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NBA Draft: Memphis Grizzlies’ Pick Relies Upon Phoenix Suns’ Move

By Christian Dudley

WIZINK CENTER, MADRID, SPAIN - 2018/05/27: Luka Doncic during Real Madrid victory over Iberostar Tenerife (83 - 73) in Liga Endesa playoff 1st round (game 1) celebrated in Madrid at Wizink Center. May 27th 2018. (Photo by Juan Carlos García Mate/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
WIZINK CENTER, MADRID, SPAIN - 2018/05/27: Luka Doncic during Real Madrid victory over Iberostar Tenerife (83 - 73) in Liga Endesa playoff 1st round (game 1) celebrated in Madrid at Wizink Center. May 27th 2018. (Photo by Juan Carlos García Mate/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 9: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 9, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 9: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 9, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Question: How likely is it to see Phoenix deal their No. 1 overall pick before or on Draft Night?

Lucas Johnson: “McDonough has publicly stated he is open to trading the pick, so there is obviously a chance. In the past, I wrote why that was a terrible idea and why it shouldn’t even be an option. However, if I had to put a percentage on the chance of if actually happening, I would put a 2.5-percent chance of the pick being traded.”

Gerald Bourguet: “I would say unlikely, but that probably depends on how bad the situation with Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves really is. I still think the Wolves would be crazy to trade him, so I see the Suns keeping their pick and using it on Ayton to pair the two together for the long-term. If KAT is put on the block, though, he’d probably be the only player they could realistically move this pick for. McDonough said on the night of the draft lottery it was “unlikely” they trade the pick unless the right deal fell into their laps for a young, established superstar, preferably one with multiple years left on his contract. That rules out a name like Kawhi Leonard, but fits Towns perfectly. Plus, he and Booker are good friends from their time together at Kentucky, and the Suns have emphasized all summer that their job is to make life easier on Book. Trading for a superstar and one of his friends like KAT would certainly do that, but again, I still think it’s unlikely Towns even becomes available.”

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