2. Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona
In a loaded top six, Ayton and Doncic have almost become 1A and 1B. At 7-1 with a 7-5 wingspan, Ayton’s blend of size, strength and lateral quickness is unfair. He has had issues as a rim protector, but that’s fixable. His ability to slide his feet and defend the perimeter is uncanny.
Offensively, Ayton is already a polished weapon in the post. His footwork allows him to manuever around slower defenders, while his strength gives him a perpetual advantage against collegiate competition. He’s Joel Embiid-esque when it comes to physical superiority.
Ayton can also shoot the ball on occasion, hitting 34.6 percent of his shots from deep. His potential as both an offensive and defensive cornerstone is something teams will covet at the top of the lottery — we’re looking at you, Hawks and Magic.