Why The Phoenix Suns Do The Deal

In comparison to Simmons, explaining why Ayton has underperformed is relatively simple. He’s a rim-running, rim-protecting big man. He never should have been the number one pick, to begin with.

Obviously, hindsight is 20/20. Anybody with basic common sense would have taken Luka Doncic in retrospect. Still, Ayton does not have a skill set that lends itself to the type of production that’s expected of the first-overall pick.

On the other hand, Simmons does. His dynamic playmaking and versatile defense are both outlier skills. His non-shooting remains an issue, but with the right pieces around him, he could start to resemble a top selection.

With some tinkering, the Suns could have those pieces. Chris Paul is an extremely portable player who can thrive both on and off the ball.

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Meanwhile, Booker is exactly the type of alpha off-ball scorer that complements Simmons. Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson are also both perfect auxiliary pieces for the jumbo floor general.

If the Suns could find a stretch big man elsewhere, this deal could improve them leading into 2022-23.