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

[UglyTruth]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Sportando/status/1009175211634253826 Clutch shot by Doncic who just secured his 2nd Euroleague championship at the age of just 19.

[AmareIsGod]

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”.

Really? It sounds like he does 2 or 3 voice impersonations for fun. I do that at work and with friends. It's all in fun. I don't have MPD. People are really trying to reach. "We want a singular robotic player solely focused on his own personality and voice and not having fun with his teammates!"

[AmareIsGod]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Sportando/status/1009175211634253826 Clutch shot by Doncic who just secured his 2nd Euroleague championship at the age of just 19.

Wow. That was pretty incredible!

[Ring_Wanted]

Was going to post that basket. Iconic Real Madrid shot.

[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.

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

Really? It sounds like he does 2 or 3 voice impersonations for fun. I do that at work and with friends. It's all in fun. I don't have MPD. People are really trying to reach. "We want a singular robotic player solely focused on his own personality and voice and not having fun with his teammates!"

I think ugly truth was being sarcastic.

[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”.

Really? It sounds like he does 2 or 3 voice impersonations for fun. I do that at work and with friends. It's all in fun. I don't have MPD. People are really trying to reach. "We want a singular robotic player solely focused on his own personality and voice and not having fun with his teammates!"

I was being sarcastic.

[Split T]

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

Am I crazy that I'd consider a Saric/Fultz/#10 for #1?

I think Saric would be great here and I still think Fultz can be the best player from last year's draft. After the trade I'd use 10 and 16 to try to move back up and get Bamba or JJJ if they fall...Carter if we can't get high enough.

Fultz/Booker/Jackson/Saric/Bamba

I kinda like that lineup moving forward.

[specialsauce]

Yes, you are crazy. Sorry Split, don’t shoot the messenger!

[Wally_West]

I love ya, Split. You’re one of my favorite posters here...


...but I agree with SS. You crazy, homie.

[Split T]

Yes, you are crazy. Sorry Split, don’t shoot the messenger!

Haha, I thought it was a little crazy myself...it's really risky. Fultz has to pan out and you have to be able to move back up...if Fultz never finds his jumpshot and you end up drafting Robert Williams and Mikal Bridges at 10/16 then it's a terrible move.

[ShelC]

I want a guy focused on basketball, not his brand. Ayton seems to want to be a personality and called himself an "entertainer" during the Puma signing. I don't want Amar'e or DHow looking to be a fashion star or movie producer. I want a guy with a singular focus on basketball and winning. I remember Harrison Barnes talking about his "brand" during his freshman year at UNC...that's an American/AAU thing. And I know Ayton is from the Bahamas and wants to follow a guy like Bolt. But Bolt wasn't Bolt until he was the best in the world. Embiid is funny and has a personality but backs it up. The more I see quotes from Ayton, the less I like him. I'm pretty sure we'll take him and will hope he's the gamechanger we need. Just don't like the chatter right now.

[Bruiser]

Yes, you are crazy. Sorry Split, don’t shoot the messenger!

Sure, Fultz could potentially still turn things around and become a star in this league. Given how his first season went down I would however estimate our chances of that actually happening to hover around 40-60% or so. That makes a trade like the one mentioned a pretty huge (and unnecessary) gamble, if you ask me. But I like Bamba and Carter a lot so I get your train of thought and the idea of filling more wholes in our roster with one or two moves appeals to me. I would still pass on Fultz right now.

[UglyTruth]

I want a guy focused on basketball, not his brand. Ayton seems to want to be a personality and called himself an "entertainer" during the Puma signing. I don't want Amar'e or DHow looking to be a fashion star or movie producer. I want a guy with a singular focus on basketball and winning. I remember Harrison Barnes talking about his "brand" during his freshman year at UNC...that's an American/AAU thing. And I know Ayton is from the Bahamas and wants to follow a guy like Bolt. But Bolt wasn't Bolt until he was the best in the world. Embiid is funny and has a personality but backs it up. The more I see quotes from Ayton, the less I like him. I'm pretty sure we'll take him and will hope he's the gamechanger we need. Just don't like the chatter right now.

