NBA draft

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Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	4	Alvan Adams	Center	United States	Oklahoma
1	16	Ricky Sobers	Guard	United States	UNLV
2	35	Allen Murphy	Guard	United States	Louisville
2	36	Jimmy Dan Conner	Guard	United States	Kentucky
3	54	Bayard Forrest	Center	United States	Grand Canyon
4	58	Sam McCants	Guard	United States	Oral Roberts
5	76	Joe Pace	Center	United States	Coppin State
6	94	Clark "Biff" Burrell	Guard	United States	USC
7	112	Dave Edmunds	Guard	United States	West Georgia
8	130	Jack Schrader	Forward	United States	Arizona State
9	147	Owen Brown	Forward	United States	Maryland
10	163	Mike Moon	Guard	United States	Arizona State

Close

Finishing the previous season with a 32–50 record, the Suns earned the fourth pick in the draft, which they used to select center Alvan Adams from Oklahoma. Adams averaged 23.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game in three seasons with the Sooners.^[2] With averages of 19 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks a game, Adams would become an All-Star in his first NBA season, and go on to be named Rookie of the Year. Adams would spend his entire 13-year career with the Suns, and would have his #33 jersey retired by the franchise in 1988.^[3]

On draft day, the Suns traded one of their 1976 first-round picks (acquired from a trade with the New Orleans Jazz in 1974) to the Buffalo Braves for the 16th pick in the 1975 draft. The Suns used their additional pick to select guard Ricky Sobers from UNLV. In 1976, the Braves would use the sixth pick to select future Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley. Sobers would play two seasons for the Suns, contributing significantly to their Finals run, before being traded to the Indiana Pacers for Don Buse.^[4]

In the third round, the Suns selected center Bayard Forrest from Grand Canyon University. Forrest would play another season with the Antelopes, and be drafted again by the Seattle SuperSonics in 1976. The Sonics would trade the rights to Forrest back to the Suns in 1977 for a 1979 second-round pick. Forrest played two seasons for the Suns as a backup center, before being sidelined by thyroid cancer, forcing him to retire in 1980.^[5]

Free agency

On June 10, the Suns signed free agent point guard Dennis "Mo" Layton. Layton began his career with the Suns in 1971, playing two seasons before being waived. He would then play for the Portland Trail Blazers and the Memphis Tams of the ABA in 1973–74, and sit for the 1974–75 season as a free agent. Layton was waived by the Suns during the preseason and would again sit through 1975–76 season as a free agent.^[6]

On October 24, the Suns claimed veteran swingman John Wetzel off of waivers from the Atlanta Hawks.^[7] Wetzel would play sparingly throughout the season, averaging 6.7 minutes in 37 regular season games, and 2.5 minutes in two playoff games. Wetzel had played for the Suns from 1970 to 1972, and would spend his final season with the Suns before retiring in August 1976.^[8] Wetzel would later become an assistant coach with the Suns from 1979 to 1987, before becoming the team's head coach for the 1987–88 season.^[9]

Trades

On May 23, the Suns traded three-time All-Star guard Charlie Scott to the Boston Celtics for guard Paul Westphal, a 1975 second-round draft pick, and a 1976 second-round draft pick. Suns general manager Jerry Colangelo released this statement after the trade:

It takes a team concept of play to win in this league. Although Charlie Scott is a talent, our decision was made on the basis that Scott's talents were of an individual nature and did not fit into a team style of play. In Paul Westphal, we are acquiring a player from a winning situation. He is a stable, quality individual who will add leadership and experience to our club. We are confident that this decision will prove to be a major step in developing a winner and that the Phoenix Suns are more important than any one individual.

— Jerry Colangelo, ^[10]

Westphal had spent his first three years playing a limited role for Boston, but would blossom as a starter for the Suns. From 1976–77 to 1979–80, Westphal would make four consecutive All-Star appearances, voted as a starter three times, and be named to four All-NBA Teams, including three First Team selections.^[11] Scott's minutes and points would decrease with the Celtics, and he would not again be selected as an All-Star.^[12] Later, Westphal would join the Suns for a second stint during the 1983-84 NBA season, his last in the NBA as a player. Westphal would then pursue a coaching career eventually joining the Suns as an assistant coach in 1988 under Cotton Fitzsimmons and would succeed him as head coach in 1992 and coach the Suns to their second Finals appearance.

On May 28, the Suns traded center Earl Williams to the Detroit Pistons for forward Willie Norwood. Unable to play in training camp due to knee injuries, the Suns exercised a contract clause that allowed them to send Norwood back to the Pistons.^[13] On September 30, the Pistons would send the Suns a 1976 second-round draft pick as compensation for Williams.^[14]

On June 9, the Suns traded a 1976 second-round draft pick to the Portland Trail Blazers for guard Phil Lumpkin. Playing the 1975–76 season as a backup point guard, Lumpkin would average 2.1 points and 1.4 assists in 34 regular season games, and 1.8 points and 1.2 assists in 17 playoff games. Lumpkin was waived prior to the 1976–77 season and would not play in the NBA again.^[15]

On September 17, the Suns traded guard Greg Jackson to the Washington Bullets for future draft considerations. Jackson was waived by the Bullets a month later and did not play in the NBA again.^[16]

Game log

Standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Game log

All-Star

• Alvan Adams was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first and only All-Star selection.

Season

• Alvan Adams received the Rookie of the Year Award.
• Jerry Colangelo received the Executive of the Year Award.
• Alvan Adams was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
• Paul Westphal finished 24th in MVP voting.

Season

* – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.
+ – Minimum 70 games played or 800 rebounds.

Playoffs

^ – Minimum 10 free throws made.

Trades

May 23, 1975	To Boston Celtics Charlie Scott	To Phoenix Suns Paul Westphal 1975 second-round draft pick ( Jimmy Dan Conner) 1976 second-round draft pick ( Butch Feher)
May 29, 1975	To Buffalo Braves 1976 first-round draft pick ( Adrian Dantley)	To Phoenix Suns 1975 first-round draft pick ( Ricky Sobers)
June 9, 1975	To Portland Trail Blazers 1976 second-round draft pick ( Jacky Dorsey)	To Phoenix Suns Phil Lumpkin
September 17, 1975	To Washington Bullets Greg Jackson	To Phoenix Suns Future draft pick
September 30, 1975	To Detroit Pistons Earl Williams	To Phoenix Suns 1976 second-round draft pick ( Earl Tatum)
November 3, 1975	To Los Angeles Lakers John Roche 1976 second-round draft pick ( Earl Tatum)	To Phoenix Suns Pat Riley
November 22, 1975	To Seattle SuperSonics Mike Bantom	To Phoenix Suns Cash considerations
February 1, 1976	To Buffalo Braves John Shumate	To Phoenix Suns Garfield Heard 1976 second-round draft pick ( Al Fleming)

Free agents