The Suns with the 2018 #1 overall pick select....

[Muggum]

As of this moment, I would lean Doncic.

Reasoning:

His ceiling is Harden. He kind of IS Harden, if you squint. Certainly already better than Harden at the same age.

He's a PG. And so, really, is Booker. See the Rockets with Paul and Harden. We would have no more point guard woes forever. Someone transcendent would always be handling/distributing.

A backcourt of Doncic and Booker would be so damn classy and difficult to stop. Pick-n-rolls all over. And we could throw Jackson on the opposing team's short PG, the way the Bulls used to do occasionally with Pippen. We'd be taller all over the floor than the opposition in most cases.

Center just ain't what it used to be. The teams with the top centers are very good, but not great. See Minnesota, New Orleans, Denver, Philadelphia, etc. I'm just not certain the aircraft carrier is the best way to win anymore. I'm a 48-year-old, so every bit of my dinosaur body says to take Ayton. But if you had to ask an 18-year-old, I'm not sure they'd say the same. Today's game is a spacing/three-point-shooting/passing/ball-handling orgy. The best teams are the teams with transcendent shooters/handlers/passers.

Ayton may not be a top five center. He's often compared to the Admiral, but the Admiral wasn't THAT transcendent. Excellent, yes, but not NBA championship caliber. He couldn't/didn't win a ring until Duncan arrived.

I'm not sure Ayton IS the Admiral, at least defensively. Robinson was much more of a force on that end. I hope/think Ayton comes around, but I also think Bamba and JJJ might forever be better rim defenders.

IF we were to add Capela and a three-point marksman to go with Doncic, I think we could VERY closely resemble the Rockets in a hurry. With more #1 picks coming from the Bucks and Heat.

Bottom line, I'd lean Doncic, at least until I change my mind again tomorrow.

PS, we really have to think of this pick as a two-player package. Whomever we draft will be paired with a complimentary FA.

So, for instance:

Would you prefer Doncic and Capela... or Exum and Ayton?

Very interesting to consider...

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't really want to trade for Walker, I'm just saying if we're dead set on getting a high profile PG then he makes waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more sense to me than Dragic, because... I just don't see any point in getting Dragic at all. He's in decline, he's expensive, he'll cost a fair amount in trade and I think he is a bad fit.

I don't want Walker. He only has one year left and he is going to want a huge payday. We really don't need that. He smacks of being overrated in that was very high usage on a bad team. There are other quality young pg's I would be more interested in pursuing in trade.

 

[Shaggy]

I'm looking forward to this. I think we'll probably hear about Jackson and the #1 pick for Leonard a lot but I wouldn't do that, I'm not sure if I would be willing to do that for #2 or #3 either but definitely not the #1. I'd hate to see Ayton and Jackson wearing Spurs jerseys keeping the Suns from winning a title for years to come.

I would go poop on their heads if they did that!!

 

[Shaggy]

Thank you ....... Welcome back all the old Sun fans

Crazy how getting the 1st has brought alot of fans back! Love it!

 

[JCSunsfan]

As of this moment, I would lean Doncic.

Reasoning:

His ceiling is Harden. He kind of IS Harden, if you squint. Certainly already better than Harden at the same age.

He's a PG. And so, really, is Booker. See the Rockets with Paul and Harden. We would have no more point guard woes forever. Someone transcendent would always be handling/distributing.

A backcourt of Doncic and Booker would be so damn classy and difficult to stop. Pick-n-rolls all over. And we could throw Jackson on the opposing team's short PG, the way the Bulls used to do occasionally with Pippen. We'd be taller all over the floor than the opposition in most cases.

Center just ain't what it used to be. The teams with the top centers are very good, but not great. See Minnesota, New Orleans, Denver, Philadelphia, etc. I'm just not certain the aircraft carrier is the best way to win anymore. I'm a 48-year-old, so every bit of my dinosaur body says to take Ayton. But if you had to ask an 18-year-old, I'm not sure they'd say the same. Today's game is a spacing/three-point-shooting/passing/ball-handling orgy. The best teams are the teams with transcendent shooters/handlers/passers.

