Valley of the Suns
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Phoenix Suns have a new jewel, take Deandre Ayton first

By Dan Volpone

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: NBA draft prospect, Deandre Ayton rides the bus to attend the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Michael J. LeBrecht II/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: NBA draft prospect, Deandre Ayton rides the bus to attend the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Michael J. LeBrecht II/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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It’s official! The Phoenix Suns have selected Deandre Ayton with the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

We all knew it would happen, and now it’s a done deal. The Suns have selected Deandre Ayton first overall, and a new era now begins for Phoenix basketball. Let’s go!

Whether or not you thought Ayton should go first doesn’t matter anymore. He was the pick, and he’s officially a Phoenix Sun. We need to all welcome him with open arms because the future of Phoenix basketball lies in his large hands.

No draft pick is a sure thing, and that includes Ayton, but he comes into the league showing plenty of promise. The center from the University of Arizona fills a giant need for the organization, and if turns out to be what the Suns think he can be, the team will be competing for championships for years to come.

Ayton is extraordinarily talented, so much so that most of his weaknesses look like potential strengths.

He’s a tremendous athlete, and his shooting touch is already above average for a player his size. He has the agility to guard players all the way out to the perimeter, and he projects as a good fit in the modern NBA.

He’s not yet great in the post, and his rim protection in college was nothing to swoon over, but his combination of feel for the game, leaping ability, and length are all reasons to believe he could become above average at both.

The Phoenix Suns future is officially much more certain. They have three building blocks and other young players pieces to fill in the gaps. It’ll be exciting to watch Ayton grow next to Devin Booker and Josh Jackson for years to come.

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Ayton will find chances to score in all kinds of ways in this Suns offense. Lobs off of drive from guards. Finishes on the break. Shots from the outside. Pick and rolls. The occasional post up.And he’ll hopefully be the anchor of the defense for years to come.

He should be so exciting to watch in the summer league.

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