[cominup7Participant]

SI did a piece on the consensus #1 pick a few days ago, which was a pretty good read about his background. But one thing he said really stood out:

It was everything after the Bahamas that made Ayton’s story complicated. "Home," he says, "I was perfect. I was home. I don’t even want to talk about AAU. AAU was a bunch of s—. When I stepped foot in the United States, my life became a job."

Phoenix Suns should be working the phone lines right now to trade this pick…the more he talks the more he reminds me of another hyper athletic, highly touted big man that went #1 even though he left a trail of red flags about his drive and love for the game: Kwame Brown

Devin Booker, TJ Warren and Josh Jackson are all gamers and gym rats. Why add a player who already has a reputation for having questionable passion for the game, to a team that desperately needs a change in culture? At this point, for all his physical traits and athletic attributes, I’d be very worried about his head and ability to reach his potential if I were the Suns FO

[HobbyOGParticipant]

 This is not a red flag, this is facts. AAU is a bunch of BS…no organzation, no team ball, structure, etc. Just ME ball…Kobe said this himself..FK AAU basketball..bad for the sport. 

[ChoppyParticipant]

 AAU is the worst thing for basketball. If young kids were actually being developed instead of showcased, they’d be a lot better off. 

[celtics1982Participant]

 If that is his major red flag, sign me up. 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 Sounds a lot like a personal opinion on your part, rather than an actual red flag to draw in traffic for this post.

[cominup7Participant]

Ayton’s passion for the game has long been questioned, so its far from just my opinion

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 To place emphasis on major is bogus. This type of thing is water under the bridge to any franchise possessing the #1 pick that has him as BPA. Other than that, it’s beating a dead horse to speak on what’s been in question unless there was something really major such as criminal background or drug use concerns. 

Until we all receive that breaking news notification on our mobile devices like the NFL Draft, it’s nothing to harbor over right now.

 

[cominup7Participant]

 You all are missing the context and leaving out the red flag part of the quote – its not about AAU, its about his whole mindset towards the game. He already has been questioned all through HS and college about his passion for basketball, and he we are a week away from the draft and he’s talking about how he basically was forced into basketball because of his height

 

 

[HobbyOGParticipant]

Writer twist up words..I’m sure the Suns did a great job asking the appropriate questions. Also he plays with passion. I never heard anyone compare his passion or energy to say a Kwame Brown..you reaching..

[Lotto StudParticipant]

Since we all love comparisons on this site. Is it a Dhalsim type of reach?

[ChoppyParticipant]

 Love the Street Fighter reference! 

[cominup7Participant]

 Read the whole article then tell me if I’m reaching. How did the writer twist words, and even if he did, why have the same questions been following Ayton since he became a legit prospect in HS? How many bigs with questionable motors have turned into franchise players?

 And I’m not comparing him to Kwame Brown talentwise, just that they both had the same questions entering the draft as consensus top #1s

[foodontableParticipant]

 Is that you Vlade or Vivek? I see you’re trolling the forums to try to get Ayton to fall to number 2 huh? 

[cominup7Participant]

I didnt know it was trolling to give opinion, which just happen to go against the popular one on this forum.

[celtics1982Participant]

 Go read the The Ringers report, doesn’t once mention his motor being an issue. Which makes sense, you don’t put up his numbers if you have motor issues. Talks about his intensity wavering at times, which just isn’t the samething.  He’s like a lot of young players that are star scorers they don’t always play 100% on D. They save energy for offense. Reports litterally questioned Tatum last year about his D. That will change with NBA coaching and being surrounded with a bunch of good players. 

The questions about Brown were not the same as Ayton. Brown was seen as a risky upside pick, Ayton is the consensus number one player. Not even close to the same. 

 

 

[cominup7Participant]

You can probably find lots of articles with glowing reviews of Ayton, but the bottom line is he has had the motor & passion issue following him his whole career. And I’m not talking about just effort on D, I’m talking about passion for the game in general.

Not saying they’ll go first, but Bagley hasn’t had the same questions, Bamba hasn’t, JJJ nor Wendell Carter, but Ayton does, and thats just facts. But I guess it doesn’t matter because he’s everyone’s consensus #1

 And Ayton’s one year of college and more scouting tape is the only reason he isn’t considered as risky as Kwame. IDK if you followed that 2001 draft, but Kwame Brown was the consensus #1, even in a draft that included other high potential (at the time) bigs like Eddy Curry, Chandler, and Gasol.

[The GoatParticipant]

 I am not sold on Ayton, in fact, since we started looking at this class i have always had Bamba down as a better pro prospect. I still think thats the case, but im nore sure Phoenix agrees. Like it or not, the draft is more than the player, its also about who picks where, owner, staff, fan and opposition expectations,  so I expect theyll take Ayton regardless but if they strongly feel the same as i do that Ayton isnt the  right guy, theyll trade down and pick up assets. That takes a big move and big nuts from a GM and with Phoenix getting the first pick for the first time, i think theyll play it safe.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 I have Ayton at 11 on my latest big board (I posted at the Grizzlies forum).  

His D is a red flag.  I also don’t wanna run my offense through a big man.

In today’s NBA I am running 10 plays for a center — per week! 

 

 

[cominup7Participant]

Lol #11? I wouldn’t even put him down that far, he’s still a top 5 prospect

[Evan_MilbergParticipant]

I mean, this isn’t really anything new. Ayton’s alleged “questionable motor” and motivation have already been the subject of a lot of conversation, which goes as far back as his sophomore year in HS. If it was going to impact his draft stock, it already would have by now. 

[cominup7Participant]

 It seems the Suns fans have arrived with negs…

Of course he’s going first, because people, including experienced front offices, fall into the hype and physical profiles but not enough of whats between the ears. 

YES he’s going #1, but he won’t be a top 5 player in this class when we look back

 

 

 

 

[RicoParticipant]

 You would think his horrible defence would be the red flag.  Dude is going to get dunked on a lot.

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