Suns select Deandre Ayton at No. 1

The prospect we’ve all known as their main target since earlier this month made it official just now.

By Evan Sidery Updated Jun 21, 2018, 6:23pm MST

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After obtaining their first No. 1 pick in franchise history on May 15, the Phoenix Suns have finally made their selection in Arizona’s Deandre Ayton.

Once he visited Phoenix two and a half weeks ago for his official pre-draft visit, which was portrayed more like an official coronation, we all likely knew this was the direction they were going to head in.

“I know I’m going No. 1,” Ayton said then and it rings true now as he just walked across the stage donning his Suns hat.

Last season for Arizona, Ayton averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks while shooting 61.2% from the field on his way to winning Pac-12 Player of the Year.

Adding in Ayton alongside their duo of Devin Booker and Josh Jackson, general manager Ryan McDonough now has his foundation to build around over the next decade. From here, it’s all about adding in the right amount of win-now talent to surround their young core into jumping towards playoff contention soon enough.

Honestly, the trio of Booker-Jackson-Ayton, on paper, looks to be one of the brightest young cores in the Western Conference, let alone the entire NBA.

#TheTimeline rebuild is set to ascend with their final draft piece now locked into place.

The domino effect off of this pick will be felt throughout the organization in one direction or another throughout Ayton’s career. It’s paramount for them to get this selection right for the immediate and long term future of the organization.