The ideal starting lineup for the Phoenix Suns

Center – Deandre Ayton

This is the most no-brainer position in the starting lineup.

All Phoenix Suns fans should thank Tyson Chandler for his time with the franchise and for giving up the latter part of his prime to play for an organization in the midst of a tank, but at this point he is a backup center (arguably the best backup center in the NBA) having paved the way for rookie Deandre Ayton (Shaquille O’Neal 2.0) to take over for the veteran.

Ayton has looked fabulous during the first four games of the preseason.

Averaging a double-double thus far, if he were to maintain that pace during the regular season (which for him shouldn’t be too difficult), he would be the first rookie in franchise history to record such a stat line.

Ayton looks and acts like the franchise center that former Owner, Head Coach, and General Manager Jerry Colangelo dreamed of snagging for so many years, and might just be the 2.0 in the Shaq/Kobe Bryant 2.0 tandem that he and Devin Booker are aiming to become.

Ayton walked onto the court for the first time at the franchise’s starting center, a position that he has proven to be his own during preseason, and a position that both the franchise and it’s fans are hoping he’ll hold on to for a decade or more to come.