Various Phoenix Suns figures were eager to trade Deandre Ayton, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
The Suns traded Ayton to the Portland Trail Blazers and acquired Jusuf Nurkic in the three-team Damian Lillard trade with the Milwaukee Bucks.
“Phoenix leadership was not sold on Ayton’s consistency and ability to impact winning amid this franchise’s expensive title chase,” Fischer wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “Various Suns figures were eager for a change of direction, sources said, from players to front office members, despite new coach Frank Vogel’s opportunity to mold Ayton into a defensive anchor.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Ayton averaged 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 2022-23 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.
However, Ayton’s level of play dropped in the 2023 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.
Ayton, who has career NBA averages of 16.7 points and 10.4 rebounds, 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, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Ayton was the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. He now joins a Blazers team in rebuild mode. Ayton didn’t have a good relationship with former Suns head coach Monty Williams. It will be fascinating to see if Blazers coach Chauncey Billups can connect with Ayton.
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