2018 NBA Mock Draft: What’s in store for the second round?

I was at Talking Stick Resort Arena during the draft lottery on Tuesday night, and Suns decision-makers were of course thrilled to finally land a No. 1 pick following three miserable seasons of rebuilding, over the course of which they won the fewest games in the NBA. It seems more likely each day that they will take Luka Doncic.

Speaking to the benefit of having new coach Igor Kokoskov in the room over the course of the next month making draft decisions, Vice President of Player Personnel James Jones said, “When you’re making a decision of this caliber, you can never have too much information.” The Suns will surely be in the driver’s seat when it comes to having the best information on Doncic, especially when it comes to intangibles such as how Doncic responds to coaching or how his body responds to a heavy load.

General manager Ryan McDonough was ecstatic during a post-lottery conference call. Through a stroke of luck similar to the one the Sixers got last summer, Phoenix has been blessed in the last season of their tank with a No. 1 pick. McDonough said he could barely breathe leading up the unveiling in the Chicago arena, and said the team is unlikely to trade this ultimate tanking reward of a pick.

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With their familiarity and access to Doncic, as well as their spot at the top of the draft, the Suns very well could take the young European phenom at one.