Valley of the Suns
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The Phoenix Suns should not listen to Steve Nash

By Adam Maynes

OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 27: Steve Nash looks on prior to the game between the Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors on March 27, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 27: Steve Nash looks on prior to the game between the Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors on March 27, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Steve Nash recently called Luka Doncic a “dream prospect.” Many Suns fans (and Doncic supporters) have taken that as a means to defend their belief that the Suns should draft him. Ryan McDonough should not listen.

In the Valley of the Suns, when Steve Nash speaks, Phoenix Suns fans listen. A Hall of Famer, one of the greatest players of all-time, and arguably the best pure point guard in league history under 6’6″ (obviously no one would say that Nash was better than Magic Johnson, and Magic was 6’7″), Nash’s credentials speak for themselves. One could even call him a point guard-whisperer.

So when Nash called Luka Doncic a “dream prospect,” many fans immediately wonder if his statement might hold sway on how the organization looks at their first overall pick on Thursday.

Not only should it not, it won’t.

For starters, the Phoenix Suns have already made up their minds. They are taking Deandre Ayton first overall, and they will not sway from that selection. Ayton was actually seen signing autographs on Suns uniforms in New York on Tuesday the 19, so it would be awfully awkward for those Suns fans to have a signed uniform from a player who is playing in Sacramento.

Secondly, it appears that Doncic’s stock has been sliding over the past few days and it doesn’t even look like he is going to be drafted in the top-3, potentially being available at four with Memphis, and maybe even sliding as far as five to Dallas. If Sacramento (who it seemed would be a lock to select Luka when the lottery results were named), Atlanta, and maybe even Memphis are going to pass up on Doncic, then why should the Suns suddenly flip their seemingly previously made-up minds and draft him when they have a sure-fire first overall pick in Ayton literally (well not literally),  sitting in their laps?

Not that he would ever intentionally say something that might hurt the Phoenix Suns, but even though he is a member of the Suns’ Ring of Honor, he is actually employed by the Golden State Warriors. Even if his statements were meant purely as an answer to a question (you can read the piece that Nash made the comment in here, after clicking the READ MORE tab), Suns fans can presume that he would actually prefer that the Warriors found a way to draft him, and not the Suns. (For the love of all that is good and mighty on this Earth, Adam Silver: DO NOT LET THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS TRADE UP TO SELECT LUKA DONCIC.)

Nash has stated that he enjoys his part-time gig as an advisor to the Warriors and would probably relish the opportunity to help coach Doncic if Golden State were to actually find a way to draft him.

And while he would probably be happy with the Suns drafting Luka, Nash too would be happy to see Dallas take him knowing that Nash’s BFF Dirk Nowitzki would be there for at least a season mentoring him.

All that being said, if the Suns aren’t going to take Nash’s comment on Luka Doncic by taking him first overall, that perception might be enough to push Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough into swinging a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for the fourth overall pick and the chance to draft him, if Luke truly does fall that far.

Next: Check out the Final Official Valley of the Suns 2018 Mock Draft

There is no doubt that entering the 2018-19 regular season with a starting lineup that includes both Deandre Ayton and Luka Doncic, fans will be more excited to see a point guard play in Phoenix, since the last time Steve Nash donned and Suns uniform.

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