Ayton may not be a top five center. He's often compared to the Admiral, but the Admiral wasn't THAT transcendent. Excellent, yes, but not NBA championship caliber. He couldn't/didn't win a ring until Duncan arrived.

I'm not sure Ayton IS the Admiral, at least defensively. Robinson was much more of a force on that end. I hope/think Ayton comes around, but I also think Bamba and JJJ might forever be better rim defenders.

IF we were to add Capela and a three-point marksman to go with Doncic, I think we could VERY closely resemble the Rockets in a hurry. With more #1 picks coming from the Bucks and Heat.

Bottom line, I'd lean Doncic, at least until I change my mind again tomorrow.

PS, we really have to think of this pick as a two-player package. Whomever we draft will be paired with a complimentary FA.

So, for instance:

Would you prefer Doncic and Capela... or Exum and Ayton?

Very interesting to consider...

Maybe this will help. There is no way on God's green earth that Houston is going to let Capella get away.

Just watch the video of Ayton defending at the 3 point line. He did that a lot this year. He can. All he needs is some minor tweaks in is defensive technique and he will be find. His shot is sweet. His rebounding is fantastic. Atyon is going to be a 7 foot Draymond Green, with better offense.

All we need to add to that is a really competent but not necessarily flashy pg, who is ranging and can defend, shoot the three, and pass fairly well. Actually if Elfrid's three point shooting improved a little, he would be perfect. Malcom Brogdon would be perfect. That person is going to be a lot easier to find.

 

[AzStevenCal]

He's a PG. And so, really, is Booker. See the Rockets with Paul and Harden.

Booker is no point guard. Maybe the worst thing Watson did to the Suns was to float the idea that Booker was Harden in the making. He's not. He can become a great player but he's nothing like Harden and it killed his game last season trying to be that player. Maybe some offseason work can help him be a better distributor but I'd rather he focus mostly on becoming the best shooting guard he can be.

 

[Chaplin]

As of this moment, I would lean Doncic.

Reasoning:

His ceiling is Harden. He kind of IS Harden, if you squint. Certainly already better than Harden at the same age.

He's a PG. And so, really, is Booker. See the Rockets with Paul and Harden. We would have no more point guard woes forever. Someone transcendent would always be handling/distributing.

A backcourt of Doncic and Booker would be so damn classy and difficult to stop. Pick-n-rolls all over. And we could throw Jackson on the opposing team's short PG, the way the Bulls used to do occasionally with Pippen. We'd be taller all over the floor than the opposition in most cases.

Center just ain't what it used to be. The teams with the top centers are very good, but not great. See Minnesota, New Orleans, Denver, Philadelphia, etc. I'm just not certain the aircraft carrier is the best way to win anymore. I'm a 48-year-old, so every bit of my dinosaur body says to take Ayton. But if you had to ask an 18-year-old, I'm not sure they'd say the same. Today's game is a spacing/three-point-shooting/passing/ball-handling orgy. The best teams are the teams with transcendent shooters/handlers/passers.

Ayton may not be a top five center. He's often compared to the Admiral, but the Admiral wasn't THAT transcendent. Excellent, yes, but not NBA championship caliber. He couldn't/didn't win a ring until Duncan arrived.

I'm not sure Ayton IS the Admiral, at least defensively. Robinson was much more of a force on that end. I hope/think Ayton comes around, but I also think Bamba and JJJ might forever be better rim defenders.

IF we were to add Capela and a three-point marksman to go with Doncic, I think we could VERY closely resemble the Rockets in a hurry. With more #1 picks coming from the Bucks and Heat.

Bottom line, I'd lean Doncic, at least until I change my mind again tomorrow.

PS, we really have to think of this pick as a two-player package. Whomever we draft will be paired with a complimentary FA.

So, for instance:

Would you prefer Doncic and Capela... or Exum and Ayton?

Very interesting to consider...

See, this is where you start losing your argument. Even if we draft Doncic, Capela isn’t coming here. To expect so is folly. And to use it as part of your reasoning to draft Doncic is even more crazy.

There is MAYBE a 5% chance AT BEST that we get Capela, let alone sign him to an offer sheet.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I would go poop on their heads if they did that!!

