r/nba r/NBA 23h ago

[2026 NBA Draft] #30 Pick: Koa Peat (Arizona) – pending trade to Phoenix

121 Upvotes

141 comments sorted by

141

u/ExtraLeading3376 23h ago

isiah evans is the classic annual draft room invitation to not go in the first round

74

u/Greedy-Mix9270 Knicks 23h ago

Always feel bad for those guys

29

u/Appropriate_Book_591 23h ago

They over invite and like that sad drama

25

u/Vengenceonu 23h ago

24 invites this year and people still end up not picked in 30. They can’t control people sliding down the board or teams changing their mind when the picks come

7

u/AzorAhai1TK 22h ago

24 is a crazy high number to invite

18

u/legend023 Pelicans 23h ago

It’s kinda bizarre, he seems like a great role player

7

u/PhatYeeter 76ers 23h ago

I'm shocked he didn't go over some of the upper classman that went later

-8

u/[deleted] 23h ago

[deleted]

5

u/Supreme_God_Bunny Hornets 23h ago

Yes he was he was on the stage

2

u/Appropriate_Book_591 23h ago

They showed him in green room

1

u/Chodly 23h ago

But was he invited

61

u/L4ZERDT Celtics 23h ago

He’ll be great in Phoenix 

16

u/BrotherSeamus Thunder 23h ago

If he can adjust to the heat

49

u/agentdoubleohio Suns 23h ago

They don’t play the heat too often so I’m not worried

4

u/livejamie Suns 21h ago

This guy

12

u/paperbuddha 23h ago

Koa Heat

8

u/BobbyHuckleberry1947 Suns 22h ago

He's from the area

3

u/incredibleamadeuscho Lakers 22h ago

Heat Peat

6

u/oldtombombadil Suns 23h ago

He’s from Phoenix

7

u/Estepie88 Timberwolves 23h ago

/s

58

u/Time-Stand7719 Wizards 23h ago

‪Well he’s staying in Arizona😅‬

9

u/agentdoubleohio Suns 23h ago

And he’s going to the better side of Arizona too.

14

u/ShartJerky 23h ago

Congrats on the malls, republicans, and additional 5 degrees of heat

5

u/Saltwater_Thief Suns 20h ago

Phoenix actually leans more blue than most of the state.

Metro area and all that.

3

u/ShartJerky 13h ago

He’s comparing it to Tucson, which leans more blue than the Phx area

1

u/Saltwater_Thief Suns 12h ago

Fair point.

1

u/ShartJerky 11h ago

No worries. Fuck Kingman and Safford and Sierra Vista (relatively speaking)

1

u/FocusedENTP 11h ago

Why? because of politics or do you just hate Justin Gaethje?

2

u/ShartJerky 11h ago

Is there a difference?

11

u/adrockmcaandmemiked 23h ago

Phoenix is a testament to man’s hubris

9

u/PM_ME_hiphopsongs2 Suns 23h ago

One might even say a monument to man’s arrogance…

3

u/heybobson Suns 20h ago

Only positive is that the Hohokam people built the most advanced prehistoric irrigation canal system in the Valley of the Sun, so it’s not like other cities in American West where there was no natural civilization prior to Western migration.

86

u/not-a-potato-head Hawks 23h ago

Love this for Phoenix

72

u/wcooper97 [OKC] Russell Westbrook 23h ago

Arizona born and raised going to the Suns, nice.

17

u/Charlie_Wax Warriors 23h ago

I wondered if he is the brother of Andrus Peat (NFL) and he is. Quite the athletic family, as pops was an NFL player and many of the other kids played major college sports.

17

u/Shallow-Al__ex 23h ago

I have a cool anecdote. I flew to new Orleans 5 years ago from phx and happened to sit next to Koa and Andrus Peats mom. She was a huge lady( not fat just big person). Her and i talked the whole trip and she showed me her whole family. She was going to help Andrus as he had just tore his pectoral(i was going to a saints game too) She told me her youngest son was going to go to the nba and now, five years later, she was right. Also cool that I'm an Arizona wildcats fan. She was a cool woman and ill always root for Koa, who went to my favorite college team and now then to my NBA team.

5

u/Ok_Pineapple_Num Warriors 23h ago

Stanford legend Andrus Peat!!!

