With the FIRST pick in the 2018 NBA draft, the Phoenix Suns select...

[Flagrant Fowl]

He hasn't proved a thing in the NBA and he's already putting out things he won't do as a player? This is a really bad look for Ayton. I'm 100% Doncic.

[Wally_West]

I think y’all are really overreacting over Ayton’s power forward comments.

[In2ition]

I think y’all are really overreacting over Ayton’s power forward comments.

Definitely.

Say you could move up for Porter jr. Who would you take #1 or would that matter?

[The Bobster]

New ESPN mock draft on insider today -

1 - PHO - Ayton
2 - SAC - Bagley
3 - ATL - Jackson
4 - MEM - Doncic
5 - DAL - Bomba
6 - ORL - Young
7 - CHI - Carter
8 - CLE - Porter
9 - NYK - Sexton
10 - PHI - Mik. Bridges
11 - CHA - Mil. Bridges
12 - LAL - Gilgeous-Alexander
13 - LAL - Walker
14 - DEN - Williams
15 - WAS - Knox
16 - PHO - Z. Smith

31 - PHO - J. Brunson
59 - PHO - I. Sanon (Ukraine)

[AmareIsGod]

People are going to take things Ayton said a long time ago as gospel today. Our GM has been on record as saying as he'd be a center in the NBA if we drafted him. Talk about making a mountain out of a mole hill.

[TOO]

Yeah, there is no way Ayton is anything but a C in the NBA anyway. Still rather take Doncic though. Ho hum

[INFORMER]

What did Ayton say exactly?

[In2ition]

I just heard that Ayton said he like cucumbers on his pb&j. That's disgusting...f that guy. Doncic all the way!!!!!!

[Split T]

Ayton called himself a pf in highschool and there are rumors that he wanted to be a pf in college. I've not seen any actual comments since highschool though.

[The Bobster]

Order of the NBA Mock Draft Special on ESPN2 this evening -

1 - PHO - D. Ayton
2 - SAC - L. Doncic
3 - ATL - J. Jackson
4 - MEM - M. Bagley
5 - DAL - M. Bomba
6 - ORL - W. Carter
7 - CHI - T. Young
8 - CLE - C. Sexton
9 - NYK - Mik. Bridges
10 - PHI - C. Walker
11 - CHA - Mil. Bridges
12 - LAC - S. Gilgeous-Alexander
13 - LAC - R. Williams
14 - DEN - K. Knox
15 - WAS - M. Porter
16 - PHO - A. Holiday
17 - MIL - T. Brown
18 - SAS - K. Thomas
19 - ATL - Z. Smith
20 - MIN - B. Brown
21 - UTH - K. Bates-Diop
22 - CHI - K. Huerter
23 - IND - L. Shamet
24 - POR - C. Hutchison
25 - LAL - G. Trent
26 - PHI - M. Frazier
27 - BOS - D. DiVincenzo
28 - GSW - J. Robinson
29 - BRK - D. Musa
30 - ATL - D. Melton

[AmareIsGod]

Ayton called himself a pf in highschool and there are rumors that he wanted to be a pf in college. I've not seen any actual comments since highschool though.

This is what people are raising a red flag about? Good grief.

[Shabazz]

I'm Team Doncic, but I also constantly wonder if we're overthinking Ayton. Look at what the guy did in the Pac 12 tourney. He was ridiculous. It's kind of like the Simmons/Ingram debate, where people overlooked Simmons' ridiculous production and picked apart his flaws and effort, but used a production x potential formula when evaluating Ingram. Sometimes if you just look at the stats you end up drafting Michael Beasley, but sometimes you can take a dominant performance at face value.

[SDC]

it's okay. LMA, AD, and towns said they all dont want to play center either.

[Superbone]

I'm Team Doncic, but I also constantly wonder if we're overthinking Ayton. Look at what the guy did in the Pac 12 tourney. He was ridiculous. It's kind of like the Simmons/Ingram debate, where people overlooked Simmons' ridiculous production and picked apart his flaws and effort, but used a production x potential formula when evaluating Ingram. Sometimes if you just look at the stats you end up drafting M****** B******, but sometimes you can take a dominant performance at face value.

