RADIO
Deandre Ayton 2019 Player Outlook
5 years agoPhoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton did what he was expected to as a rookie: he scored well inside and rebounded. Ayton averaged 16.3 points per game on 58.5 percent shooting and averaged 10.3 rebounds per game. Ayton shot 73.3 percent from inside three feet, showing that he can be one of the NBA’s best interior scorers. What Ayton didn’t show — and what he probably won’t show — is an ability to connect from outside, as he took just four three-pointers. Ayton averaged one attempt from deep per game in college, but the Suns really wanted him to work on developing inside. He’s still got development to do, especially on the defensive end, so don’t get your hopes up if you expect Ayton to suddenly become a stretch five. But Ayton does give you something you don’t always get in fantasy from a big man: solid free throw shooting. He shot 74.6 percent from the line last year, and his ability to not hurt fantasy owners from there is a big plus. You’d love to see him get his block numbers up above the 0.9 per game from last season, but with the potential to finish in the top-10 in the league in both field goal percentage and rebounding, Ayton’s a great pick somewhere in the 30s in your fantasy drafts.
