Former Arizona big man and prospective high-lottery pick Deandre Ayton played privately for the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. He said that’ll be it for his pre-NBA Draft workouts. The Suns have the No. 1 pick in the draft, and Ayton boasted confidently that he believed he’d be selected with it.
Deandre Ayton will only workout for the Suns. That doesn’t mean he’s the No. 1 pick.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
“I know I’m going No. 1,’’ he told reporters, according to ESPN. “Nobody told me. That’s just me. I think I deserve that. I’ve worked hard.’’
Suns general manager Ryan McDonough gave an over-the-top review of Ayton after his workout, too. “He shot the NBA three pretty comfortably,” said McDonough, according to CBS Sports. “We’ve been looking for a center to kind of anchor our team offensively and defensively. We think Deandre has that kind of potential.”
That sent the rumor mill swirling.
But with three weeks until the draft, nothing is certain. Even if Ayton follows through on his word that he won’t work out with other teams.
All pre-NBA Draft moves are done strategically
The pre-NBA Draft time period is more of a mind-game than anything else with players’ agents and families suggesting they do or don’t do things to improve — or in Lonzo Ball’s case lower — their stocks. Players have an idea ahead of time of where they do and don’t want to go. Clearly, Ayton has interest in going No. 1 to the Suns over No. 2 to the Kings.
His scheduling just one workout doesn’t mean he’ll definitely be a Sun.
The truth is there’s no reason for Ayton to workout elsewhere. He’s been a top prospect since high school, and scouts have had 35 chances to watch him play college ball. As a lock to go top-five at worst, what does he stand to gain by working out with anybody that doesn’t hold the top pick?
Players limit the teams they work out for every year. It doesn’t mean anything.
Players work angles like this all the time.
After Jahlil Okafor only worked out for the Timberwolves and Lakers, who held the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in 2015, he went No. 3 to the Sixers. In that same draft, D’Angelo Russell canceled a workout with the Sixers due to an illness that some speculated was made up. Kristaps Porzingis’ camp also reportedly did everything it could to keep the Latvian from Philly.
Don’t forget the time in 2014 when people thought Jabari Parker tanked his workout with the Cavs.
Everyone has their own agenda when working out or not working out for teams before the draft. Remember Luka Doncic, another possible No. 1 pick, can use his own leverage too.
So to review, yes, Ayton probably does want to go to the Suns. No, he probably doesn’t have a promise from Phoenix just yet. And yes, the Suns still might have their eyes on Doncic.
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