Like I said, I'll be happy either way.

[specialsauce]

Order of the NBA Mock Draft Special on ESPN2 this evening -

1 - PHO - D. Ayton
2 - SAC - L. Doncic
3 - ATL - J. Jackson
4 - MEM - M. Bagley
5 - DAL - M. Bomba
6 - ORL - W. Carter
7 - CHI - T. Young
8 - CLE - C. Sexton
9 - NYK - Mik. Bridges
10 - PHI - C. Walker
11 - CHA - Mil. Bridges
12 - LAC - S. Gilgeous-Alexander
13 - LAC - R. Williams
14 - DEN - K. Knox
15 - WAS - M. Porter
16 - PHO - A. Holiday
17 - MIL - T. Brown
18 - SAS - K. Thomas
19 - ATL - Z. Smith
20 - MIN - B. Brown
21 - UTH - K. Bates-Diop
22 - CHI - K. Huerter
23 - IND - L. Shamet
24 - POR - C. Hutchison
25 - LAL - G. Trent
26 - PHI - M. Frazier
27 - BOS - D. DiVincenzo
28 - GSW - J. Robinson
29 - BRK - D. Musa
30 - ATL - D. Melton

Can’t believe they have MPJ falling all the way to 15. I am absolutely against drafting him top 5 because of his back, but if he falls out of the top 10 the Suns should be aggressive and try to trade up to grab him. Draft Ayton or Doncic, ship out Chriss or Bender.

If you draft Doncic, then Porter and somehow nab Capela or Jordan you’d have a great lineup of Doncic Booker Jackson Porter Capela/Jordan

If you draft Ayton, then Porter and you can trade for a PG or trot out Knight you have Dragic/Knight Booker Jackson Porter Ayton

Would be very okay with that scenario.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Mock drafts past the first 3-5 picks are useless at this point. There's no way Porter is the #15 guy drafted after he goes through team workouts and is presumably cleared medically.

[Gladiator]

it's okay. LMA, AD, and towns said they all dont want to play center either.

and Duncan. Spurs started a heap of average centres to start Duncan at PF.

[Indy]

it's okay. LMA, AD, and towns said they all dont want to play center either.

and Duncan. Spurs started a heap of average centres to start Duncan at PF.

But Duncan played down low, boxed out, and rebounded. He liked to do the dirty work, but didn't want to bang against +250 pound centers every night. I would be totally fine with Ayton saying he wanted to dominate on both ends, and he thinks he can do that at the 4 spot. But it seems to be more about offense by dominating over smaller guys, then trying to let someone else worry about defense. (I know I am probably reading too much into it. That is what happens when you only have one shot in 50 years to make the right choice without having to wait on the rest of the league to limit your options for you.)

[The Bobster]

I'm just happy he's said he wants the Suns to pick him.

[Gladiator]

it's okay. LMA, AD, and towns said they all dont want to play center either.

and Duncan. Spurs started a heap of average centres to start Duncan at PF.

But Duncan played down low, boxed out, and rebounded. He liked to do the dirty work, but didn't want to bang against +250 pound centers every night. I would be totally fine with Ayton saying he wanted to dominate on both ends, and he thinks he can do that at the 4 spot. But it seems to be more about offense by dominating over smaller guys, then trying to let someone else worry about defense. (I know I am probably reading too much into it. That is what happens when you only have one shot in 50 years to make the right choice without having to wait on the rest of the league to limit your options for you.)

I get that- really I do- and I think the concerns about ayton’s d are somewhat valid. My point was meant to be that great players who do all the things you’d associate with a Center can still have a thing about being called a Center. A bit like durant’s thing about not wanting to be called a 7 footer.
It would really be nice if having got a number one pick there was one stand out player. Still it’s A good problem to have.