Selecting Deandre Ayton

FiveThirtyEight.com’s CARMELO model can again serve as a reality check, projecting Deandre Ayton to earn just minus-0.3 WAR during his first go-round with the Phoenix Suns. But those numbers are based on comparisons to other players with similar physical and statistical profiles; they don’t account for improvement that can come when he’s fully focused and playing in a system that maximizes his talents far better than the Arizona Wildcats ever could. nike nfl jerseys cheap china

Summer league has already allowed him to showcase these tools. Through three games, the big man is playing only 25.8 minutes per contest but averaging 16.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.0 blocks while shooting 66.7 percent from the field, per china nike nfl jerseys cheap  Turnovers haven’t been an issue, and his defense has already been better than expected—especially in a marquee matchup against Mohamed Bamba.

“That’s a talent. That’s a talent at 7’1″ or whatever,” first-year Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov said after the battle with the Orlando Magic, per Justin Spears of the Arizona Daily Star. “He blocks the shot, is a rim protector and runs the floor. That’s a talent. That’s why we have him, that’s why we love him.”

Ayton isn’t going to require much adjustment time before going to work as a featured member of the Suns’ attack. He should immediately slot in as the starting 5 and be handed plentiful touches to alleviate some of the offensive responsibility shouldered by Devin Booker. cheap nfl nike jerseys from china

He’ll struggle at times; even the best rookies do. But this big man has the skills necessary to become an offensive prototype in today’s NBA, buoying Phoenix with his combination of interior touch and shooting acumen on the perimeter. Moreover, his team has no reason to hold him back as he attempts to lead the charge out of the Western Conference basement. cheap nike nfl jerseys free shipping

Ayton alone won’t get the Suns back into the playoff mix. The combined product of their offseason adventures probably won’t, either.

But respectability is the first step, and he’s ready to help them achieve that part of the rebuilding journey. nfl cheap jerseys nike