Here’s a question being asked throughout NBA circles: is Deandre Ayton a max player?

It’s not an easy call to make. On the one hand, Ayton is a hyper-efficient pick-and-roll finisher. He’s basically a walking block of granite who can use his bulk and mobility to get to his position at will. Ayton is also a great defensive big man who can protect the rim and survive in space.

On the other hand, he’s a traditional big man. Many teams would opt not to designate such a large portion of their cap space to such a player in 2022.

If Ayton spaced the floor or initiated offense, the Phoenix Suns probably would have extended him midway through the 2021-22 season.

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So, is he a max player? The open market will decide. It feels likely that at least one team will decide to invest $30 million a year in him. The question is, which teams are the right fit?

Here are two teams we think could stand to make that investment in Deandre Ayton, and two teams we think are better off avoiding him.