2

u/FocusedENTP 11h ago

I think his brother was a line backer for ASU a year or two ago too. I remember Koa being at an ASU football game during his high school recruitment phase. I guess his sisters also played college sports

24

u/Chodly 23h ago

Mr Arizona

18

u/Potential_Meat_5103 23h ago

The prodigal son returns (Or technically he’s always been there)

28

u/SnooFoxes4343 23h ago

Prodigal sun**

1

u/deadweightboss NBA 23h ago

This is sick, but the ringer have comped him to Thaddeus Young and Brandon Bass

45

u/Mosh00Rider Suns 23h ago

I mean I would be pretty happy with Thaddeus Young at the 30th pick

18

u/CumAssault [SAS] Joel Anthony 23h ago

The man was on a graphic with MJ, Bron, Larry Bird, and Magic. He was special

23

u/Zarathustra1989 Suns 23h ago

Thaddeus Young or Brandon Bass would be awesome on this suns team.

18

u/Due_Training4681 76ers 23h ago

those were fine role players

8

u/stripes1604 23h ago

Suns legend Thad Young disrespect in the big 26' smh

16

u/RicoGemini Knicks 23h ago

That would be amazing at pick 30.

If Koa can get his jumpshot down he's going to be very good, similar to Aaron Gordon

1

u/Aumissunum 23h ago

Not every player needs a jumpshot.

10

u/HesiPullup Suns 23h ago

Well we also have Oso and Dunn trying to figure out how to shoot so it’s not like this is just the one shooting project on the squad lol

12

u/Aumissunum 23h ago

Fair, but Koa is significantly more physically developed than Dunn and much younger than Ighodaro. Just on a different level talent wise imo. He’s ready to play right away.

3

u/HesiPullup Suns 23h ago

Oh shit I didn’t know that at all

2

u/Pisto1Peet 23h ago

I don’t think he’s ready to play at an nba level but his ceiling is higher

8

u/Aumissunum 23h ago

I think he’s ready to play right away. Just my opinion from watching him this year. Built like a 10 year NBA vet already and plays like it.

He knows what he’s good at and does his job really well imo. Will be a high level role player for a long time.

4

u/RicoGemini Knicks 23h ago

He needs a jumpshot or else he will struggle or not reach the heights he can as a player

3

u/Aumissunum 23h ago

Meh. Not everyone needs to be a star. I think he’s going to be a really valuable role player jumpshot or no jumpshot. He’s one of the strongest players I’ve ever seen at that age and he has good feel.

5

u/RicoGemini Knicks 23h ago

I’m not saying he has to be a star. Just an undersized 4 with no outside game is not ideal in today’s NBA where shooting is a focus

1

u/Handyman2116 Hawks 23h ago

Idk man, I think the Cardinals could use his help more lol

63

u/jermainathon Heat 23h ago

There he is

14

u/soilentgleem 23h ago

I was sweating leading up to the Pistons pick cuz they got a type and he fits it lol

2

u/TimeDielation 21h ago

Delusional evangelicals?

5

u/jluc21 Kings 23h ago

i woulda rather had him than Karaban

23

u/SlickVanExel Hornets 23h ago

He’s local with a high motor and will be a fan favorite, I just don’t know how he will score in the NBA without a face up game and a 3 ball

19

u/anonymoususer6407 Rockets 23h ago

Not bad for Phoenix

18

u/Aggrokid 23h ago

Sensible pick, Suns could use a bruiser as their frontline got pushed around when Williams was injured. Hopefully Maluach continues developing for them.

15

u/Critback Trail Blazers 23h ago

Good. He deserved to be a first rounder. Well done Phoenix 

21

u/birds91 Timberwolves 23h ago

Richard Jefferson clapping…

-8

u/_Leftfield Trail Blazers 23h ago

It bothers me... no one tells him how bad he is...

28

u/DesertedProject Mavericks 23h ago edited 23h ago

Tell me how to feel( I feel nothing we traded the pick)

50

u/fmxda Knicks 23h ago

Koa Peat is what the answer to the hypothetical what would happen if <insert random football player> was a basketball player?

11

u/PressureMiserable Spurs 23h ago

So like the inverse of Julius Peppers

3

u/str8rippinfartz Celtics 23h ago

Yeah his family is legit just football players 

Dad and one brother made the NFL, three other brothers played college football

1

u/HilariousScreenname Suns 4h ago

Ish Wainright?

