There are NBA fans who question the value of big men in the modern NBA. Shame on them. Sure, the center position has evolved, but it’s never going to go extinct. If you need proof, just look at the current MVP race.
With that said, you don’t even have to be Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokic to make an impact. Big men who can defend the rim will always have value. Plenty of good NBA defenses are built around taking away dunk and layup attempts. Just ask Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns.
Ayton may not be a superstar offensive player, but he provides the Suns with plenty of value. However, there is certainly a case to be made that paying a max contract to a center may not be the best spending choice for Phoenix.
The Suns were reluctant to give Ayton a five-year max deal when he reached restricted free agency last summer but had no choice in matching the four-year, max offer sheet he signed with the Indiana Pacers.
Given the lack of interest from the Suns at the time to engage in a sign-and-trade deal to acquire Myles Turner, Phoenix ended up having to commit to that high price for Ayton’s services. Unless they pull off an NBA title run, re-evaluating their commitment to him may be the best option.
Could they trade him to the Memphis Grizzlies this summer?
