1st Overall’ Deandre Ayton or Luka Doncic?

You wanna know how many European guards (like Doncic) have ever made an all-star team?

Goran Dragic in 2018. and Tony Parker.

Thats it. 

Doncic will bust. He. Will. Bust. 

 I’m excited to see Doncic playin the NBA. What he’s done in such a short time is utterly unprecedented. As great as Dirk is, he wasn’t putting up numbers like Doncic at e same age. I don’t care what anyone says, whether he’s a poor defender (I think he’s better than he’s shown), or unathletic (really not as bad as people make out). I think he’s one of the more sure-fire prospects in this draft. 

 If I’m the Suns and my evaluation finds the Ayton and Doncic even close then I go with Ayton. There aren’t many quality bigs and Ayton seems to have the tools to become one of them. Plus the Suns three players with the greatest upside are Devin Booker, TJ Warren, and Josh Jackson. They’re all wings. 

The fear for Phoenix is not wanting to become the next team who passes on a top wing due to need like the Portland Trailblazers did passing on Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant. The Suns are fortunate to have a head coach who has coached Doncic to provide insight into who he is as a player and person.

In the end I think the Suns take Ayton.

 For the Core that Phoenix has Constructed Currently they need to Go Ayton or better off Trading down.

They are Set and have proven young talent at the wings all ready. To expect Luka to come from Europe into the NBA and toss him into a Starting PG position is Absurd especially with questions on how he will adjust to the NBA Athletically. Yes he has solid court vision fbut he needs to be in a position like CJ McCollum/Bradley Beal with another primary ball handler. 

Ayton’s offense at the NBA level is going to be 90 percent dunks, free throws and jumpers.

Based on what I’ve seen so far, including probably a dozen games in person at the AAU level, Ayton really wants to be a jump shooter, not post up or get dirty in the paint. And he isn’t capable of putting it on the floor and creating. 

I think Ayton will be an elite rebounder, and can stretch a defense with the 3, but I’m not sold on Ayton at the defensive end. He’s not a natural shot blocker, doesn’t really have the instincts or timing for it, doesn’t move his feet especially well on the perimeter, and I don’t see the kind of intensity and passion required to be elite at that end of the floor.

 He has elite size and frame and is an elite athlete for someone his size, can shoot it from distance and will be an exciting player due to his dunks and insane size, and more than likely will be an all-star level player. But I don’t see someone who is going to average 25 ppg as an NBA player, mostly because I don’t think he wants to be that kind of player. He’d rather dunk it four times and chuck a dozen jumpers from 20 feet then go to work in the paint.

Of course, there is always the possibility Ayton will add other elements of his game that I don’t see. He has elite tools (size, frame, strength, athleticism), and every NBA great improved various aspects of their game over time. But I think in some ways, I see a different version of Andrew Wiggins. Insanely talented, lacking a complete, well-rounded game, and an uncertain motor.

 Give me Ayton.  Physically ready for the NBA whereas Doncic needs a few years to develop himself into a man.  In those years where he’s trying to develop physically, Ayton will use that to develop into a better player.

I go with Ayton at #1 without question.

I fear some teams may regret taking Doncic at the #2,  not because he ain’t good but because some of the players picked behind may end up better.

Doncic athletic upside is limited by what I call the "big calf syndrom". It’s very hard to transform a player with big calf into an athletic guy. He makes up for it with his size and craftiness but is nowhere near someone like Manu, who was ripped.

Some of the bigs may not have his IQ or skills but may become topnotch defender who protect the rim (in particular JJJ and Bamba).

weballin.net

 Ayton is a generational type talent.  Players like him who can become superstars and lead teams to championships rarely come along.  His size, athleticism, and skill-set combination is ridiculous.  Ayton has to be the pick.

 As a Suns fan, I’m still slightly torn over who we should take first. If it’s purely BPA then Ayton would seem the logical choice regardless of depth the Suns may have in frontcourt with Chriss and Bender. They are a 21-61 team and need help. Ayton would go into a good situation with Tyson Chandler to mentor him.

But Phoenix have a gap at point unless they resign Payton and with the new Head Coach having strong links to Doncic there is a line of thought he would be a logical fit too. Doncic may not put up the sort of numbers Ayton will but he could make other players better and playing alongside Booker could be very exciting.

I think the Suns may opt for Ayton given his upside up whoever they take I’ll be happy with as long as it’s one of these two.

 The top 3 for the Suns should be Ayton, Bamba, and Doncic and if you want Bamba/Doncic then trade down to 2, maybe even 3.

The Suns could trade down to 2 for Luka and also pick up WCS and 36 from the Kings and either Justin Jackson or Frank Mason.

The Suns could trade down to 3 and get Bamba along with 19, 30, and Taurean Prince.  

At 4, the Memphis should take Bamba if he is there.  Or, Porter if Bamba is gone.  Think about taking Luka if he falls.  Otherwise we should trade down to 7 and 22 then I am gonna go get Mikal Bridges and (hopefully) Mitchell Robinson.  Then at 32 I am taking Jalen Brunson if he is there and Donte Inferno is not.  

Trae Young: Steph Curry has been borderline unwatchable for much of this Western Conference Finals.  The POOR MAN’s version of that?

 Ayton