The Boston Celtics are not interested in acquiring Deandre Ayton from the Phoenix Suns, according to NBA insider Brian Robb of MassLive.
The Suns were pursuing Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon before acquiring Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards. It doesn’t appear Phoenix and Boston will make a trade now.
“The Celtics have no interest in an Ayton deal per a league source due to his pricy contract so any scenario that involves Brogdon going to Phoenix now is dead without a third team getting involved,” Robb wrote. “Phoenix could involve moving Ayton elsewhere but don’t look for Boston to get involved unless Ayton’s going to a different team.”
Ayton averaged 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds during the 2022-23 regular season, which are solid numbers. However, his production dipped in the 2023 postseason to 13.4 points and 9.7 rebounds. The former No. 1 overall pick put up 10.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in the Denver Nuggets series and didn’t register a positive plus-minus rating in any game.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns & Boston Celtics Updates
The Suns lost to the Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals in six games.
Ayton has career averages of 16.7 points and 10.4 rebounds. He’ll make $32.5 million next season. The center tried to leave the Suns last offseason by signing a four-year, $132.9 million offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers in restricted free agency. However, Phoenix matched Indiana’s offer sheet.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns & Boston Celtics Updates
The Celtics lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games. Brogdon is the likeliest Boston guard to get traded this offseason, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. The Celtics are looking to move a guard to improve other areas of the roster.
“My podcast partner Chris Haynes reported Friday that Boston is looking to move out at least one of its guards to ease a backcourt logjam,” Stein wrote. “Word is the most likely of the group to be dealt, entering the weekend, was Malcolm Brogdon rather than Marcus Smart, Derrick White or Payton Pritchard.”
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