcome for Phoenix will resemble the following within 12–18 months:

• Reliable minutes in the second unit, covering 10–18 minutes per game.
• Sustained assist-to-turnover ratio that stabilizes bench offense.
• Perimeter shooting percentage that hovers around the mid- to high-30s, enough to maintain spacing.
• Defensive competence that avoids repeated mismatches and contributes to team defensive rotations.
• Growth into expanded minutes in response to injuries, rest periods for starters, or tactical rotations.

If the pick hits these markers, Phoenix converts a low-cost asset into a meaningful rotational player and preserves flexibility for trade deadlines.

Long-Term Considerations: Development Pathways and Organizational Commitment

Drafting the right guard is the first step; development and usage determine long-term value. Successful transitions require:

• Clear Role Definition: Establishing the player’s responsibilities reduces confusion and accelerates development.
• Coaching Continuity: Consistent feedback and targeted improvement plans—shooting, pick-and-roll reads, defensive footwork—help turn raw skills into NBA-level habits.
• Minutes Allocation: Balanced exposure in NBA minutes and G League reps ensures growth without overwhelming the player.
• Analytics Integration: Use film and advanced metrics to highlight process goals (drives per possession, shot quality created for teammates, catch-and-shoot efficiency) rather than solely relying on box-score numbers.

Teams that commit resources to these pathways convert late picks into long-term contributors; those that do not see modest picks stagnate or become trade fodder.

What This Draft Pick Communicates About Phoenix’s Front Office

The choice to bring in multiple guards for workouts and to pursue a player like Donaldson sends a clear signal: the Suns prioritize immediate depth and readiness over speculative upside. That approach aligns with teams positioned to contend in the present. It also suggests the front office values maturity, decision-making, and a player’s ability to accept role clarity — all characteristics that reduce short-term volatility.

This strategy underscores an organizational philosophy: maximize the 2026–27 roster’s competitiveness while preserving financial and strategic flexibility. Choosing a guard who can step in now rather than waiting for latent upside indicates a franchise focused on converting draft capital into present-day value.

What to Watch Between Now and Draft Night

• Official combine numbers and medical reports for Donaldson and McCray.
• Summer League rosters and early post-draft assignments, which will reveal how Phoenix intends to deploy any newly acquired guard.
• Trade chatter around the 40–55 pick range, which could reshape expectations and market value for guards.
• Coach and front-office interviews hinting at priority traits; listen for emphasis on immediate role, two-way defense, and pick-and-roll IQ.
• Other teams’ actions: heavy interest in Donaldson from multiple franchises suggests Phoenix must be prepared to either trade up or pivot quickly.

FAQ

Q: Who is Tre Donaldson and why are the Suns interested? A: Tre Donaldson is a senior guard from Miami who showed significant development in scoring and playmaking, averaging 16.4 points and 5.7 assists in his latest season. His growth in assists and maturity at 22 years old align with Phoenix’s need for a guard capable of relieving ball-handling duties from Devin Booker and Jalen Green while providing immediate rotation value.

Q: Will Donaldson be available at No. 47? A: Interest around the league, including workouts with multiple teams, suggests Donaldson’s draft range could vary. Heavy pre-draft attention increases the risk that he will be selected earlier. Phoenix must weigh that availability risk against alternatives or consider trade options if Donaldson is a priority.

Q: Why not draft a young high-upside prospect instead? A: The Suns are in contention and prioritize immediate contributions that strengthen this season’s roster. A young high-upside prospect often requires multiple seasons of development, which misaligns with Phoenix’s present competitive goals. The organization prefers a lower-risk, NBA-ready guard at this pick.

Q: What contracts are typical for a 47th pick? A: Teams often use partial guarantees, two-way contracts, or Exhibit 10 deals for late second-round picks. These structures protect team financial flexibility while providing developmental pathways for the player. If the team believes in immediate contribution, they might offer a partially guaranteed standard NBA contract.

Q: How do other late-draft guards inform this pick’s potential? A: Several late-draft guards and undrafted players—Malcolm Brogdon, Monte Morris, Duncan Robinson, Norman Powell, and Terence Mann—show that dependable skill sets coupled with organizational development can turn late picks into rotation players or starters. Phoenix can model development paths and role clarity off these precedents.

Q: What immediate role would Donaldson play if drafted by Phoenix? A: He would likely function as a second-unit primary ball-handler and secondary creator, tasked with running the offense when starters rest. He could also act as an off-ball scorer in lineups where other guards initiate, providing spacing and scoring punch.

Q: What are the main risks with selecting Donaldson? A: The chief risks include shooting regression (35.9% from three last year), uncertain defensive translation to the NBA level, and whether his playmaking translates swiftly under higher-level defensive pressure. The Suns must mitigate these through targeted coaching, controlled minutes, and a structured development plan.

Q: Could Phoenix trade the pick instead of using it? A: Yes. Trading the pick for a veteran guard or future draft assets is a realistic option if the front office prefers certainty over draft risk. Contending teams often use late picks as trade chips to upgrade the roster immediately.

Q: What should fans watch after the pick? A: Monitor contract announcements, Summer League assignments, and early preseason minutes. Those will indicate whether the Suns view the player as immediate rotation depth or a longer-term developmental project.

Q: How will this pick affect Devin Booker and Jalen Green? A: A successful guard addition would reduce ball-handling minutes for Booker and Green, preserve their energy for high-leverage moments, and allow them to play more off-ball. That should enhance overall offensive efficiency and reduce turnover rates in bench and staggered lineups.

The Suns’ reported workouts with Tre Donaldson and Robert McCray reveal a deliberate, present-focused draft philosophy: secure a guard who can handle the ball, create offense, and integrate quickly into a contending rotation. Draft night will test Phoenix’s ability to balance availability, fit, and risk. If they extract a reliable, NBA-ready guard at 47, the pick will function as a neat, cost-effective upgrade that supports their immediate championship objectives.