The Phoenix Suns may have found it hard to win on the court this season but they have secured a huge victory off it in the 2018 NBA draft lottery. For the first time in franchise history, the Suns will have the number one overall pick in the draft. After finishing with the worst record in the league at 21-61, they had the best odds to win the lottery. This is now the fourth year in which the team with the best chance to get the top pick ended up doing so. "It's a historic day for the franchise," Suns general manager Ryan McDonough said, per ESPN's Nick Friedell. The Sacramento Kings will get the number two pick while the Atlanta Hawks will have the third selection in next month's draft. 

Phoenix will now have to weigh up their decision as they have a choice of several exciting young talents to choose from. 

It's believed that they will ultimately select either DeAndre Ayton or Luka Doncic as they have familiarity with both players. 

Ayton played his college basketball nearby at Arizona and had a terrific season with the Wildcats in his one campaign with them. 

He averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds and was named as Pac-12 Player of the Year. The center was a dominant force at the collegiate level as he recorded 24 double-doubles. 

Phoenix was always expected to opt for Ayton if they landed the number one pick but that now doesn't look like a foregone conclusion after their new head coaching appointment. 

The Suns hired their former assistant Igor Kokoskov to the role which raises the possibility of the team taking Doncic after the pair worked together previously. 

Kokoskov was the coach that led Slovenia to the European championship last summer where the 19-year-old played a huge role in their triumph. 

The youngster is regarded as one of the best players to come from Europe and their new Serbian head coach knows everything about him. 

"We'll certainly weigh it pretty heavily," McDonough said of their relationship. "He's our head coach and has a good track record of evaluating players, developing players.

"Obviously he and Doncic have a great history together having won the European world championships and Doncic is a phenomenal talent who's certainly in the mix for the number one pick for us.

"At the same time, a few other guys who are in this room tonight are in [the mix] as well. And knowing Igor he'll have strong opinions on Luka and I know how he feels about Luka and the special connection they have.

"At the same time, he'll want us to draft the best player, whoever we think the best player is, whoever stands out throughout the process."

Whoever they choose to select, it'll be exciting for Suns fans as they'll have another huge talent to pair with Devin Booker. 

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