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2018 NBA Prospect Report Part 1: DeAndre Ayton

By Ricky Scricca

TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Deandre Ayton #13 of the Arizona Wildcats dunks during the second half of the college basketball game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at McKale Center on December 30, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats beat the Sun Devils 84-78. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Deandre Ayton #13 of the Arizona Wildcats dunks during the second half of the college basketball game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at McKale Center on December 30, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats beat the Sun Devils 84-78. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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Deandre Ayton, Arizona Wildcats, Connecticut Huskies
Deandre Ayton, Arizona Wildcats, Connecticut Huskies /

Analyzing Fit

It’s not clear at this point who, if any of the Magic’s current players will be part of the long-term future. But it is probably safe to assume that Jonathan Isaac will be around for a while and that Aaron Gordon is seen as a potential building block.

Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac are both at very different stages in their offensive development. But neither are consistent shot-creators at this point.

Gordon has shown flashes as a pick-and-roll passer, but his isolation numbers and overall decision-making ability are questionable at best. Isaac has looked lost on the offensive end.

Gordon has excellent instincts as a cutter and Isaac is developing as a spot-up threat. In a scheme tailored to their abilities, both would get their offense more from the weak side as screeners and off-ball cutters or shooters, not as strong side ball handlers.

Taking that into consideration, the Magic clearly need a strong-side player — one who can create offense for himself and for others from any position. They also need a rim-running big with gravity as a lob-catcher that can catch pocket passes, draw in defenders from the corners and hit shooters on short-rolls. They also need more spacing.

In theory, Ayton can provide all of that.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

Ayton’s potential fit with the Orlando Magic depends on how much you believe in shot-creation ability.

In the NCAA, he has shown impressive flashes of post scoring and passing, but he needs to improve his consistency. He is prone to missing open men and committing occasional ugly turnovers. This goes for the defensive end too, where on some possessions he looks completely lost but on others is an absolute force.

But the Magic already have several play finishers and offensive support players in Gordon and Isaac – they need a player with legitimate creator and facilitator equity before anything else.

Isaac and Gordon, two athletic and physical freaks with the ability to defend multiple positions and make weakside rotations, would help ameliorate some of Ayton’s weaknesses and mental lapses he is bound to make early on. But the defensive fit only truly works if you believe he can improve his understanding of team concepts.

Ayton has all the tools necessary to be a generational NBA talent. His equity as both a go-to post scorer/facilitator and as a multifaceted support player in a pick-and-roll heavy offense give him multiple avenues for NBA success.

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He would be best served going to a situation that can help him iron out the recognition and awareness issues he faces defensively. If he can do that, the sky is the limit.