Coming off a trip to the NBA Finals last season, the Phoenix Suns are definitely a team to look out for in the Western Conference heading into the 2021-22 season. Obviously, the Los Angeles Lakers will be classified as “the team to beat” in the Western Conference, but the Suns are the reigning Conference Champions and they improved their roster in the offseason.
Not only did young talents like Mikal Bridges, Deandre Ayton, Cameron Johnson, and others continue to improve, but the team also added the likes of JaVale McGee and Landry Shamet to address key needs of this franchise. With Dario Saric out indefinitely after tearing his ACL in the NBA Finals, the Suns needed another frontcourt option next to Ayton, so they added McGee.
On the wing, Phoenix had some strong contributors in Booker, Bridges, and Johnson, but in the postseason, they really struggled to get consistent play from their backcourt, especially with Chris Paul being hurt. Landry Shamet not only adds depth at the shooting guard position for Phoenix, but he is also a near 40% shooter from three-point range over the course of his career.
It appears that Phoenix loves what they have in Mikal Bridges and now Landry Shamet, as they extended both of them recently on new long-term deals, but they did not agree to terms with Deandre Ayton on the contract extension. Ayton and his camp were expecting to receive a max contract after his performances in the playoffs last season, but the Suns did not offer him this kind of contract.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Phoenix Suns Face ‘Uncertain’ Future With Unhappy Deandre Ayton
As a result, the two sides failed to reach a long-term extension before the October 18 deadline and now, the former No. 1 overall pick will become a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season. Could the Suns take this opportunity to trade Ayton and others right now for another All-Star to pair with Devin Booker and Chris Paul?
It is definitely crazy to think that the Suns would tear apart their roster one year after making the NBA Finals, but there is one All-Star center that could make a lot of sense for them to pursue. Let’s take a look at a trade between the Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves that would not just involve Deandre Ayton, but Karl-Anthony Towns as well.
