With the Suns on the verge of acquiring Bradley Beal from the Wizards, Phoenix has virtually depleted its trade assets. They still have one more big trade chip left, if they choose to deal center Deandre Ayton.
While they may have to exercise patience, there’s confidence within the Suns organization that they can deal Ayton, an unnamed league executive tells Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney.
Currently, interest around the league is Ayton is modest because he’s not a priority for potential trade partners. That could change after the draft and once the dominoes start to fall during free agency.
The Suns matched the Pacers’ offer sheet last year for Ayton when he was a restricted free agent. Ayton had three years left on that four-year, $132.9MM contract. He’ll make approximately $32.46MM next season, $34MM in 2024/25 and $35.55MM on 2025/26.
Ayton averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds this past season. However, he’d be an afterthought in an offense featuring Beal, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant and probably wouldn’t be thrilled with a reduced role.
Strapped by max contracts, Phoenix might try to parlay Ayton for two or more quality role players. Deveney lists the Bulls, Mavericks, Hornets, Pacers and Trail Blazers as potential landing spots, while acknowledging that acquiring Ayton isn’t of great importance for any of those franchises at the moment.
Deandre Waitin’
As expected.
Suns don’t know what they want……
I thought the new owner knew ball.
Seems he just wants names. Why Bring in Vogel if you want offense. You don’t win by showing up. You need substance. Didn’t you watch the Finals ……
KD at best has two good yrs. At this pace you won’t even know your team by the first year. If you’re foolish enough to trade Ayton now.
Considering what you gave up for Beal. You can’t expect much for Ayton.
Mitch, Fournier, Quickley …. probably too much
Seems like you still haven’t grasped what Beal’s no-trade clause meant and how it grants him leverage and not the WIZARDS ……. not to mention the timing of it all (punitive tax aprons forthcoming) pushes the WIZARDS and any trade partner to make a deal the soonest.
I’d also prefer if Ayton would be kept, for continuity’s sake and the obvious fact that he’s the only semblance of any paint defense on what remains of the SUNS team.
The Suns desperately need depth. They can bring a defensive big for one third of what Ayton is making. If they can trade him and get a couple of decent role players in return, it’s a no brainer.
Indeed they need depth, but this is the price to pay when one is this top heavy – you’re very limited in rounding up your roster.
They can still re-sign Craig, Landale, Payne. Then get from minimum-salaried vets / ring-chasing rotational players, etc
An Ayton trade can bring in some depth, but at this point, he could be more valuable staying than being traded ….. a.) good ole continuity …… b.) his position alone, ensures no redundancy from those big 3 scorers.
Pacers make the most sense. Ayton gives them a young, under contract big. They also have the #7 pick in the draft to add another young player, or to trade for a vet.
Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, Chris Duarte, future 1st rounder, pair of 2nd rounders back to Phoenix.
Turner is better then ayton right now. If that offer was on the table the suns would have done it last season
What are you smoking?
I wouldn’t trade turner for Ayton straight up especially considering contracts. My Lord.
BULLS!!!
Throw in Haliburton too
They can’t “bring in a defensive big for one third of what Ayton’s making,” unless it’s literally in the Ayton trade. They’re gonna be over the 2nd apron which gives them no possible way to pay someone over the minimum.
They still can sign someone before July 1st, can’t they? Especially if they shed some salary witn an Ayton’s trade.
@seamaholic Turner makes $20 million. Buddy Hield makes $23 million.
Agree with you. The Wizards had the opportunity to rid the franchise of the guaranteed contract for almost $210 million over four years with the no trade clause. The Wizards were decisive and took the opportunity. Agree with you regarding Ayton also. Ayton is big, somewhat mobile, has a decent mid range shot. A team has to have someone in the interior. So why not just keep Ayton?
Dude You got about 20 yrs to catch up to me. There is absolutely nothing I do t know about ball. You’re a broken record. Every analyst that makes a living for this. Is saying what I’m saying. Just a day late and a dollar short. Soon you will catch up to me too.
Money is not an issue for billionaires. Beal would have gotten a bigger return at TD. Or even in season if a player goes down. This fire sale is amateurish like your takes. Do we get it now …..
Don’t really care about Beal. But Ayton is a player I’d want. Not sure my Knicks want him though.
