Sacramento Kings: 5 options for pick No. 2 in 2018 NBA Draft

2. Deandre Ayton

The big man with the most promise and hype around his name has to be Deandre Ayton out of the University of Arizona. Ayton has the physical tools that excite scouts, with his 7’1″ and 250-pound frame with broad shoulders that help him clear space in the paint and brush off most players.

His production backed this up, with Ayton averaging 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.6 assists per game. He has a handle and shooting stroke that has separated himself from the other bigs on most draft big boards, making him a strong fit for the modern NBA.

The main knocks on his game are his defensive intensity and ability to translate his physical tools into being a dominant defender. He has good lateral quickness for his size and has the blocking numbers that point towards becoming an interior force, but he was targeted in Arizona’s NCAA Tournament loss to the University of Buffalo, painting a picture of how he could struggle at the next level.

I’m not the biggest fan of Sacramento grabbing a big man, but if they’re blown away by Ayton and he’s available at No. 2, you can’t knock them for adding another player to their crowded yet mediocre frontcourt. If Ayton is the star he’s projected to be, I’m sure Sacramento will have little trouble moving on from Cauley-Stein or Labissiere.