Fansided

2018 NBA Mock Draft: Enter the madness

By Brendon Kleen

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Miles Bridges
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Miles Bridges /
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2nd March 2018, Wizink Arena, Madrid, Spain; Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball, Real Madrid versus Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul; Luka Doncic (Real Madrid Baloncesto) in layup action during the match (Photo by Shot for Press/Action Plus via Getty Images)
2nd March 2018, Wizink Arena, Madrid, Spain; Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball, Real Madrid versus Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul; Luka Doncic (Real Madrid Baloncesto) in layup action during the match (Photo by Shot for Press/Action Plus via Getty Images) /

66. . G. Real Madrid. Luka Doncic. 1. player

For the past month or so, I’ve been leaning heavily on the assumption that the Suns will target Ayton. Last week I went deep on how mightily the team has struggled to defend and score at the rim, and asserted that Ayton would be the easiest and quickest way to patch that hole, which has been a problem all season across basically every player.

However, the great thing for the Suns, who shockingly have never picked higher than No. 4 during the entirety of their rebuild, is that they have an opportunity in this draft, with two great options at the top, to finally nab the franchise player of their choice. So how might Doncic be able to help the Suns’ young core?

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Another massive problem for Phoenix all year has been a lack of shooting, and the consequent lack of spacing. The Suns have had to play journeyman Troy Daniels all season long to manufacture a deep threat, especially because their point guards are all non-shooters.

The ability to play Doncic, Devin Booker and Josh Jackson together would threaten opponents with three players able to shoot, drive and pass, and that would create a more diverse and efficient offense in time.