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2018 NBA Mock Draft: Impact of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs

By Maxwell Ogden

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates a win during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wildcats won 71-59. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates a win during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wildcats won 71-59. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Deandre Ayton #13 of the Arizona Wildcats dunks the ball in the first half against the Buffalo Bulls during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Deandre Ayton #13 of the Arizona Wildcats dunks the ball in the first half against the Buffalo Bulls during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

. Center. Arizona Wildcats. Deandre Ayton. 1. player. 66

Age: 19 (7/23/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 7’0″, 250 pounds, 7’5″
Slash Line: .612/.343/.733
Season Averages: 33.5 MPG, 20.1 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 3.4 ORPG, 1.6 APG, 1.9 BPG, 0.6 SPG, 0.3 3PM

Whether or not you believe Deandre Ayton is the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2018 NBA Draft, he’s the best option for the Phoenix Suns. A high-low or low-high balance will work in every era, and combining the efforts of Ayton and Devin Booker could save the Suns.

Ayton is a unique talent and an overwhelmingly promising prospect who could realistically go down as the best player to emerge from this draft class.

Ayton has a Dwight Howard build and may even rival the former Orlando Magic superstar’s athleticism. While he’s nowhere near the defender that Howard went on to become, Ayton has a far more advanced offensive game at this stage of his development.

Ayton has a midrange game that must be respected, as well as developing three-point range and the ability to post up smaller defenders with efficiency.

Ayton is also an elite rebounder who ranked No. 16 in the nation in defensive rebound percentage and No. 40 in offensive rebound percentage. That should appeal to a Suns team that was No. 23 in both rebound differential and second chance points allowed per game.

The Suns need a big who can score inside, dominate the boards, and work the pick and roll. Ayton checks every one of those boxes and then some.

Knicks Note: If the New York Knicks secure the No. 1 overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft, then Ayton would likely be at the top of their list.

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