One NBA writer is proposing that the Phoenix Suns acquire Jonas Valanciunas and Larry Nance Jr. from the New Orleans Pelicans in a blockbuster trade. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Pelicans and Suns:
Trade idea: New Orleans Pelicans trade Jonas Valanciunas, Larry Nance Jr., Kira Lewis Jr. and 2024 first-round pick (via LAL) to Phoenix Suns for Deandre Ayton
Valanciunas started 79 games for the Pelicans last season. He averaged 14.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 54.7% from the field, 34.9% from beyond the arc and 82.6% from the free-throw line. The 31-year-old recorded 43 double-doubles.
Meanwhile, Nance Jr. appeared in 65 games for the Pelicans in 2022-23. He averaged 6.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 61.0% overall, 33.3% from 3 and 69.6% from the foul line.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jonas Valanciunas, Larry Nance Jr., New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns Updates
Ayton averaged 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists last season for the Suns 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: Jonas Valanciunas, Larry Nance Jr., New Orleans Pelicans, 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. This trade Buckley came up with would give Phoenix more depth around Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
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