NBA Draft 2018: 5 targets for the Phoenix Suns

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Deandre Ayton #13 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrates on the court after the team defeated the USC Trojans 75-61 to win the championship game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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TOPSHOT – Real Madrid’s Slovenian Luka Doncic (C-7) jumps over the barrier as the team celebrates their 85-80 win in the Euroleague Final Four finals basketball match between Real Madrid and Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul at The Stark Arena in Belgrade on May 20, 2018. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) /

2. Luka Doncic, Ball-handler, Real Madrid

Many who are low on Ayton conversely believe in Doncic as the best overall player in this class. It’s his ability to fit better into a team context, morphing based on the talent around him, that stands out most. Defense is similarly concerning for the Slovenian point-wing, but his size and mobility alleviate those concerns in some part, as does the fact that defense is less important at his position than at center.

The battle for the No. 1 pick, which many pegged as an “Ayton vs. Doncic” debate early in the summer, has taken a sharp turn since then. Doncic is seemingly below that top tier for several of the teams at the top, leading the international prospect to fall as low as 4 or 5 in some mock drafts.

McDonough has mentioned Doncic in every conversation about the top pick, and though his professional commitments overseas have made him unavailable for a workout, the Suns said as recently as last week that they wanted to spend more time evaluating Doncic ahead of Thursday’s draft.
Again, the fit is smooth here. Though Josh Jackson, last year’s first-round pick, appears a similar player to Doncic, their differences actually isolate what makes a potential pairing of the two prospects make sense. Doncic is a lead ball-handler in a bruiser’s body, more Tyreke Evans than Manu Ginobili. Jackson, on the other hand, is more valuable defensively than as a scorer or distributor at this point in his career. They would complement each other well, and having more than one ball-handler on the court next to Devin Booker is a great convenience, not a disadvantage.

It seems the lack of familiarity with Doncic is doomed to hurt his stock. Despite commanding EuroLeague Final Four MVP honors and consistent praise throughout the year, NBA decision-makers (the Suns included) seem to have collectively decided they don’t trust the level of competition overseas or his skill set enough to take a chance on his overwhelming star potential.

Expect to hear his name last-minute though, as his people have made a big push through the national media lately to put him back in the running.

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