The Phoenix Suns entered the 2026 NBA Draft with just the 47th overall pick to their name, but the franchise made a major splash to close Night 1 by trading up to take Arizona's Koa Peat with the final pick of the first round.
As they've done so often, the Suns' brain trust of principal governor Mat Ishbia, general manager Brian Gregory and head coach Jordan Ott again proved that they are willing to go to great lengths to accomplish a set goal. With respect to Peat, the Suns moved up to nab a prospect with deep local ties and a blue-chip pedigree.
Peat, 19, is just a year removed from being a consensus five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American from Perry High School in Gilbert, Ariz. He played his lone season of college basketball at the University of Arizona, where he averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists for a Wildcats team that returned to the Final Four for the first time since 2001.
And while his reputation as being an elite talent precedes him, Peat was viewed as a prospect who would benefit from an additional year of college basketball. His decision to enter the draft was rewarded by his hometown team, which made the selection with his short- and long-term development in mind.
Phoenix's selection has been met with mixed reactions among NBA Draft circles, with many pundits taking varied stances on the decision. PHNX Suns has compiled some of the assessments on the Peat pick from throughout this national discourse.
The wide reaction of the Peat selection resulted in a varying range of grades, encapsulating the varying opinions on his NBA readiness, and the Suns' decision to move up to select him.
Highest grade:A+
Lowest grade:D
Here are some of the more notable grades and the reasoning behind them:
Suns Grade:C+
Zach Buckley:"His creativity is nonexistent, and unfortunately, the same holds true for his jump shooting. Despite that former lottery buzz, it's fair to wonder whether his ceiling sits pretty low given his offensive limitations and lack of explosion.
Peat is a fine flier to take at the end of the first round, but that hardly guarantees Phoenix will see a positive return on the investment."
Suns grade:A-
Adam Finkelstein:"Peat will play in the NBA for 10+ years. He is strong, has an NBA-ready body and the physicality, willingness, and ability to play through contact, and a wealth of competitive intangibles.
Peat's stock has slid a bit because of questions surrounding his shooting and mixed reviews from some workouts, but his impact on winning is well-documented."
Suns grade:D
Ben Golliver:"The 6-8 forward looked overwhelmed against Michigan's front line of lottery picks in the Final Four, shooting just 6-of-18 from the field in a blowout loss.
Questions about Peat's undersized frame, shot selection and defensive versatility will follow him to the NBA."
Suns grade:B+
Kurt Helin:"For my money, Peat is a good player to take a flyer on at the end of the first round. He was a top-10 high school recruit with plenty of tools, but it has never come together for him. …
Peat's a Phoenix native, maybe going home — and with not much pressure on him to play right away — he can develop and start to show us why he was so highly recruited. If not, well, this is where the Suns did okay because this is where you should take big swings in the draft."
Suns grade:B
Steph Noh:"The reason for Peat falling was due to a shaky jumper that looked even worse at the combine. If he can develop that shot, then he has a chance to be a steal. He won four high school championships in Arizona, and he's willing to do whatever is needed to win.
Most of the time, that means using his football player frame in order to bully his way to his spots. He's a good defender who should add to a nice young core."
Suns grade:B-
Kevin O'Connor:" He opened the season with a 30-point game against defending champion Florida and backed it up as one of Arizona's best players all year on its way to the Final Four.
But since Peat can't shoot yet, it'll be important that he's paired with a floor-spacing center. Or he could serve as a small-ball center in switchable lineups."
Here is a comprehensive list of grades the Suns received for their selection of Peat in the 2026 NBA Draft.
| Publication |
Writer |
NBA Draft Grade |
| Zach Buckley |
C+ |
|
| Adam Finkelstein |
A- |
|
| Brett Siegel |
B |
|
| Ben Golliver |
D |
|
| Christopher Kline |
B+ |
|
| Kurt Helin |
B+ |
|
| Cody Taylor |
A+ |
|
| Ricky O'Donnell |
B+ |
|
| Steph Noh |
B |
|
| Kevin O'Connor |
B- |