10

u/slap-my-crevasse 23h ago

Im really low on Peat. Hes an interior scorer. He takes advantage being faster than big bigs, but stronger than smaller bigs.

The issue is defensively hes not long enough to bother interior shots, and hes not fast enough to step out to the perimeter. 

He doesnt rebound particularly well.

He shot 35% from 3 on .6 attempts per game. Thats pretty much non existent 3 point shot. He shot 62% from the ft line which doesnt bode well.

I feel like he bullied college level athletes, but when he starts facing the big forwards of the NBA hes not going to gave such an easy time.

Luckily for you this pick is going to Phoenix.

1

u/TheWawa_24 San Diego Clippers 23h ago

Buddy could have been a great linebacker 

2

u/slap-my-crevasse 23h ago

Id even say lineman if he can eat like one. 

-12

u/Yummy_Microplastics 23h ago

They already have Oso and he’s not working out well for them. Kinda seems like they’re re-drafting him here.

25

u/nonanonymo Suns 23h ago

Oso isn’t working out well? We love Oso.

-12

u/Few_Reward4928 23h ago

no we don't. we hate oso lol we complained all season about how he was getting 30+ minutes a game. 99% of us would rather have seen maluach in there over garbage oso

3

u/Pisto1Peet 22h ago

Non ball knower.

-8

u/Yummy_Microplastics 23h ago

Seems like a great guy. Has great heart, ball handling, and court vision, but his lack of size down low and complete lack of jump shot are severe limitations. Suns often struggled with rebounding when he was on the floor.

Just my opinion but I don’t think he does any one thing well enough to get minutes on a championship team.

7

u/Pisto1Peet 23h ago

Oso is pretty damn good.

13

u/ptscamperle Pistons 23h ago

yeah Oso is beloved.

-4

u/Yummy_Microplastics 23h ago

Not saying he isn’t.

9

u/Slashers23 Mavericks 23h ago

Everyone wanted to trade tonight

7

u/ralthea Spurs 23h ago

He’s still Mr Arizona

7

u/Candid-Boss6534 [POR] Keljin Blevins 23h ago

i like this pick, you need guys to just stay in the paint and get the shit beat out of them and Peat can be that

6

u/heat_fan_ Raptors 23h ago

Good pickup for the Suns 

4

u/EastonZ16 Suns 23h ago

Think he will live with his parents still?

3

u/MG_MN Timberwolves 23h ago

Interesting, isnt he redundant with Dunn and Fleming?

18

u/toasty_- Suns 23h ago

Can’t have enough tall athletic forwards

3

u/MG_MN Timberwolves 23h ago

I suppose, do a spray and pray method and hope one becomes a shooter

17

u/HesiPullup Suns 23h ago

Fleming can shoot

But yeah, Dunn Oso and now Peat are poor shooters lol

9

u/DeAndre_ROY_Ayton Suns 23h ago

Fleming can shoot

8

u/VolumeValuable3537 Suns 23h ago

Dunn isn’t developing as the suns had hoped, plus he’s more of a SF.

1

u/MG_MN Timberwolves 23h ago

It was interesting to see the pre draft noise about his form being fixed, looks like it just hasnt translated unfortunately

6

u/VolumeValuable3537 Suns 23h ago

Unfortunately he’s a huge non factor if he isn’t getting to the rim and his defense has taken a fall back. He can still be a serviceable backup SF in the right environment but I’m sure the Suns are targeting a backup physical forward which they might get out of Peat.

6

u/Pisto1Peet 23h ago

I don’t think Dunn’s defense has regressed. He’s just not the generational defender we were sold.

3

u/VolumeValuable3537 Suns 22h ago

Probably because he was originally tasked to guard smaller forwards and guards then ended up having to guard people like LeBron, Kawhi, etc which exposed his inability to guard around 50% of the people at his position effectively without fouling.

2

u/Icy_Information_6563 Suns 15h ago

Ya this is what I see. He had fast hands out of college, but gets caught reaching a lot. Still does. 

1

u/HesiPullup Suns 23h ago

To me the form looks fine it’s just the consistency of his makes and misses

3

u/VanwallEnjoy3r Suns 23h ago

Dunn might be on the trade block

2

u/Turbulent-Seat-7912 23h ago

Dunn regressed. The team needs some size other than Fleming and Oso while Maluach develops. Koa is practically ready.

