Phoenix Suns select Dayton forward Toumani Camara with 52nd overall pick in 2023 NBA Draft

The Phoenix Suns used the 52nd overall pick to select Dayton forward Toumani Camara on Thursday in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft.

From Belgium, Camara, 23, was present at the draft in New York City as he walked down from the stands to the stage, put on a purple Suns hat and had his picture taken with NBA deputy commissioner, Mark Tatum, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Playing his final two years of college at Dayton, the 6-8, 220-pound Camara averaged career highs in points (13.9 ppg.), rebounding (8.6 rpg.), field goal percentage (54.6%) and 3-point percentage (36.3%) in the 2022-23 season.

Starting his college career at Georgia, Camara led the Atlantic 10 in rebounding his senior year. He made first team all-conference and all-defensive team in 2022-23.

Camara played his freshman year with Anthony Edwards, top overall pick in 2020 NBA Draft and now All-Star with Minnesota Timberwolves.

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Camara and Edwards tied for team lead in blocks that 2019-20 season at Georgia with 18 rejections.

With the Suns currently having four players on max contracts in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Deandre Ayton, and in championship-or-bust mode, draft picks are going to have a tough time finding playing time in Phoenix.

However, the Suns could use the pick to help fill out a roster that's going to have several guys on veteran minimums, especially if the Suns keep Ayton, who continues to be the subject of trade talks.

The last draft pick Phoenix kept was Jalen Smith, the 10th overall pick in the 2020 draft out of Maryland. Smith hardly played as a rookie on the 2020-21 team that reached the finals and was dealt to Indiana in his second NBA season for Torrey Craig.

The Suns didn't have a draft pick in 2022.

Phoenix Suns' 2023 NBA Draft grades: Toumani Camara selection receives mixed reviews

Phoenix has traded away a hefty amount of their draft future in acquiring Durant and Beal in separate deals.

The Suns traded Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks (2023, 2025, 2027, 2029) and a pick swap (2028) to Brooklyn for Durant and T.J. Warren right before the Feb. 9 trade deadline.

The Nets used the 21st overall pick in the 2023 draft to select Alabama freshman Noah Clowney. The 6-10 forward made All-SEC freshman team as he averaged 9.9 points and 8.1 rebounds in his one-and-done season.

Phoenix is finalizing the Beal trade in which they’re sending Washington six second-round selections and four first-round swaps, sources informed The Republic on Thursday.

The second-round picks are in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2030 while the pick swaps are in 2024, 2026, 2028 and 2030.

More: Phoenix Suns' 2023 NBA Draft pick Toumani Camara lauded on NBA Twitter as 'future star'

This is part of the deal that saw Phoenix trade Chris Paul and Landry Shamet to Washington for Jordan Goodwin, Isaiah Todd and Beal.

The Wizards have since traded Paul to Golden State as part of a deal for Warriors guard Jordan Poole, sources confirmed Thursday to The Republic.

The Suns placed great value in two-way players under former head coach Monty Williams as Ish Wainright and Saben Lee played meaningful minutes in the 2022-23 season.

They now have a new head coach in Frank Vogel, who signed a five-year, $31-million deal.

Phoenix Suns' 2023 NBA Draft rewind: Toumani Camara picked, no trades after speculation

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns select Dayton big Toumani Camara with 52nd overall pick