When the Suns drafted Deandre Ayton -- despite their public declarations of his NBA readiness and generational talent -- Ryan McDonough, James Jones and Co. knew the future would entail adjustments and reconsiderations.
Ayton met expectations as a rookie and put together one of the more productive campaigns we’ve seen, more than living up the billing of the No. 1 pick.
Watching the 2019 NBA playoffs, the continuation last year of a trend that makes it difficult to keep traditional big men on the floor has already eaten up Rudy Gobert and Jarrett Allen and will undoubtedly claim more victims as the chess match intensifies on the court.