Deandre Ayton: 2018 NBA Draft player profile

Overall outlook

Deandre Ayton is a walking mismatch offensively. If his jump shot continues to come along and he plays with a high enough motor, he can get whatever he wants. His offensive ceiling is a true stretch-5 who punishes teams with his athleticism, shooting, rebounding and ability to make good reads under pressure. The key with Ayton, his ceiling and where he gets drafted very much comes down to two-way ability.

It’s hard to see Ayton ever getting to Mohamed Bamba or Jaren Jackson Jr.’s level defensively. Even at his peak defensive outcome, we’re not talking an All-NBA caliber defensive guy. There are legitimate cases for both of those guys over Ayton because of how much more two-way threats they are. Ayton is clearly one of the draft’s best talents, but it’s hard to see him as the clear top prospect.

So what about the Suns? Frankly, even at his best possible outcome, there’s a very good chance Phoenix regrets passing on guys like Luka Doncic and Jackson. Doncic is really the main one. Plain and simple, he should be the top pick for any team selecting first. He has the highest floor, the highest upside, can play on or off the ball, has next-level vision and IQ and has a very good chance to be an elite team defender. Good luck finding a prospect like him anytime soon.

Ayton isn’t a bad pick by any means. He’s a good one, possibly great. However, it feels like the Suns are sticking too much to consensus. Given the background of new head coach Igor Kokoskov, and his familiarity with Doncic, it’s surprising he’s not their guy. We’ll see on draft night.

Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft - Final edition

Either way, Ayton should be an extremely fun and entertaining player to follow for the next decade-plus. Here’s hoping he can tap into his true defensive potential.