Deandre Ayton Stays Put
Up until recently, this prediction would have been too bold to even entertain. It turns out that the NBA is too unpredictable to even predict which predictions are worth predicting.
We’ll give you, and ourselves, a moment to wrap your head around that.
Initially, the Detroit Pistons looked like the most viable landing spot for Ayton. Having landed soon-to-be rookie big man Jalen Duren on draft night, you can probably check them off the list.
Many observers also conjured up images of Ayton in a Spurs uniform. It would have made some sense if they’d held onto Dejounte Murray. Having traded him to the Hawks for draft capital, they appear more likely to bottom out ahead of the 2023 draft.
There are other potential suitors. The Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors stand out. On the other hand, the Pacers may be too early in their rebuilding process to commit major money to Ayton.
Furthermore, the Raptors may not want to commit that much money to any big man if they’re content to press on with their wing-heavy rotation. It’s unlikely that Ayton will finish his career with the Suns, but look for him to start the 2022-23 season with them.
Prediction: Deandre Ayton re-signs with Phoenix Suns for around $25 million a season.