Did The Phoenix Suns Make The Right Top Pick In Deandre Ayton?
It didn’t come as a surprise that the Suns’ choice as top pickers in the recent NBA Draft Night turned out to be Arizona’s Deandre Ayton. The 7’1” Ayton is the prototype of the modern NBA center who can play multiple positions, showcases solid offensive firepower, and has the body to slug it out in the paint.
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Still, there were tons of speculations leading to the draft that, in today’s guard-oriented league, getting the likes of Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic and standouts Marvin Bagley and Trae Young will be the better choice. Also, Phoenix coach Igor Kokoškov was Doncic’s former coach, and it made sense for many that he will opt for his former ward.
The Suns were dead last in the NBA last year, coming up with a horrible record of 21 wins and 61 losses. Many have openly accused the team of tanking; whether this was deliberate or not, the Suns were still able to secure the top draft rights. Nonetheless, the team was mainly comprised of young players led by Devin Booker, Josh Jackson, and Elfrid Payton. All these players are guards. The team had to get a big man to fill in the hole in the center position.
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Coupled with the acquisition of Mikal Bridges, getting Ayton make the Suns one of the most exciting teams to watch next season. The team could have opted for a forward in their second draft, but Bridges is a talent they couldn’t pass off. It will take some time for this young team to gel and be ready for contention, but Suns fans should be very happy. The pieces for the franchise’s needed rebuilding is now more or less complete.
