The Portland Trail Blazers are interested in acquiring Deandre Ayton from the Phoenix Suns, according to NBA insider Gerald Bourguet. The Blazers could acquire Ayton in a three-team trade involving Damian Lillard, who has requested a trade to the Miami Heat.
“Outside Phoenix, Ayton is viewed as an enticing piece who could help facilitate a Lillard trade,” Bourguet wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “Sources in Portland confirmed that Ayton’s name has come up multiple times over the last few weeks, and PHNX Sports reported last year that the Blazers had interest in the Suns big man. DA only turned 25 years old over the summer, and Portland believes he’d be sellable to the fanbase as a young, former first overall pick with room to grow in the right change of scenery.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
“The Suns have not been actively shopping Ayton in any way, shape or form, but they have listened to offers to do their due diligence. No one would fault Phoenix for being perfectly content entering the season with DA as their starting center, but talks between the Suns, Blazers and Heat have intensified over the last day or so.”
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.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
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. The Blazers could build around Ayton, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe in the post-Lillard era if Portland acquired Ayton from Phoenix.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
