Valley of the Suns
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Watch the Valley of the Suns Live! Special Draft Edition!

By Adam Maynes

BROOKLYN, NY- JUNE 21: DeAndre Ayton speaks with the media after being selected number one overall by the Phoenix Suns during the 2018 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 in Brooklyn, NY. 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 Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY- JUNE 21: DeAndre Ayton speaks with the media after being selected number one overall by the Phoenix Suns during the 2018 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 in Brooklyn, NY. 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 Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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With the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns select: Deandre Ayton, center, from the University of Arizona – and that’s when we all go wild.

If you missed yesterday’s Valley of the Suns Live! the Special Draft Day Edition, you can catch the full show here!

Since even before the draft lottery results were announced, the majority of the NBA world knew  that center Deandre Ayton would be the league’s first selection. I contended from the beginning that whether or not it was the Suns, Warriors, Knicks, Hawks, you name it, Ayton was going to be the first overall pick.

The fact that the Phoenix Suns were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to make that pick, and bring in their first franchise center in history, meant that the Purple Gang from Phoenix will finally, for the first time in eight years, be on the move in the Western Conference, with a clear direction and the ability to take large steps towards once again being a perennial playoff team.

Yesterday, Site Editor Adam Maynes and Contributor Kory Miller talked to you throughout the entire lottery, discussing the selection of Deandre Ayton; we followed along as we thought that there was a chance that Michael Porter Jr. might be sliding right into Phoenix’s lap; we were ecstatic when we believed that Phoenix had moved up to select him; we suffered with you all when it was realized that there had been no trade up for Porter and the Suns instead were selecting Donte Divencenzo; then we discussed with general bewilderment why General Manager Ryan McDonough would trade the Miami Heat’s 2021 unprotected first round pick just to move up six spots to select Mikal Bridges.

Following the lottery, I alone came back live with you all to discuss the 31st and then 59th overall picks, and we saw the Suns add point guard Elie Okobo and shooting guard George King.

Next: Three reasons to LOVE the Phoenix Suns' draft

Join us for Valley of the Suns Live! Monday night’s at 6pm AZ for our regular show on Twitter, Periscope, and YouTube!

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