Valley of the Suns
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Roundtable: Phoenix Suns 2018 draft review

By Dan Volpone

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Deandre Ayton speaks to the media after being selected first overall by the Phoenix Suns at the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at the 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 Jon Lopez/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Deandre Ayton speaks to the media after being selected first overall by the Phoenix Suns at the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at the 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 Jon Lopez/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 21: Elie Okobo speaks to the media after being selected by the Phoenix Suns at the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at the 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 Kostas Lymperopoulos/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 21: Elie Okobo speaks to the media after being selected by the Phoenix Suns at the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at the 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 Kostas Lymperopoulos/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Patrick Nash

It definitely was an interesting draft this year to say the least. In the end, in my opinion, it was the best draft the Suns have had in years. So let’s start from the top, shall we?

With the number one pick the Phoenix Suns selected the big man from Arizona, DeAndre Ayton. This pick has been the worst kept secret since before the Suns even knew they had the first pick in the draft. Although there had been some potential suitors for the first pick (Marvin Bagley, Mohammed Bamba and Doncic just to name a few) it has pretty much been the consensus that Ayton would be the number one pick in the draft.

With this selection the Suns have finally gotten themselves a franchise center (something they have been lacking since basically forever), a running mate for Devin Booker (Shaq and Kobe 2.0) and something the fans could look forward to watching for the foreseeable future.

With the 16th pick in the draft the Suns selected Zhaire Smith…for all of 45 seconds. Smith was promptly shipped off to the Sixers (along with the Miami 1st round pick in 2021) for Mikal Bridges. Bridges will be a great contributor for a team that is looking to win sooner rather than later. Giving up the pick stings a little but in order to keep your franchise star (Booker) happy it’s a small price to pay.

I am 100 percent surprised that the Suns not only kept both second round picks but selected zero draft and stash players. Using the 31st pick the Suns selected French point guard Elie Okobo and with the 59th pick selected SG/SF George King out of Colorado. Drafting a PG more than likely spells the end of the Tyler Ulis experiment and King probably will not end up on the roster at the start of the season.

As stated before, the Suns pulled off the best draft since Ryan McDonough took over as general manager. The two first round picks are amazing additions to a team looking to make the next step back to relevancy. I’m excited for this upcoming season and look forward to what the Suns can pull off in free agency.

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