Phoenix Suns Receive: C Myles Turner

Indiana Pacers Receive: C Deandre Ayton

Restricted free agency can make for some interesting negotiations.

On the one hand, the Indiana Pacers may not need to trade for Deandre Ayton. They can simply tender him an offer and dare the Phoenix Suns to match it. On the other hand, if the Suns don’t want to lose their recent number one pick for nothing, they can simply match that offer.

Related: the Suns can’t lose their recent number one pick for nothing. No matter how you feel about Ayton’s dollar value, that’s a significant setback. If they don’t want to give him a max contract, they need to thoroughly explore sign-and-trade options.

This feels like a good one. The Pacers’ interest in Ayton is heavily rumored. He’s a good fit here as a long-term pick-and-roll partner for emerging star Tyrese Haliburton.

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Meanwhile, the Suns add a big man who spaces the floor in Turner and marginally improve their rim protection at the same time. That feels like a win-win both of these sides ought to pursue.