Post of the night

 

[pokerface]

As of this moment, I would lean Doncic.

Reasoning:

His ceiling is Harden. He kind of IS Harden, if you squint. Certainly already better than Harden at the same age.

He's a PG. And so, really, is Booker. See the Rockets with Paul and Harden. We would have no more point guard woes forever. Someone transcendent would always be handling/distributing.

A backcourt of Doncic and Booker would be so damn classy and difficult to stop. Pick-n-rolls all over. And we could throw Jackson on the opposing team's short PG, the way the Bulls used to do occasionally with Pippen. We'd be taller all over the floor than the opposition in most cases.

Center just ain't what it used to be. The teams with the top centers are very good, but not great. See Minnesota, New Orleans, Denver, Philadelphia, etc. I'm just not certain the aircraft carrier is the best way to win anymore. I'm a 48-year-old, so every bit of my dinosaur body says to take Ayton. But if you had to ask an 18-year-old, I'm not sure they'd say the same. Today's game is a spacing/three-point-shooting/passing/ball-handling orgy. The best teams are the teams with transcendent shooters/handlers/passers.

Ayton may not be a top five center. He's often compared to the Admiral, but the Admiral wasn't THAT transcendent. Excellent, yes, but not NBA championship caliber. He couldn't/didn't win a ring until Duncan arrived.

I'm not sure Ayton IS the Admiral, at least defensively. Robinson was much more of a force on that end. I hope/think Ayton comes around, but I also think Bamba and JJJ might forever be better rim defenders.

IF we were to add Capela and a three-point marksman to go with Doncic, I think we could VERY closely resemble the Rockets in a hurry. With more #1 picks coming from the Bucks and Heat.

Bottom line, I'd lean Doncic, at least until I change my mind again tomorrow.

PS, we really have to think of this pick as a two-player package. Whomever we draft will be paired with a complimentary FA.

So, for instance:

Would you prefer Doncic and Capela... or Exum and Ayton?

Very interesting to consider...

It's good to think outside the box. Any player could be had for the right deal. I mean a Doncic/Bamba combo would we my intrigue me but seems impossible to pull off.

Doncic and Capela? Interesting but doesn't do it for me.

 

[Folster]

Bender or Chriss will look so much better paired next to Ayton.

 

[sunsfan88]

If Ayton is the pick, I hope they bring in some assistant coaches who has really good defensive pedigree. AFAIK, Kokoskov has mostly offensively responsibilities in Utah but maybe he can bring on whoever worked with Gobert

Ayton is skilled offensively but he has some major holes in his game defensively and offers very little rim protection despite misleading BPG statistics. He will need to shore that up to be that star player in this league and Suns will need to bring in the

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I take Ayton without hesitation.

Then i trade the 16, next year’s suns pick and Milwaukee pick and maybe Warren for number 2 and take Doncic. Hey if the bulls could grab Tyson and curry at 2 and 4 we could figure this out . . . right?

 

[pokerface]

I take Ayton without hesitation.

Then i trade the 16, next year’s suns pick and Milwaukee pick and maybe Warren for number 2 and take Doncic. Hey if the bulls could grab Tyson and curry at 2 and 4 we could figure this out . . . right?

Heck ya. Throw the farm at this.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Heck ya. Throw the farm at this.

Right?

Doncic 6’8
Booker 6’6
Jackson 6’8
Bender 7’1
Ayton 7’1

Gimme.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I take Ayton without hesitation.

Then i trade the 16, next year’s suns pick and Milwaukee pick and maybe Warren for number 2 and take Doncic. Hey if the bulls could grab Tyson and curry at 2 and 4 we could figure this out . . . right?

I don't know what it would take but it seems to me that having the Kings drafting at 2 at least opens up the possibility of a move.

 

[pokerface]

I don't know what it would take but it seems to me that having the Kings drafting at 2 at least opens up the possibility of a move.

Think so huh? Hmm

 

[JS22]

I'd do that trade in a heartbeat and I don't think the Kings would answer the phone again.

