Suns make Ayton No. 1 pick
With the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, the Phoenix Suns selected Arizona center Deandre Ayton.
Ayton was a man among boys during his freshman season, demolishing collegiate competition to the tune of 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds on 61 percent shooting. Not only was he physically overwhelming, but he also showed clever scoring instincts and finesse in the post, while flashing the ability to stretch beyond the arc with a promising jumper. He will be lethal in transition and as a pick-and-roll target.
The concerns with Ayton are on the defensive end, where he is capable but uninterested. The athletic tools are there, but the intensity isn't. If the right coach gets him to defend, Ayton should be a perennial All-Star leading a playoff team.
Deandre Ayton Bio
Position: C
School: Arizona
College Experience: Freshman
Height: 7-foot-1
Weight: 250 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot-5
Strengths
- Freakish athlete with nimble feet and soft hands. Will finish everything around the basket and overpower defenders.
- Elite rebounder on both ends. Always a threat to crash for a putback dunk. Will be able to anchor small-ball lineups.
- Promising shooting touch. Fluid release and comfortable in the mid-post. Potential to expand beyond 3-point line.
- Skilled post-scorer with good instincts. Able to draw doubles and find the right pass. Has a hook shot.
- Tools to become high-level defender. Can hound ball-handlers with lightning lateral quickness, although he needs more coaching.
Weaknesses
- Wasn't a willing defender in college. Concerning steal and block rates. Not an instinctual help defender.
- Falls in love with the post game. Unclear if his style will translate to success in modern NBA.