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

[UglyTruth]

https://twitter.com/sreekyshooter/status/1008927380830707712

[O_Gardino]

I'm not going to complain if we draft Ayton or Doncic. Bamba wouldn't bother me either. It's a good time to be a Suns fan but instead we're trying to cut each others throats while selling our Ayton, Doncic or whomever as the #1 pick. None of us knows until a year or two (or more) have passed after this draft. And one player might have fit better with one team vs. another so really, the stars have to align perfectly. There is no right or wrong choice with the number one pick as long as it's one of the potential top 3 or 4 we're all on board with.

Except that we are due to hear”I told you so” histories no matter who we pick.

Sure, because every highly rated prospect has some supporters here. There really is somebody telling us so almost daily.

[O_Gardino]

https://twitter.com/Cosmis/status/1008522016356491266

Too ball dominant for my tastes. If he's going to be the focal point of your team, sure.

He led the entire NCAA in assists! What?

Did he also lead the entire NCAA in turnovers?

His turnover rate was better than Nash in college, though.

The massive volume of shots and passes from Trae is evidence of how ball dominant he was. Yes, he is a willing and skilled passer. But he almost never played off the ball. He has the skills to do so, so part of the evaluation process should be finding out wether he has the personality to share.

[specialsauce]

He only had 19 uncontested shots because when you dribble the ball up the court and shoot it without passing, usually the defender is right there. Uncontested shots require ball movement. That’s his own doing. Not impressed by the stat at all.

[Cap]

He only had 19 uncontested shots because when you dribble the ball up the court and shoot it without passing, usually the defender is right there. Uncontested shots require ball movement. That’s his own doing. Not impressed by the stat at all.

You have to be impressed by the 14-19 accuracy, though.

Presumably in the NBA he’ll be sharing the ball more, playing with teammates who have more gravity, and getting lots more open looks.

[Superbone]

He only had 19 uncontested shots because when you dribble the ball up the court and shoot it without passing, usually the defender is right there. Uncontested shots require ball movement. That’s his own doing. Not impressed by the stat at all.

You have to be impressed by the 14-19 accuracy, though.

Presumably in the NBA he’ll be sharing the ball more, playing with teammates who have more gravity, and getting lots more open looks.

Heh, "gravity". Heard that term used for basketball for the first time just yesterday by Isiah Thomas and I like it.

[specialsauce]

He only had 19 uncontested shots because when you dribble the ball up the court and shoot it without passing, usually the defender is right there. Uncontested shots require ball movement. That’s his own doing. Not impressed by the stat at all.

You have to be impressed by the 14-19 accuracy, though.

Presumably in the NBA he’ll be sharing the ball more, playing with teammates who have more gravity, and getting lots more open looks.

Eh, I guess.

[In2ition]

I had a crazy thought last night after all the betting stuff about Kawhi where McD has been pulling the ultimate smokescreen all along. Hear me out:

1. The Suns pick Ayton and trade him and Jackson along with cap fillers for Kawhi. Of course, a Kawhi extension and resigning is agreed upon prior.

2. Suns then in a separate trade move back up in the lottery to take Doncic and another separate move back into the 1st round to take Mitchell Robinson.

3. James Jones had the plan laid out playing the long game with McDonough and LeBron and LeBron comes to Phoenix this summer and the Suns offer Booker the max extension without hesitation.

Starting lineup looks a little like this:
Doncic
Booker
Kawhi
LeBron
Bender/?

Five shooters, multiple switching defenders, high level IQ guys and decent depth off the bench. Igor getting the guys to buy into a ball movement sharing offense.

[djy2j]

https://twitter.com/Cosmis/status/1008522016356491266

Too ball dominant for my tastes. If he's going to be the focal point of your team, sure.

Maybe he was so ball dominant because his teammates sucked. He seems to have very good vision and passing instincts.

I watched a handful of Oklahoma games this year. My first thought was how much he had the ball. My second thought was how on earth he racked up assists with teammates like that. They were athletes more than they were basketball players. I'm not a huge fan of their coach though either so I don't know if he just told the other guys to stay out of Young's way or if he tried to make it a team effort. Felt like the former. I saw a hell of a play maker in Young though but he can shoot the lights out. He'll be fine on offense in the NBA. Just not sure what his motor on defense is. I'd be happy if we found a way to land him.

[O_Gardino]

I had a crazy thought last night after all the betting stuff about Kawhi where McD has been pulling the ultimate smokescreen all along. Hear me out:

1. The Suns pick Ayton and trade him and Jackson along with cap fillers for Kawhi. Of course, a Kawhi extension and resigning is agreed upon prior.

