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Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft: Memorial Day check up

By Philip Rossman-Reich

CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 14: Michigan State Spartans forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (2) goes in for a dunk during the State Farm Champions Classic basketball game between the Duke Blue Devils and Michigan State Spartans on November 14, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 14: Michigan State Spartans forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (2) goes in for a dunk during the State Farm Champions Classic basketball game between the Duke Blue Devils and Michigan State Spartans on November 14, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Deandre Ayton, Arizona Wildcats, Buffalo Bulls
BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Deandre Ayton #13 of the Arizona Wildcats handles the ball in the first half against Ikenna Smart #34 of the Buffalo Bulls during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

66. . Center. Arizona. Deandre Ayton. 1. player

I should make myself perfectly clear here: I think Luka Doncic is the best player in this Draft. If the Orlando Magic had the No. 1 pick, they take Luka Doncic. I still think it is kind of insane that the league is not falling over itself to take Doncic.

But the NBA has weird logic sometimes. They fall in love with size still. Especially elite athletes.

This takes nothing away from Deandre Ayton. I like him a lot too. He and Doncic are far and away the best prospects in this Draft, to me.

The Phoenix Suns need a lot of everything. They need a point guard and they have a decent grouping of bigs. But Ayton seems like the guy that could tie it all together. Pairing him and Devin Booker together seems like the beginnings of something special. It does not feel like Phoenix is in love with Marquese Chriss anymore. And they like Josh Jackson as a building block — he had a nice end to his rookie season.

Ayton hits that traditional need for a center that teams still think they need. He is not the best defender, but he may fare better defensively in the NBA. He just has to improve his defensive instincts a bit more. Maybe that is something he cannot improve.

But teams have difficulty ignoring the mixture of size and strength.

67. . Guard. Real Madrid. Luka Doncic. 2. player

There are still some rumors flying around that Luka Doncic may use his leverage playing in Europe to try to pick a more ideal place. Maybe that place is Phoenix. Maybe that place is with the Sacramento Kings. Or maybe it is neither. The teams at the top have to play that game of chicken.

It still seems like Doncic is determined to play in the NBA next year. And wherever he lands, he should make an immediate impact.

Doncic was the Euroleague MVP at 19 years old, averaging 16.1 points per game and 4.3 assists per game. This is a 19-year-old in the second-best league in the world playing at an incredibly high level. No amount of college stats should surpass what he has done.

Doncic has flaws. He does not have NBA athleticism. That is a concern. But he is still very crafty with the ball and knows how to exploit angles and attack the basket with an eye to passing. Doncic can still improve his shooting, but he has a complete and mature game.

Having him fall to second is a true gift for any team. And if teams get scared because he could opt to stay in Europe, they are missing out on a top prospect.