Deandre Ayton will decide the future of the Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker might be the best player on the Phoenix Suns, but Deandre Ayton is the most important player in deciding what type of team they become.

Deandre Ayton is the most important piece to the future of the Phoenix Suns, although that doesn’t mean that he is or ever will be the best player on the team. That title will belong to Devin Booker for the foreseeable future. However, Ayton will be the most impactful player in terms of deciding what kind of team the Phoenix Suns will become.

Obviously, for the Phoenix Suns to really succeed in the short term, Deandre Ayton will need to be a big part of it. The role he plays, however, is not and should not be a perfect cookie cutter fit. If Ayton proves to be the caliber of player the Suns expect him to be, he will control how the rest of the roster is laid out.

This all depends on what type of player he becomes. Are the future Phoenix Suns really the Kobe and Shaq Lakers, or are they closer to the current Houston Rockets?

The Kobe and Shaq comparison is one you’ve heard before, but the Rockets may seem to be coming from left field. Most of the pieces are in place to follow the model of the Rockets, with the centerpiece being Devin Booker playing the James Harden role. Much like the Rockets’ roster, it is dominated by wings with no real size outside of the center position.

That’s the real unknown, though. If Deandre Ayton buys into the role of setting hard screens and catching lobs, it could complete the system – that is given that Ayton’s noted defensive weaknesses are overblown as he played out of position in college.

If he is able to become an above average defensive center, he could fit any mold the Suns would need him to.

However, if Deandre Ayton is anywhere near a Shaquille O’Neal level of dominance on offense, it would be irresponsible to relegate him to Clint Capela duties on offense. If Ayton is the dominant post presence he projects to be, that would likely cut out the need for more wings like T.J. Warren, and instead require a guy like Dragan Bender to play the four.

We all know what kind of player Devin Booker is, and with that comes the knowledge that he can fit into almost whatever team the Suns become.

When a player with the potential of Deandre Ayton gets added into the mix at the center position, it can potentially alter the trajectory of the franchise.

The Phoenix Suns selecting Deandre Ayton first overall could have substantial impact on many future decisions. Let’s all just hope that, no matter the fashion, Ayton becomes someone worth demanding the front office build around.