2. Suns then in a separate trade move back up in the lottery to take Doncic and another separate move back into the 1st round to take Mitchell Robinson.

3. James Jones had the plan laid out playing the long game with McDonough and LeBron and LeBron comes to Phoenix this summer and the Suns offer Booker the max extension without hesitation.

Starting lineup looks a little like this:
Doncic
Booker
Kawhi
LeBron
Bender/?

Five shooters, multiple switching defenders, high level IQ guys and decent depth off the bench. Igor getting the guys to buy into a ball movement sharing offense.

Shower thoughts from In2.

[specialsauce]

Lol.

So we trade away our only REAL valuable assets in the #1 pick and Jackson (aside from Book) for Leonard and then somehow manage to trade back up high enough to take Doncic?

Sign me up!

[jonh]

Ayton does seem to be a unique guy:

https://deadspin.com/my-weird-son-deand ... 1826953847

My excitement about him as a pick seems to drop as time goes on. Ill be excited either way, but this is starting to feel like a missed opportunity.

[Split T]

We're picking Ayton. I have no idea what we do at 16. My guess is McD would love to trade it for Kemba. I'd love to trade up for SGA. We could just see who drops out of Bridges/Smith/Walker/Sexton/Williams and hope it's not Williams. We could just take the guard we like Holiday/Okobo/Divencenzo or trade back and take them.

I prefer the SGA route. Intrigued by Okobo. If we draft doncic, that makes Zhaire, Khyri, Lonnie Walker, Robert Williams more draftable. I'd still consider Zhaire, Lonnie and Khyri if we have another PG plan.

[UglyTruth]

Ayton does seem to be a unique guy:

https://deadspin.com/my-weird-son-deand ... 1826953847

My excitement about him as a pick seems to drop as time goes on. Ill be excited either way, but this is starting to feel like a missed opportunity.

He seems to suffer from MPD. Should be a “red flag”.

[UglyTruth]

We're picking Ayton. I have no idea what we do at 16. My guess is McD would love to trade it for Kemba. I'd love to trade up for SGA. We could just see who drops out of Bridges/Smith/Walker/Sexton/Williams and hope it's not Williams. We could just take the guard we like Holiday/Okobo/Divencenzo or trade back and take them.

I prefer the SGA route. Intrigued by Okobo. If we draft doncic, that makes Zhaire, Khyri, Lonnie Walker, Robert Williams more draftable. I'd still consider Zhaire, Lonnie and Khyri if we have another PG plan.

Cavs might trade 8 for Kemba.

[UglyTruth]

Lol.

So we trade away our only REAL valuable assets in the #1 pick and Jackson (aside from Book) for Leonard and then somehow manage to trade back up high enough to take Doncic?

Sign me up!

Somebody’s been watching Kevin Costner’s Draft Day way too much.

[UglyTruth]

I'm not going to complain if we draft Ayton or Doncic. Bamba wouldn't bother me either. It's a good time to be a Suns fan but instead we're trying to cut each others throats while selling our Ayton, Doncic or whomever as the #1 pick. None of us knows until a year or two (or more) have passed after this draft. And one player might have fit better with one team vs. another so really, the stars have to align perfectly. There is no right or wrong choice with the number one pick as long as it's one of the potential top 3 or 4 we're all on board with.

Except that we are due to hear”I told you so” histories no matter who we pick.

Sure, because every highly rated prospect has some supporters here. There really is somebody telling us so almost daily.

Doncic is universally seen by those who value analytics and numbers as the best player of the draft even though most mock drafts have him going second because of Ayton to Phoenix being a lock.

[UglyTruth]

After seeing his interview and it being clear as day how smart the kid is I'm not even surprised.
He specifically pin pointed what necessary tweaks he wanted to make to his shot as soon as the season was over so combining natural ability with brains n work ethic.....
Sure seems like his potential is through the roof

Are you talking about Bamba?

I like Bamba a lot as a prospect and the intangibles he brings, but I'm pretty skeptical that he'll put on the muscle and lbs needed to hold his own in the paint. Dude has a high metabolism and is skinny as all get out.

People felt the same way about Gobert just few years ago.

[UglyTruth]

Bamba's agent has done a terrific job packaging him during this pre-draft process.

https://twitter.com/JohnMartin929/status/1009113255506272256

[UglyTruth]

https://twitter.com/JakeLFischer/status/1009079836210581504