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2018 NBA Draft: Suns select Deandre Ayton at No. 1

By Connor Grott
NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) shakes hands with Deandre Ayton after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft on Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Photo by Jason Szenes/EPA-EFE
NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) shakes hands with Deandre Ayton after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft on Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Photo by Jason Szenes/EPA-EFE

June 21 (UPI) -- The 2018 NBA Draft had selections that were widely expected, but also had a few shakeups in the first round of the annual selection show Thursday night at the Barclays Center in New York.

The Phoenix Suns -- who were selecting at No. 1 for the first time in franchise history -- drafted 7-foot-1 Deandre Ayton with the top overall pick.

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Ayton played his final two years of high school at Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix and continued his collegiate career at the University of Arizona for one season.

With the Wildcats, the 20-year-old Ayton was named Pac-12 Player of the Year after averaging 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in his lone freshman season.

Given Ayton's upbringing in the state of Arizona, and the success shown in his brief tenure with the Wildcats, he had no doubts about being selected first.

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"Having my name called being the first pick for the Phoenix Suns was mind-blowing," Ayton told ESPN after being drafted. "Having all that confidence leading up to that point when I saw [NBA commissioner] Adam Silver come out, I was just waiting for my name. He just called it and my mind went blank. I just did the routine everyone else is supposed to do and I just soaked [it] in and enjoyed the moment."

While the Ayton pick was obvious to some leading up to the draft, the first round saw its share of surprising trades.

The Atlanta Hawks drafted European star guard Luka Doncic with the third overall pick. Shortly afterward, the Dallas Mavericks acquired the draft rights to Doncic in a trade with the Hawks.

In the trade, the Hawks received the draft rights of Oklahoma guard Trae Young, who was selected by the Mavs with the fifth overall pick. Dallas also sent over a "minimally" protected 2019 first-round pick in the deal.

Here is a complete breakdown of the entire first round of the 2018 NBA Draft:

1. Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona

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2. Sacramento Kings: Marvin Bagley III, PF, Duke

3. Atlanta Hawks: Luka Doncic, SG, Slovenia (rights traded to Mavericks)

4. Memphis Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr., PF, Michigan St.

5. Dallas Mavericks: Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma (rights traded to Hawks)

6. Orlando Magic: Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas

7. Chicago Bulls: Wendell Carter Jr., PF, Duke

8. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Nets): Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama

9. New York Knicks: Kevin Knox, SF, Kentucky

10. Philadelphia 76ers (via Lakers): Mikal Bridges, SF, Villanova (rights traded to Suns)

11. Charlotte Hornets: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, SG, Kentucky (rights traded to Clippers)

12. Los Angeles Clippers (via Pistons): Miles Bridges, SF, Michigan St. (rights traded to Hornets)

13. Los Angeles Clippers: Jerome Robinson, PG, Boston College

14. Denver Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr., SF, Missouri

15. Washington Wizards: Troy Brown, SG, Oregon

16. Phoenix Suns (via Heat): Zhaire Smith, SF, Texas Tech (rights traded to 76ers)

17. Milwaukee Bucks: Donte DiVincenzo, PG, Villanova

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18. San Antonio Spurs: Lonnie Walker, SG, Miami

19. Atlanta Hawks (via Timberwolves): Kevin Huerter, SG, Maryland

20. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Thunder): Josh Okogie, SG, Georgia Tech

21. Utah Jazz: Grayson Allen, SG, Duke

22. Chicago Bulls (via Pelicans): Chandler Hutchison, SG, Boise State

23. Indiana Pacers: Aaron Holiday, PG, UCLA

24. Portland Trail Blazers: Anfernee Simons, SG, IMG Academy

25. Los Angeles Lakers (via Cavaliers): Moritz Wagner, PF, Michigan

26. Philadelphia 76ers: Landry Shamet, PG, Wichita St.

27. Boston Celtics: Robert Williams, PF, Texas A&M

28. Golden State Warriors: Jacob Evans, SF, Cincinnati

29. Brooklyn Nets (via Raptors): Dzanan Musa, SF, Bosnia/Herzegovina

30. Atlanta Hawks (via Clippers): Omari Spellman, PF, Villanova

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