Valley of the Suns
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The Suns should draft DeAndre Ayton…AND Marvin Bagley III

By Sean Humpherys

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospect, Marvin Bagley poses for a portrait before the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15, 2018 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospect, Marvin Bagley poses for a portrait before the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15, 2018 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OMAHA, NE – MARCH 25: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils concentrates at the free throw line against the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional Final at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE – MARCH 25: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils concentrates at the free throw line against the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional Final at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

Why the Suns need to trade up for Marvin Bagley III

Marvin Bagley III is a very good post player, and great athlete. Compared by some to a combination of Amar’e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion, Iif he fills out and becomes as powerful as Stoudemire was down low, then the Suns would become a great post and rebounding team with Ayton and Bagley paired together.

Bagley and Ayton both have shooting potential, so as long as they both develop a knockdown 15-foot jumper and one develops a solid 3-point shot, spacing would survive.

Bagley also has the footspeed to survive as a power forward in the NBA today.

Maybe Ayton could become a Tristan Thompson-type? Bagley’s faceup and perimeter game would keep the Suns from being dependent on shots 5-feet from the basket and putbacks.

Ayton would draw attention from a team’s center and help defense which would allow Bagley to dominate small power forwards like Trevor Ariza and Jayson Tatum down low.

Imagine teams trying to rebound against an Ayton-Bagley lineup! Even if one of them just chucked up a shot the other one would have a easy rebound in the smaller NBA.

The Suns would have two young stars. If it ended up like Amare and Shaquille O’Neal, then the Suns would be able to jettison one through trade five years down the road and still receive a lot since both would only be 25-years-old, and not even in their prime.

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