He also said something about how he hates America and how basketball felt like a job for him later on.

Does he realize that basketball is supposed to be a job? He’s getting paid millions to do that job.

It certainly feels like he’s a 14 year old in the body of a 7 footer.

[AmareIsGod]

So it was sarcasm about multiple personality disorder earlier UglyTruth, followed by reading way too much into someone's personality afterwards and raising a plethora of red flags. What is it? Either sarcasm or really just sarcasm masking thin veiled stabs at his quotes and feelings indicating an immature 19 year old that isn't focused on basketball. You can't have a personality and play basketball, God forbid. If you don't like Ayton, you and others around here, you'll find any and every opportunity to discredit and discount him before he steps foot on an NBA court.

Meanwhile, the entire lot of you will sing his praises if he becomes the next big thing.

[UglyTruth]

So it was sarcasm about multiple personality disorder earlier UglyTruth, followed by reading way too much into someone's personality afterwards and raising a plethora of red flags. What is it? Either sarcasm or really just sarcasm masking thin veiled stabs at his quotes and feelings indicating an immature 19 year old that isn't focused on basketball. You can't have a personality and play basketball, God forbid. If you don't like Ayton, you and others around here, you'll find any and every opportunity to discredit and discount him before he steps foot on an NBA court.

Meanwhile, the entire lot of you will sing his praises if he becomes the next big thing.

It’s possible for me think someone doesn’t have MPD while still questioning if someone’s personality is suited well for basketball.

He comes off almost too Dwight Howardish for me and if Booker is gonna be like Kobe and have that Mamba mentality then it may not get along very well eventually considering Dwight and Kobe certainly hated each other when they played together.

[O_Gardino]

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

They should be open to trading Covington.

[The Bobster]

If you’re comparing Booker to Kobe, please just stop.

[O_Gardino]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Sportando/status/1009175211634253826 Clutch shot by Doncic who just secured his 2nd Euroleague championship at the age of just 19.

Wow. That was pretty incredible!

Terrible shot! He missed the rim entirely.

[Bruiser]

I want a guy focused on basketball, not his brand. Ayton seems to want to be a personality and called himself an "entertainer" during the Puma signing. I don't want Amar'e or DHow looking to be a fashion star or movie producer. I want a guy with a singular focus on basketball and winning. I remember Harrison Barnes talking about his "brand" during his freshman year at UNC...that's an American/AAU thing. And I know Ayton is from the Bahamas and wants to follow a guy like Bolt. But Bolt wasn't Bolt until he was the best in the world. Embiid is funny and has a personality but backs it up. The more I see quotes from Ayton, the less I like him. I'm pretty sure we'll take him and will hope he's the gamechanger we need. Just don't like the chatter right now.

I am afraid I have to agree with that. It really makes me wonder why character evaluation is not super important to GMs. Not only in terms of fit but also player development in general. I would think that it can make a huge difference if a player is a humble leader with a fantastic work ethic or not. As I see it that could be the key differentiator between a talent with potential and a superstar.

Maybe I am wrong but I tend to believe that some of the most successful players are high character team players. Even though I do, of course, know about the great many exceptions to this notion, it still makes me wonder. I guess that is why I would hate to have Russel Westbrook on this team. Just MHO.

Also Bolt is a runner and Basketball is still a team sport - even though an individual player can have a significant impact on a team's success of course.

[O_Gardino]

I want a guy focused on basketball, not his brand. Ayton seems to want to be a personality and called himself an "entertainer" during the Puma signing. I don't want Amar'e or DHow looking to be a fashion star or movie producer. I want a guy with a singular focus on basketball and winning. I remember Harrison Barnes talking about his "brand" during his freshman year at UNC...that's an American/AAU thing. And I know Ayton is from the Bahamas and wants to follow a guy like Bolt. But Bolt wasn't Bolt until he was the best in the world. Embiid is funny and has a personality but backs it up. The more I see quotes from Ayton, the less I like him. I'm pretty sure we'll take him and will hope he's the gamechanger we need. Just don't like the chatter right now.

I'm 100% with you on this, but it'll be OK if he can play. Shaq is another guy with a brand, but he made it happen on the court.