Indiana Pacers Receive: C Deandre Ayton
Phoenix Suns Receive: C Myles Turner, G Buddy Hield, 2023 First-Round Pick (CLE)
We think the Phoenix Suns ought to retool for next season. We’re also not an active member of their front office. Nothing is stopping them from taking the exact opposite course of action.
That’s exactly what they’d be doing here. At the same time, this deal allows them to walk a line between staying competitive and changing course.
They’d certainly be fielding a different look next season. Myles Turner’s ability to space the floor would be interesting alongside the backcourt duo of Paul and Devin Booker. He doesn’t offer the same vertical threat in pick-and-roll sets that Ayton does, but with the addition of Turner and Hield, the Suns would have some of the best spacing in the NBA.
It just might work. If it doesn’t, at least they’re getting a first-round pick in exchange for Ayton. They’ll also have no trouble moving Turner or Hield if they need to pivot into a rebuild later.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 2 Dark-Horse Free Agency Destinations For Suns’ Deandre Ayton
Finally, the Pacers land a recent number one overall pick in Ayton. Between him, Tyrese Haliburton, and whoever they select in the 2022 draft, they’ll have suddenly assembled one of the brightest young cores in the NBA.