Get off my lawn!
I agree
You could just use the like button bro.
I did and I liked yours too. Is that ok?
Ayton to mavs.
Mavs send mcgee to suns and bertans to jazz plus the 10th pick
Jazz send the 28th to mavs.
It all works but good chance boston gets involved and send brogdon to jazz for their 16th pick. Suspect ko goes to boston. I’m sure jazz want to send gay but then jazz get Danilo.
Boston may be happy to send him as he injured acl hasn’t been tested after a year.
It all works whether three team or five team. It’s a matter of when they can close the deal and that’ll be after the draft and player options etc
I like this trade without Brogdan to the jazz. That part doesn’t make much sense given their timeline.
I think Brogdan goes to Clippers or Lakers, whichever loses out on Paul, will prob require a third team to eat some salary cap for a pick
If not brogdon then Williams. Boston going to lose and should move their players to get compliant with new cba. Williams is a free agent. Also see brogdon to jazz because they have ko. Ko can be bought out 9mm or kept.
This timeline crap is non sense. The jazz have to spend and so dead regardless. They essentially have too many picks. They can carry extra players until the season starts and then 15 on the main roster and 3 two ways now.
The jazz have said they want a play maker. They will want to do it if Clarkson walks. Tht may opt out. The jazz could use him.
It’s boston that creates issues because maybe they keep him and let Williams go. Maybe brown gets traded. We assuming they will do everything to keep brown.
What we know is those players have value in the league which is why jazz attached a pick. Ko a solid player.
I could see how these teams value and so this but …. Those options need to be declared soon and draft season is upon us. Lots of trades about to happen!
Just to clarify.. the Suns get McGee? That’s it? Like only him? Please elaborate.
Ayton for Brogdan and Rob Williams
Celtics add another young stud to go with Tatum and Brown. Still have vets like Smart and Horford and role players like White and Danilo.
Suns like Brogdan apparently and Rob not only replaces Ayton but is a better fit. Solid defender and not asking for the ball on offence, just hard working. Whereas the Celtics could do with another scorer outside of Tatum and Brown.
I guess Brogdon and Williams have more value than Ayton at the moment, and after trading for Beal, the Suns do not have any sweetener at all. I just don’t think this is a realistic trade.
Yeah, no way the C’s do this, Brogdon is too good. R. Williams, Pritchard, Gallinari and Muscala works in the trade machine, though.
Apparently they want to move Brogdan cause they have to many guards is the rumour. Rob Williams also has injury history whereas Ayton would be a huge piece for them
That actually makes sense for both teams.
Malcom Brogdon is already Celtic’s 3rd scorer. the NBA’s 6th Man averaged double digits off the bench and was our main guy when the J’s were sitting. We don’t need another. And once again everyone undervalues Rob ‘TimeLord’ Williams. He makes both our offense and defense go. I have to laugh when I read both of them for Ayton. That would be a steal for the Suns and likely insure them the NBA Title.
Dude, if you think Ayton is a “young stud”, you haven’t seen enough of him. I have. He’s not.
Who is 2023’s equivalent of Kendrick Perkins? That’s a player profile, the Suns should be looking for as a starting 4 or 5 – experienced, veteran, can hold stars accountable, doesn’t require touches, and does the dirty work.
Tristán Thompson has resemblances, Even though more talented, buthe’s LeBron’s buddy- he will.go.wherever he goes.
They should move Ayton for role players like a backup wing and a capable low cost center. Maybe even take a chance on someone like Mo Bamba. Or being McGee back. Dwight Howard or Drummond as a bench 5. They’ve got to scrape the bottom of the barrel paying three huge contracts. A shame they didn’t try and snag Monte Morris from Washington as well. He would’ve been a good point for this team
Bamba would be a perfect fit for the Suns.
Brooklyn….
DeAndre Ayton for Dorian Finney-Smith, Nic Claxton and Patty Mills
Brooklyn have said they want to add size and rebounding and Ayton is better than Claxton.
Another young suns player.
Mills would be a solid back up, DFS is perfect as a 3 and D role player and Claxton fills the Ayton gap.
If Brooklyn don’t want to part with Claxton and want him as the back up then take Royce ONeale and a first round pick. Royce would be a solid back up to have aswell and then your left trying to fill the Ayton gap in FA which you could do with guys such as Tristan Thompson, Andre Drummond, Mason Plumblee or someone of that ilk.
