The Phoenix Suns may keep center Deandre Ayton because of new head coach Frank Vogel, according to NBA insider John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.
The Suns fired Monty Williams and replaced him with Vogel, who won the 2020 championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ayton and Williams didn’t have a good relationship.
“One of the things working in favor of Deandre Ayton staying with Phoenix is new coach Frank Vogel,” Gambodoro said. “Vogel loves Ayton, who reminds him of a more skilled Roy Hibbert whom he coached in Indiana.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton & Phoenix Suns Updates
Gambadoro, who covers the Suns, talked about Ayton’s future in Phoenix with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
“I think the preference for Phoenix is to trade Deandre Ayton to get depth,” Gambadoro said. “Their top three are set with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Their problem — and this is why they’re not better than the Denver Nuggets — is their four, five, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth guys. They don’t have depth. If you can trade Ayton and take that $30 million salary and turn it into two or three good players, that’s the preference.
“You’ve got to find a team willing to take Ayton. He’s got over $100 million left on his contract in the next three years, and he hasn’t been a dominant center. He’s not Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokic. He’s a good player, and somebody who trades for him might get 22-24 points a night and 12 rebounds, but if he’s your second-best player, you’re probably not going to win.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton & Phoenix Suns Updates
Ayton averaged 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds during the 2022-23 regular season. 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.
The Nuggets, who won the 2023 title, beat the Suns in the second round of the playoffs in six games.
Ayton has career averages of 16.7 points and 10.4 rebounds. He’ll make $32.5 million next season.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
