Phoenix Suns: Roundtable: Phoenix Suns 2018 draft review

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CHICAGO, IL – MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospect, George King poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Combine circuit on May 15, 2018 at the Intercontinental Hotel Magnificent Mile 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Kyle Manthe

Overall, I would say looking back at the draft we will find that it was a very productive night. They start off with Deandre Ayton who is a near can’t miss prospect and who will be a productive starting center from day one. The biggest risk comes from trading the Heat 2021 1st round pick along with Zhaire Smith for Mikal Bridges.

Bridges is the perfect type of player to build around Ayton and Booker, and he is very similar to Josh Jackson with Jackson being a better play maker and Bridges being the better shooter. With Marquese Chriss and/or T.J. Warren likely on the way out the return for them will give us a better perspective on the thought process of the trade.

In the end, if Miami manages to attract free agents in the summer of 2020 and is a playoff team in 2021 nobody will regret making this trade. At 31, they took a chance on draft board riser Elie Okobo from France. He is a scoring point guard who can shoot from outside very well. He can be a decent defender, but he will likely never become above average.

Okobo is a boom or bust pick at a position where Phoenix has several in house options they can go with if he does not impress. They finished out the night with George King from Colorado at 59, who will likely spend little if any time with the NBA team this season. The Suns now believe they have their core in place and will continue to let them grow and not worry about what future assets they have along the way.

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