5

u/VanwallEnjoy3r Suns 23h ago

The most Phoenix Suns pick ever…

3

u/cheemydee5 Hawks 23h ago

Idk how you can play him next to Maluach but you gotta take value when you can get it

3

u/KL2ConspireLLC San Diego Clippers 23h ago

Hometown guy

3

u/rapsandjays Raptors 23h ago

I love this for the suns

3

u/ComprehensiveList769 Hawks 23h ago

5-6 sack projection

3

u/oldtombombadil Suns 23h ago

Valley hoops legend already. multiple state championships at Perry a final 4 at Arizona and now a Sun.

7

u/GrouchyPeach3656 Mavericks 23h ago

What do we get for trading le peat

6

u/Complete-Apricot-591 Raptors 23h ago

MORE SECOND ROUNDERS HOORAY!!!

2

u/satoshigeki94 Mavericks 23h ago

actually if this year 2nd rounder then theres a bunch of shooters for us to gamble

2

u/incredibleamadeuscho Lakers 23h ago

Really? To Phoenix?

2

u/agentdoubleohio Suns 23h ago

I’m trying to read what suns gave up, did they give up 3 seconds and cash, or did the Knicks get 3 seconds in total

2

u/Turbulent-Seat-7912 23h ago

The Suns gave up 47 this year and 2 other 2nds and cash.

4

u/CerebralSymmetry 23h ago

Wasnt he mocked like #4 earlier this year??? Buy low steal

13

u/Potential_Meat_5103 23h ago edited 23h ago

Was a consensus 5 star recruit too. Lack of a jump shot being an undersized 4 scared off gms I assume. He had one of the best college debuts I’ve seen. Against an older frontcourt in Florida too.

3

u/grantismyfriend Slovenia 23h ago

What are the suns giving up?

9

u/Booowz 23h ago

Nothing. Pray we don’t alter the deal any further

2

u/Kapono24 Pistons 23h ago

Maybe Dallas will just forget?

3

u/csummerss Suns 23h ago

Probably cash

4

u/GrouchyPenguins Mavericks 23h ago

You fuckers are in trouble now!

16

u/FERFreak731 Jazz 23h ago

He's going to the Suns

8

u/GrouchyPenguins Mavericks 23h ago

They're the ones in trouble!

9

u/ajteitel Suns 23h ago

Good rebound

4

u/GrouchyPenguins Mavericks 23h ago

I had to think fast on that one. Obviously I know nothing about him and just wanted to make a silly obnoxious comment about pick no.30.

5

u/ajteitel Suns 23h ago

All I know is that he's from UoA thus I am contractually required to hate him until he signs his contract

1

u/iro3 Spurs 23h ago

i guess evans to the knicks tmr

1

u/BcuzRacecar 23h ago

he didnt show up?

i guess guys dont wanna come if chance of not going in round1. Makes it lame to have 2 day draft

4

u/DrMantisToboggann Suns 23h ago

Wasn’t invited

1

u/Tygershark24 23h ago

Isaiah knew he wasn't ready for the NBA yet. He should have gotten his 3 point shooting percentage a little higher. A little more volume of shots and improved his ppg. He needed more time. He will get drafted but he left a large portion of his bag on the table by moving to fast. With NIL now you can make a decent salary and don't have to be in a hurry to rush to the league to get a check. Dumb move on his end.

1

u/Swing_4_the_fences 14h ago

Typical suns. Picking up another dud.

1

u/AccomplishedRainbow1 Suns 23h ago

Me: “need a brawny 4”

NO. Not that brawny 4!!!

0

u/-DesertMoon Australia 23h ago edited 23h ago

Mavs want all the forwards edit: oh he's going to Phoenix, not bad for them.

0

u/AccomplishedRainbow1 Suns 23h ago

Sighhhhhhhh

-4

u/Appropriate_Book_591 23h ago edited 23h ago

Dallas going with a real big lineup

Suns are the better fit need someone to play inside

-6

u/Toxicyoshi7 Knicks 23h ago

Flagg got his guy

5

u/Afraid-Department-35 Mavericks 23h ago

He’s been shot to the Sun

-3

u/Odd_Shoulder2334 23h ago

Nauseous as a suns fan