According to NBA insider Zach Lowe of ESPN, there is no viable trade right now turning Deandre Ayton into the kinds of players (or picks) that would maintain or boost the Phoenix Suns’ NBA title odds.
Many people around the NBA thought the Suns would trade Ayton this summer. However, Phoenix moved Chris Paul instead in the Bradley Beal trade with the Washington Wizards.
“There is no viable trade right now turning Ayton into the kinds of players (or picks) that would maintain or boost the Suns’ NBA title odds, per league sources,” Lowe wrote. “The Suns’ top priority — from Ishbia to Ayton and down to the 15th man — should be doing whatever it takes to repair their relationship with Ayton, to lift him back up. The Suns’ likely path toward a good-enough defense is switching a ton across the perimeter while keeping Ayton closer to the paint as the last line.”
Ayton averaged 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists last NBA season while shooting 58.9% from the field and 76.0% from the free-throw line. He recorded 36 double-doubles and helped Phoenix win 45 games in the regular season.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton & Phoenix Suns Updates
However, Ayton’s level of play dropped in the 2023 NBA playoffs. The center averaged 13.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in 10 games versus the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets. 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.
The Suns lost to the Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Western Conference Semifinals in six games. Ayton didn’t play in Game 6 due to a rib contusion he suffered in Game 5.
Ayton didn’t have a good relationship with former Suns head coach Monty Williams. Phoenix’s front office believes new head coach Frank Vogel will be able to connect with Ayton better than Williams did and help the Arizona product be more engaged on both ends of the floor on a consistent basis.
Ayton 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 Updates
An anonymous member of the Suns told NBA writer Keith Smith of Spotrac that the franchise is “committed” to Ayton. The Suns decided not to trade Ayton this offseason despite having trade talks with the Dallas Mavericks and Pacers.
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