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od **liny195** » čtv 23. srp 2018 9:22:56

The Phoenix Suns stayed close to home for their first No. 1 pick. The Dallas Mavericks looked all the way to Slovenia for the player they hope can be their next European superstar.

Shortly after the Suns took Deandre Ayton to start the NBA draft Thursday night http://www.ravensauthorizedshops.com/authentic-robert-griffin-iii-jersey , the Mavericks traded up two spots for the rights to Luka Doncic.

The Atlanta Hawks swapped the rights to Doncic, the No. 3 pick who has spent the last year winning championships all over Europe, to Atlanta for Trae Young, the No. 5 selection from Oklahoma.

The Mavericks also gave up a future first-round pick to draft Doncic, who only arrived in New York on Wednesday after helping Spain’s Real Madrid win its league championship after he won Euroleague MVP and Final Four MVP honors when they won that title this year.

His lengthy European season kept him from working out for teams but he knew the Mavericks were interested in having him on their team for what’s expected to be Dirk Nowitzki’s final NBA season.

”I’ve been talking to Dallas a lot. They really wanted me, and they were very, very nice,” the 19-year-old said. ”They were very nice to me, and I think we had a very good relationship.”

The Hawks will get perhaps the most exciting player in college basketball last season in Young, the first player to lead the nation in scoring and assists in the same season.

”Whatever city I went to, I was going to be able to be comfortable in,” said Young, who wore suit shorts with his burgundy-colored jacket. ”I was just really excited to get to Atlanta.”

After that, it was a mostly straightforward draft with little fireworks, but plenty of national champion Villanova Wildcats.

The top of it was dominated by big men http://www.broncosauthorizedshops.com/authentic-isaac-yiadom-jersey , starting with a pair of former high school teammates.

The Suns made the 7-foot-1 Ayton the first No. 1 pick in franchise history. The center from Arizona averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds in his lone season in Tucson, tying for the national lead with 24 double-doubles in 35 games.

He joined Mychal Thompson – father of Golden State All-Star Klay Thompson – in 1978 as the only players from the Bahamas to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

”Having my name called to be the first pick for the Phoenix Suns was mind-blowing,” Ayton said. ”Having all that confidence and leading up to that point when I saw Adam Silver came out, I was just waiting for my name, and when he called it, my mind went blank.”

The Sacramento Kings followed by taking Marvin Bagley III, the Duke big man who played with Ayton at Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix in 2015-16.

With Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson Jr. going fourth to Memphis, Texas center Mo Bamba going No. 6 to Orlando and Wendell Carter Jr. following to Chicago, it was an early run of big men in what’s increasingly become a perimeter-based league.

Then it was another guard with Alabama’s Collin Sexton going at No. 8 to Cleveland, triggering chants of Michael Porter Jr.’s name by Knicks fans who hoped they would take him with the No. 9 pick. But they ended up disappointed as New York went with Kentucky’s Kevin Knox.

”They booed (Kristaps) Porzingis (on draft night) and look where he is now. That’s the same mindset I’m going to have,” Knox said. ”They can chant Michael Porter all they want. But they got Kevin Knox, and I’m willing to work and I’m willing to get better.”

With concerns over back problems that limited him to only three games at Missouri last season, followed by a recent hip injury that he believe scared off teams, Porter ended up falling all the way to Denver at No. 14, the last lottery position.

There were a couple other trades involving lottery picks. Mikal Bridges Authentic Mike McGlinchey Jersey , the No. 10 pick from Villanova who thought he was staying in Philadelphia with the 76ers – who employ his mother – but was dealt to Phoenix for the rights to No. 16 pick Zhaire Smith of Texas Tech and a 2012 first-round pick from the Miami Heat.

The Charlotte Hornets sent the rights to No. 11 pick Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – whose floral-patterned suit stood out among the selections – to the Clippers for No. 12 pick Miles Bridges and two future second-round picks.

