Phoenix Suns: 5 options for pick No. 1 in 2018 NBA Draft

2. Deandre Ayton, C — Arizona

You’ve seen Captain America: Civil War, right? That’s what Suns Twitter is going to look like over the next few weeks as the overwhelming majority scream for the hometown hero, Deandre Ayton, in an effort to drown out the select few who favor Kokoskov’s Wonder Boy, Luka Doncic.

You can be guaranteed I already lost ~30 percent of my readership before you even got to this sentence upon seeing Ayton at No. 2 instead of No. 1. To be fair, Ayton wouldn’t be the wrong pick by any means. Suns fans — especially local ones who also support the University of Arizona — would have every right to be ecstatic about taking this seven-footer No. 1 overall.

At 7’0″, with a 7’5″ wingspan, there’s no question Ayton is built for the NBA. He was a beast for the Wildcats in his lone season in Tucson, averaging 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game on 61.2 percent shooting.

He even looks like the second coming of David Robinson, and there’d be something poetic about the Suns — a team that’s never drafted a superstar center — taking that kind of player when David Robinson was exactly who Phoenix missed out on the last time it had a top-two pick.

However, just because the Suns have never drafted a franchise center doesn’t necessarily mean he’s the no-brainer selection. The same could be said for the argument that Phoenix’s biggest positional need for a center, or the simple Arizona connection that automatically shades half the fanbase’s opinion right off the bat.

There’s no question Ayton has a bright NBA future. He’s already a physical phenomenon, and he’s only going to push further into Thanos territory the more he adds muscle. He’s a fluid athlete with solid foot speed, finishing ability and a shot that should extend to 3-point territory the more he works on it, despite only shooting 34.3 percent from deep on 1.0 attempts per game in college.

Ayton might not be wrong on his Kobe Bryant–Shaquille O’Neal comparison when asked about where he could see himself playing either. He’d certainly take some of the offensive burden off Book, he’s a better passer than he’s giving credit for and he has the physical tools to be a capable NBA defender down the road.

However, he’s definitely not there yet, and this Doncic-Ayton debate shouldn’t be as cut and dry as a large segment of Suns Twitter is making it out to be.

Ayton is usually a step slow on that end, as anyone who watched Buffalo’s small-ball lineups dominate Arizona in its NCAA Tournament upset can attest. His instincts on that end were less than stellar all season long, and his motor pales in comparison to someone like Bagley. That should matter to the Suns and their 30th-ranked defense.

When Ayton brought it, he brought it. The question is, why didn’t he bring it all the time, and is Kokoskov capable of getting him to do so at the next level when his size, athleticism and strength will no longer dwarf that of his competition?

Most likely, the answer to that question is yes, but it’s worth mentioning that all of his defensive numbers were underwhelming for a player with his God-given gifts. According to ESPN‘s Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz, those who have worked with him cite his work ethic as being average.

Ayton won’t turn 20 until mid-July and looks the part of a franchise center, but the Suns shouldn’t draft him simply because he’s an Arizona product or because they’ve never had a franchise center and finally have the chance at one.

The questions about his ability to anchor an NBA defense are worth examining more closely in a league that’s increasingly going smaller, and that chief concern might be enough to tip the scales in favor of our No. 1 option ….