Josh Jackson‘s lucky underwear paid off at Tuesday night’s draft lottery, with the Suns taking home the No. 1 pick for the 2018 NBA draft. While it was the fourth consecutive year that the team with the worst record in the league came away with the first overall selection, it was the first time in franchise history that Phoenix had nabbed that top pick.
[RELATED: Full 2018 NBA Draft Lottery Results]
“In the 50-year history of the Phoenix Suns, there have been a lot of great nights and great accomplishments, and I think this is one of them,” GM Ryan McDonough said, per Scott Bordow of The Arizona Republic. “This is something the franchise has never done before.”
While the Suns are in position to select whichever player they want from this year’s draft class, there’s no LeBron James or Anthony Davis in the 2018 pool. While there are plenty of tantalizing prospects to choose from, none of those players is a consensus top choice.
The top candidate to come off the board is probably big man Deandre Ayton, who played his college ball at Arizona, averaging a double-double (20.1 PPG, 11.6 RPG) in his first and only season with the Wildcats. After the Suns won the top pick on Tuesday night, Jackson endorsed Ayton, suggesting the youngster’s ceiling is “through the roof.”
However, Ayton isn’t the only prospect in play at No. 1. Many draft experts think just as highly of Real Madrid star Luka Doncic, who is viewed as one of the top prospects to ever come out of the EuroLeague. Doncic is also familiar with new Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov, who coached Doncic on the Slovenian national team.
While Ayton and Doncic are widely considered the top two prospects in this year’s draft class, McDonough said there’s a “small grouping” of players the club will consider with the No. 1 pick, per Bordow. As Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press writes, Marvin Bagley III – an Arizona native – could be a part of that group. The ACC Player of the Year, Bagley averaged 21.0 PPG and 11.1 RPG in his freshman year at Duke.
What do you think? Do you like Ayton, Doncic, Bagley, or someone else for the Suns at No. 1? Should the team give much consideration to how those players would fit alongside Jackson and Devin Booker, or does it simply make sense to pick the best player available?
Vote in our poll, then jump into the comment section below to share your thoughts!
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Sign Capela if he hits FA then draft Luka then their starting lineup would be
G Luka Doncic
G Devin Booker
F TJ Warren
F Josh Jackson
C Clint Capela
That’s actually a good lineup to use right there. Suns could actually hope for a .500 record next year
lol .500? That team wouldn’t win 30
Hey nice poll that doesn’t exist. Once again. You would think how much money traderumors gets it would upgrade this extremely cheap running app.
Try the bottom of the article brah. Click where it says to click. Presto.
It gives you directions at the bottom of the article lol
Trade this pick. None of these top players seem to fit what the Suns already have or the trend of basketball in the West. Trade down and pick up some assets. Look at what the Celtics did
Draft Ayton, attempt to trade up with second rounders to move #16 to near top 10 and draft point guard to assist Brandon Knight. I’m not a fan of max money to Capela since he’s good, but not franchise player. They have to troll for power forwards while former picks Bender and Chris play backup. With Jackson, Ayton and Booker they have solid start for winning 40% of games while they develop. Any luck with free agents and they can edge to .500. There is upside, but it will take time. No one player makes this team a playoff contender in my opinion. Half of this team last year shouldn’t even be in NBA, they have very thin bench and need to address that as well.
Give off a really strong impression that you’re taking Ayton, make the Kings panic and trade up a spot for him (they’d probably do that honestly), take Doncic at 2, and pick up a few extra assets for the trouble.
Clear choice is Ayton. Dont get cute.
There are several late choices for PGs, or trade for one (Schroder?). Doncic will be the biggest bust of the draft well him or Bamba. Shooter with no lift on his shot?
Since the Suns are still a long way from contending – especially since they’re in the West – why not trade this pick and their 2nd round pick for next year to the Clippers for their back-to-back round 1 picks in this year’s draft?
This is a deep draft, but this isn’t the NFL, that’s a terrible trade for the Suns. #1 overall pick in a trade should net you and All Star player or a high value asset. Wiggins for Love. Celtics last year got the Kings #1 protected pick to move back only 3 slots. 1 to 12 and 13 is way too far it a move down.
The suns will draft ayton! And the clippers will Suck again. Same o same o
There will be good players at 12 & 13. There was last year, even beyond Mitchell.