Deandre Ayton could be staying home in Arizona, as the Phoenix Suns have landed the No. 1 lottery pick in the upcoming 2018 NBA Draft.
The tide seems to be changing in the state of Arizona when it comes to our professional sports teams. First came the Arizona Cardinals, who traded up to No. 10 to snag former UCLA QB, Josh Rosen. Now for the first time in their history, the Phoenix Suns have won the NBA lottery and own the first pick in the NBA Draft. The Suns are officially on the clock, now who do you think they should take? Most Wildcats fans hope the Suns don’t blow it and choose Deandre Ayton.
While the Philadelphia 76ers are well known for pushing patience with “The Process.” Here in Phoenix, Suns fans have come all too familiar with the organization has called the “Timeline.” Many of the devoted fans around the valley have come to the conclusion that the so-called “Timeline” is taking way to long.
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While there have been reasons to believe that the Suns are ready to take next step with key pieces in place such as Devin Booker and Josh Jackson. There is a common feeling among fans that the Suns are still one key piece away from making that all significant jump.
Before they enter the draft lottery, they hired a new head coach. The Suns hired Igor Kokoskov who is the first European-born NBA head coach. Kokoskov was a Utah Jazz assistant coach.
With the number one pick, now is the time for the Suns to add that crucial all-important piece that pushes the “Timeline” farther along. One guy who could do this, put on Arizona jersey last year and goes by the name of DeAndre Ayton.
Ever since the Suns landed the first pick in the NBA draft, WIldcat fans near and far have been campaigning for the Suns to make Ayton the first pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
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While this seems to be the popular vote by fans everywhere, there is a few that say otherwise. Some of the Sun’s fan base wants them to look overseas and take Luca Doncic. Luca has had a stellar year while playing professional ball for Slovenia.
National media have debated the question, households everywhere have sat around the dinner table and discussed it. When it comes time for the Suns to make history and select the No.1 pick in the 2018 draft, who should they select? Ayton or Doncic?
Phoenix Suns GM Ryan McDonough came out today and talked about Ayton:
"“A phenomenal physical specimen. He’s everything you look for physically in terms of size, strength, length and athleticism. Obviously, he was tremendously productive this year at the University of Arizona. He rebounds at a high level, his stroke for a young big I think is very good and very developed, the way he can not only score at the rim and above the rim but the way he can make shots away from the basket. I think for his size he moves his feet pretty well on the perimeter. There really aren’t a lot of holes in his game. Obviously like a lot of young players he needs to be a little better defensively, understanding off-ball rotations and concepts and things like that but that usually comes with experience.”"
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Arizona Wildcats fans reacted like we would expect them to react. They already want to buy an Ayton Suns jersey, sit in the stands and chant, ‘UofA UofA UofA.’ Ayton belongs in Arizona. He belongs to the Suns, the front office just needs to do the right thing and submit Deandre Ayton on a card for the first pick in the NBA Draft.