Why The Phoenix Suns Do The Deal
Some players are just difficult to evaluate. Deandre Ayton is one of them.
The fact that the Suns selected him first overall in the 2018 draft colors any discussion of him. By now, it feels fair to say that they made a mistake with Luka Doncic and Trae Young on the board. That doesn’t mean Ayton hasn’t been a productive NBA player.
By now, he’s one of the more effective rim running / rim protecting bigs in the NBA. Furthermore, he’s still young enough to hold some potential. Should the Suns really part with him at this price?
If their relationship with him has grown toxic, yes. After all, this is a solid return. Rozier gives them a much-needed upgrade in their guard rotation. He’ll function as a sixth man, and he’ll be among the league’s best.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns & Charlotte Hornets Updates
Meanwhile, Plumlee at least makes up for the depth lost at the center position – in all likelihood, he’ll split time with Bismack Biyombo at the position.
Finally, the Hornets’ first-round pick is probably the most valuable asset the Suns are receiving. Perhaps they use it in a trade down the line, but they could just use it to select a player too. Hopefully, this one doesn’t find a reason to begrudge them.
