The Indiana Pacers and Portland Trail Blazers are two NBA teams to watch in the Deandre Ayton trade sweepstakes, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. The Phoenix Suns are expected to aggressively explore the trade market for Ayton this offseason, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
“It’s too early to gauge the Ayton market (with the May 16 draft lottery gifting one franchise Victor Wembanyama),” Pincus wrote. “Still, that list of teams could include the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Pacers or Mavericks, among others.”
Ayton tried to leave the Suns last offseason by signing a four-year, $132.9 million offer sheet with the Pacers in restricted free agency. However, Phoenix matched Indiana’s offer sheet. The former No. 1 overall pick averaged 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds during the regular season, but his numbers dipped in the postseason to 13.4 points and 9.7 rebounds.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers & Indiana Pacers Updates
The Suns lost to Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals. Ayton put up 10.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in the Nuggets series and didn’t register a positive plus-minus rating in any game.
Ayton would be “excited” about getting traded by the Suns this summer, according to MacMahon. One would surmise that the Arizona product wouldn’t mind getting traded to the Pacers since he signed an offer sheet with them last summer.
As for the Blazers, they have one of the best players in the NBA, Damian Lillard. Portland is looking to get more talent around the superstar point guard, so it makes sense why the franchise is linked to Ayton, who has career averages of 16.7 points and 10.4 rebounds.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers & Indiana Pacers Updates
Ayton didn’t have a good relationship with Monty Williams, sources told NBA Analysis Network. Phoenix fired Williams, so it will be interesting to see if Ayton is back with the club next season.
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