That's fair. I also think that Warren could be better served in a trade (that doesn't include three 1st round picks) for a need. I would have been perfectly fine with Doncic at #2, but no way would I consider trading a quality player PLUS 3 1st's for him.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I take Ayton without hesitation.

Then i trade the 16, next year’s suns pick and Milwaukee pick and maybe Warren for number 2 and take Doncic. Hey if the bulls could grab Tyson and curry at 2 and 4 we could figure this out . . . right?

sure. go for it. Just keep Booker and Jackson and one of Bender or Chriss.

 

[Hoop Head]

I don't know what it would take but it seems to me that having the Kings drafting at 2 at least opens up the possibility of a move.

I don't think so, I think it's less likely. Doncic and Fox would make for an ideal backcourt combination for the next 10 years for the Kings. I know they also have Buddy Hield, who their owner really likes, but there really isn't a reason they can't run all of three of them together at PG, SG, and SF. Doncic as the point forward with Fox and Hield as their guards. Fox could guard any opposing PG.

Our best bet would be trying to get Atlanta to trade their pick at #3 but Doncic probably won't be there, who knows though, he could be. Trading with a team around 5-8 would probably cost a lot less and we could go for Trae Young. I think that's more likely to happen and it'd cost a whole hell of a lot less.

 

[GatorAZ]

Suns aren’t getting #2 unless they trade back.

 

[SirStefan32]

If Ayton is even on the shallow end of our hopes, then, by virtue of the double teams he'll draw in the post, he would make life for a guy like Bender pretty easy.

I think the point of Dragic is to make a playoff run next year, and kick the PG can down the road for a year. I don't think anyone looks to Dragic to be the long-term solution. There is just no PG free agency this summer.

 

[JCSunsfan]

That's fair. I also think that Warren could be better served in a trade (that doesn't include three 1st round picks) for a need. I would have been perfectly fine with Doncic at #2, but no way would I consider trading a quality player PLUS 3 1st's for him.

In a heartbeat. 16, the Milwaukee pick, and Suns #1 next year. In a hearbeat. In a heartbeat. That is two late first rounders, plus maybe a late lottery pick. Warren would be fine in that too. I doubt Sacramento would take it but maybe.

 

[SunsTzu]

I take Ayton without hesitation.

Then i trade the 16, next year’s suns pick and Milwaukee pick and maybe Warren for number 2 and take Doncic. Hey if the bulls could grab Tyson and curry at 2 and 4 we could figure this out . . . right?

Bulls traded a 20/10 all-star PF on a rookie contract to get that done. Only way I see the Kings even pausing to consider it is if we found a way to include Boston who would send the Kings '19 pick back to them.

 

[SirStefan32]

Maybe this will help. There is no way on God's green earth that Houston is going to let Capella get away.

Just watch the video of Ayton defending at the 3 point line. He did that a lot this year. He can. All he needs is some minor tweaks in is defensive technique and he will be find. His shot is sweet. His rebounding is fantastic. Atyon is going to be a 7 foot Draymond Green, with better offense.

All we need to add to that is a really competent but not necessarily flashy pg, who is ranging and can defend, shoot the three, and pass fairly well. Actually if Elfrid's three point shooting improved a little, he would be perfect. Malcom Brogdon would be perfect. That person is going to be a lot easier to find.

Man, I'll admit to only watching a handful of Ayton games, but he wasn't guarding a broken chair in the few games I've seen, let alone smaller guys on the perimeter. I am still picking him at #1, but let's not make things up and proclaim him a great defender. He is not going to be a 7 foot Draymond. He is not a good defender, and he doesn't have Green's drive and intensity.

 

[Folster]

For the few that are in Doncic's camp, watch this video and tell me you'd seriously pass on Ayton.

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I don't know about anyone else, but I saw more than just a couple flashes of Hakeem and Robinson.

If Igor is the offensive savant that he is billed, just imagine the system he could put in place with Ayton down low.

The pendulum is due to swing back from the current style of play just like it is in football with the passing game. It's swung too far to perimeter/finesse side in the NBA. With Embid, Towns, Davis, Drummond, and now Ayton we are going to see the return of the center position.

Let's get our franchise big man so we don't have to suffer through Jake Tsakalidas and Luc Longley for the next decade.