One NBA writer is proposing that the Atlanta Hawks acquire Deandre Ayton from the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster trade. Lee Tran of Fadeaway World proposed the following trade idea between the Suns and Hawks:
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Deandre Ayton
Phoenix Suns Receive: Clint Capela, Saddiq Bey, Kobe Bufkin
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.
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.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton, Atlanta Hawks & Phoenix Suns Updates
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. If that doesn’t happen, the Suns could look to trade Ayton.
Last offseason, Ayton tried to leave the Suns 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. The Hawks would have a Big 3 of Ayton, Trae Young and Dejounte Murray if this trade pitch Tran came up with went through.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton, Atlanta Hawks & Phoenix Suns Updates
According to NBA insider Zach Lowe of ESPN, 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. It will be fascinating to see if the Suns and Hawks talk about an Ayton trade once the 2023-24 season starts.
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