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)

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

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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)

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(@CCAAsportsACSC / Twitter)

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