After Bridges, Final Four Most Outstanding Player Donte DiVincenzo went to Milwaukee at No. 17 and Omari Spellman to Atlanta at No. 30, giving Villanova three first-round picks for the first time. National player of the year Jalen Brunson then was picked by Dallas with the third pick of the second round.

The Holiday brothers had an NBA reunion when Aaron Holiday was taken at No. 23 by Indiana. Brothers Jrue and Justin already play in the league.

Speaking of brothers, Kostas Antetokounmpo of Dayton, brother of Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, was the 60th and final pick by Philadelphia. That marked the first time three international siblings were drafted into the NBA, as Thanasis Antetokounmpo was the No. 51 pick in 2014.

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With the departures of longtime veterans and fan favorites, the Kansas City Chiefs have tried to make their offseason roster turnover about youth, speed and aggressive play – an approach coach Andy Reid underscored Thursday with the official introduction of new arrivals Sammy Watkins and Anthony Hitchens.

”We’re so excited about the future, man, it’s the energy level,” Reid said. ”We’ve got a great nucleus coming back, we’ve added some players that are top notch.”

Second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes headlines that young nucleus. Watkins adds depth to a receiving corps whose players are all 25 or younger.

Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce each topped 1,000 yards receiving last season and Kareem Hunt led the league in rushing as a rookie. Chris Conley and Demarcus Robinson add speed at wideout. The addition of Watkins marks a concerted effort to surround Mahomes with an array of options during his first year as a starting quarterback.

”I just need to put the ball in their hands and they’ll all make the plays,” Mahomes said.

General manager Brett Veach first to acquire Watkins from Buffalo last summer http://www.vikingsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-brian-o_neill-jersey , only to see the Los Angeles Rams outbid him. Watkins hauled in 39 catches for 593 yards and eight touchdowns while bouncing back from a broken bone in his foot that limited him to eight games in 2016.

Veach finally got his man with a three-year, $48 million deal. He said he believes Watkins can blossom in Kansas City with a full offseason program developing chemistry with Mahomes.

”Don’t let the production fool you, when you watch the tape, the guy is open all the time,” Veach said. ”Literally, the guy is open on the time.”

For Watkins, he enters an offseason healthy and happy for the first time in his career.

”I just feel like I’ve got more in my tank,” Watkins said. ”I haven’t been to any minicamp or ever been able to attend any OTAs, so I feel like I can get a head start and be the best version of myself. Just to do it here is a pleasure because I had an opportunity to come to a team that really wanted me and I really wanted to be here.”

Hitchens comes to Kansas City via Dallas, where he racked up a career-high 84 tackles last season. The Chiefs expect the 25-year-old linebacker to fill the void left by Derrick Johnson, the franchise’s all-time leading tackler.

”That’s a guy I looked up to through college and high school,” Hitchens said of Johnson. ”Him and Ray Lewis were my favorite two guys. To be able to play the same position in the same defense as him is a blessing.”

The Chiefs hope Hitchens paired with 24-year-old linebacker Reggie Ragland can plug a leaky Chiefs run defense that ranked 27th against the run last season.

”They said they wanted more fire power and more hitting and more aggressive,” Hitchens said. ”They said they have some players but that’s what they wanted to be based on.”

Reid also envisions Hitchens as an every-down linebacker.

”Hitch has that ability like D.J. did to get small and has that feel of getting into those tight cracks and making those tackles that you saw D.J. do,” Reid said. ”He’s also a good cover guy.”

The Chiefs will look different in a lot of places next season. Mahomes replaces Alex Smith, who was traded to Washington. Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters was dealt to the Rams for draft picks and Cheap Dorian O'Daniel Jersey , besides Johnson, the Chiefs also parted ways with Tamba Hali, who ranks second only to Derrick Thomas in career sacks. Safety Ron Parker is gone, too.

Reid, however, is looking forward to his 20th season as head coach.

”We’re fired up about this whole thing,” Reid said. ”You know I’m not great at standing up and saying, `Hey, you know, here we go.’ But I’m ready to roll and we’re sitting here in March.”

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