Report: Suns ‘locked in’ on drafting Arizona’s Deandre Ayton No. 1

Jun 21, 2018, 1:42 PM | Updated: 1:48 pm

(AP Photo/Matt York)

ArizonaSports.com lead editor

Suns general manager Ryan McDonough said the team wouldn’t spoil the drama.

Others have done that for them.

Phoenix reportedly has already made its decision regarding the top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, where the team will select Arizona center Deandre Ayton, reports Yahoo! Sports’ Shams Charania, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and NBA.com’s David Aldridge.

Sources told Charania that the Suns have “locked in” on taking Ayton, while the Sacramento Kings have committed to selecting Marvin Bagley III with the second overall pick. Wojnarowski mapped out how he expects the first six picks to go.

Here's how the Top 6 of tonight's NBA Draft is taking shape: 1. Suns: Deandre Ayton. 2. Kings: Marvin Bagley Jr.; 3. Hawks: Luka Doncic; 4. Jaren Jackson, Jr.; 5. Mavericks: Mo Bamba; 6. Magic: Trae Young.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2018

Ayton averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game while shooting 61.2 percent from the floor and 34.3 percent from three-point range as a freshman at Arizona.

Upon working out for Phoenix on June 6, Ayton expressed little doubt he would be drafted anywhere else but No. 1 by the Suns while adding he would not work out in front of any other team.

“Nobody told me (I’ll go first),” Ayton said. “That’s just me. I think I deserve that. I’ve worked hard.”

The NBA Draft officially tips off at 4:30 p.m. and, in addition to the top overall selection, the Suns also hold picks at Nos. 16, 31 and 59.

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Texas Tech guard Zhaire Smith (2) drives while defended by West Virginia forward Lamont West (15) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Raymond Thompson)

Georgia Tech's Josh Ogokie grabs a steal during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Clemson Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)

Oregon State forward Drew Eubanks (12) shoots a free throw during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Washington State in Pullman, Wash., Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Notre Dame forward Bonzie Colson (35) fights for the rebound with Monmouth center Zac Tillman (33) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.)

Wake Forest's Bryant Crawford (13) brings the ball up the court against Clemson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Duke's Trevon Duval, right, talks with teammate Wendell Carter Jr during the second half of a regional final game against Kansas in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Sunday, March 25, 2018, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

George Washington forward Yuta Watanabe, top left, shoots a layup while being defended by Wichita State forward Darius Carter (12) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Diamond Head Classic on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

Southern California guard Elijah Stewart (30) drives on Arizona guard Kobi Simmons during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Vanderbilt forward Jeff Roberson (11) drives against Arizona State forward Mickey Mitchell in the first half during an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec 17, 2017, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Southern California guard Jordan McLaughlin, middle, passes the ball between Arizona guard Allonzo Trier and Ryan Anderson (12) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

St. Bonaventure Bonnies Jaylen Adams (10) celebrates following a basket during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against VCU at the Reilly Center in St. Bonaventure, New York, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. St. Bonaventure defeated VCU 73-71. (AP Photo/Jen Fuller)

Tryggvi Hlinason, C, Valencia

3.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.

"It was fine. It was my first workout so I really didn't know what to expect. It was good. It was really good."
(Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP)

Arizona center Dusan Ristic (14) is fouled while trying to drive between Stanford's Reid Travis, left, and Daejon Davis during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona defeated Stanford 75-67. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Jaren Jackson Jr., C, Michigan State

10.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks as a freshman

“Just me being out there gives them a lot of room to operate just because I’m a threat from outside. When D-Book penetrates, he can kick it out to me and if they stay with me, then he has a lot more room.” (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas

12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.7 blocks as a freshman.

"I do more and I require less. The Suns are more than a perfect fit for me because it fits with how they are rebuilding and how I kind of want to develop myself and have a full impact coming on as a rookie. It’s just a perfect fit. It’s more so about fit than it is about the pick, for me." (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Villanova's Jalen Brunson (1) shoots during a practice session for the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 30, 2018, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Amine Noua, F, France

10.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in France this season.

(Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP)

Seton Hall forward Desi Rodriguez listens to a question during a news conference for their NCAA men's college basketball tournament second-round game against Kansas, Friday, March 16, 2018, in Wichita, Kan. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Marcus Derrickson, F, Georgetown

15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game as a junior.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Oregon's Troy Brown Jr., left, and Arizona State's Shannon Evans II race for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch)

FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2018, file photo, Arizona forward Deandre Ayton (13) shoots in the second half during an NCAA college basketball game against Colorado, in Tucson, Ariz. Ayton could be the Phoenix Suns choice with the no. 1 pick in this month's NBA Draft. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

West Virginia's Jevon Carter (2) passes over Baylor's Manu Lecomte during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big 12 men's tournament Thursday, March 8, 2018, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Elie Okobo, G, LNB Pro A French league

12.9 points, 4.8 assists with 47.5 percent 2-point and 39.4 percent 3-point shooting.

"(Scouts) think I'm very mature because I play against pros. They like my passing game, my scoring ability and the way I play on the court."
(Martti Kainulainen/Lehtikuva via AP)

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UCLA's Thomas Welsh reaches for a rebound during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Arizona in the semifinals of the Pac-12 men's tournament Friday, March 9, 2018, in Las Vegas. Arizona won 78-67 in overtime. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

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Usama Zaid, G, Vancouver Island University

26.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 40 percent from the three-point line as a senior

"Well in terms of the reputation of where I come from, absolutely (it's an uphill climb). In terms of basketball, I feel like basketball is about the work ethic and what you put into it. Playing against these guys, (the talent of the workout partners) doesn't feel far superior to me."

(@CCAAsportsACSC / Twitter)

Rhode Island guard E.C. Matthews (0) shoots in front of Davidson forward Oskar Michelsen (15) and guard KiShawn Pritchett (20) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament, Sunday, March 11, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Southern California forward Chimezie Metu dunks during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against UCLA, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Ohio State forward Keita Bates-Diop, right, looks to pass around the defense of Gonzaga forward Rui Hachimura (21) during the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Saturday, March 17, 2018, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger)

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Colorado guard George King, front, drives past Arizona State guard Kodi Justice during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Xavier guard J.P. Macura (55) goes for a basket over Florida State guard CJ Walker (2), during the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, March 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Virginia's Devon Hall (0) takes questions from the media in the locker room after losing to UMBC in a first-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, March 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

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Shannon Evans, G, Arizona State
16.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals per game as a senior
“If you’re lucky, you might get seven, eight years out of this so I just want to play as long as I can."

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Bruce Brown Jr., G, Miami

11.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists per game as a sophomore

"You want to come out here and definitely kill them. That was my goal, come out and kill, do what I normally do.
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Arizona State's Tra Holder shoots covered by Colorado's McKinley Wright IV during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the Pac-12 men's tournament Wednesday, March 7, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

William McDowell-White, G, Brose Bamberg (Australia)
"(Playing professionally in Germany) It definitely helped me mature a lot above my years and just mature as a person away from the court. Germany was probably the best decision I made. I think I improved a lot more rather than coming to college."

(Ally Sturm / Twitter)

Kansas guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (10) dunks during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against West Virginia in the finals of the Big 12 men's tournament in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, March 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Kentucky guard Hamidou Diallo reacts after a dunk against Buffalo during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Saturday, March 17, 2018, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger)

Kansas' Devonte' Graham, left, celebrates as he runs past Duke's Gary Trent Jr. in the final seconds of overtime of a regional final game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Sunday, March 25, 2018, in Omaha, Neb. Kansas won 85-81 in overtime. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Anfernee Simons, G, High school
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Kendrick Nunn, G, Oakland

25.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists per game as a senior (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Alan Herndon, F, Wyoming
11.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.2 blocks per game as a senior
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(AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger)

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Temple's Obi Enechionyia (0) goes to the basket as Penn State's Satchel Pierce (3) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the NIT in State College, Pa., Wednesday, March 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)

Iowa State's Lindell Wigginton, left, goes up to shoot over Ou's Khadeem Lattin in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, March 2, 2018, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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