Chapter 396: True Intentions.
On June 22nd, the 2018 NBA Draft took place in Brooklyn.
Han Sen, still on vacation, tuned in to catch the event live.
As expected, the Phoenix Suns held the first overall pick, and just like in his memories, they wasted no time selecting big man Deandre Ayton.
It was the same logic teams used when selecting Karl-Anthony Towns or Anthony Davis—when in doubt, take the dominant big man.
After seeing how Markelle Fultz struggled last season in Chicago, teams were once again prioritizing "safe picks" in the frontcourt.
Ayton had dominated at Arizona, averaging 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game—Shaq-like numbers in the NCAA. But for the Suns, this wasn't just about talent—it was about course correction.
After years of whiffing on big men like Alex Len and Dragan Bender, Phoenix had finally returned to a traditional franchise centerpiece.
Then came the Sacramento Kings at No. 2.
And they picked Luka Dončić.
Han wasn't surprised.
The Kings had always been the type to take the flashy, expensive pick instead of the "right" one.