Dallas could also be a landing spot but a package of Bertans, Bullock, McGee and some seconds doesn’t hold as much appeal.
Celtics would be the other suggestion.
Brogdan and Rob Will for Ayton…
Suns like Brogdan and Rob is such a good fit for them. Just a defensive specialist, won’t ask for the ball on offence and just willing to work hard. Brogdan would be solid off the bench.
As for the Celtics, Ayton as a third young stud to go with Tatum and Brown. They could do with the added scoring option and perfect role model in Al Horford to learn from and shape his game. Still have guys like White, Danilo, Smart and Horford and possibly Grant Williams.
The versatility to play 2 bigs in Horford and Ayton or 2 guards with White and Smart or an added forward like Grant or Danilo with Brown at the 2.
I mean they turned down a Ayton package last offseason for KD and then didnt want him in the package they got so…
I mean I’d prefer Bridges Johnson and the picks too but if your offloading chump change then I’d take him
That’s all great but Ayton isn’t better than Claxton.
I believe he is.
Ayton 18-10-2 Claxton 12.5-9-2
Ayton is a better offensive player and Claxton better defensively
Claxton is a near liability from the FT like tho, and has been a starter for 1 season to Aytons 5. Ayton has higher potential, is taller and has a bigger frame.
Brooklyn wants to add size and could do with another scoring option
if suns ask for nets’s players, i believe nets will force them to take ben simmons. They will keep dfs.
If they can keep Ayton (salary wise) and don’t care about potential luxury tax penalties, why would they look to trade him? He might be disgruntled about a lack of scoring opportunities, but who will the Suns replace him with? Do they think Jock Landale can be a starting rebounding role player and occasional finisher?
Beal still seems like a weird fit on the Suns to me, unless they plan to share PG/ball handling between KD/Durant/Booker . Or maybe Payne at PG, Beal at SG, KD and Booker at the forwards. In which case, you’d need someone like Ayton at C, maybe? Because where else is the rebounding coming from? Should be an interesting team no matter what.
Ayton to Portland for Grant and Nurkic #23 & #43 picks in this draft. This gives Suns depth and ability to grow now. For Portland this gives them someone to team with Dame and still hold their #3 pick in draft to continue to add to team.
Grant is a FA and the Suns have no possible way of getting the payroll low enough to S&T for him…
Interesting framework. Can’t imagine Grant would be too happy, though, going to a team where he gets a lot of touches to the Suns where he’d go back to his old role with the Thunder/Nuggets. Plus, he’s a horrible rebounder and Nurkic can’t stay healthy, so they’d be taking a pretty big risk in the rebounding department
Don’t see how the Bulls could match salaries for a trade so that is nonsense.
You know the Bulls have salaries too right
They can sign and trade Vuc. Drummond and Derrick
jones Jr will opt in for $3.4M each. They can trade DeRozan to a 3rd team like the Lakers. There are lots of ways to make the salaries work. Suns just need to turn Ayton 32M into 3-4 players to have a chance to win
I would sign and trade Vuc and Coby
I just want them to do something man. Can’t bring back this same roster. I would like to move LaVine and DeRozan and go young. I would have moved Caruso for Wiseman and those 2nd round picks last year and made that LaVine Knicks trade. Team messed up drafting Williams over Haliburton. Wouldn’t have the Lonzo problem if they made the right pick.
Pelicans, Celtics and Atlanta should jump at this
Along with OKC
Suns are dumb they should have kept the roster that went to the finals. No KD. Instead 2 other role players. Like the nuggets. Jokic-Murray stars. Gordon-Porter great role players.
Ayton to the Spurs for Collins, Graham, and McDermott is even money and adds 3 useful veterans to the Suns roster.
The Spurs may have to add a pick as well, but it’s hard to pin down Ayton’s value.
I kinda like this one. Wemby at the 4 his first few years. But that sends Sochan to the bench which isn’t ideal. Still, SA would have some thinking to do
Wemby’s a 3. He has absolutely zero strength right now.
Horrible idea
I’m surprised they could move CP3…
But I’ll be surprised if this team is healthy enough in June for it to matter…
Keeping Ayton seems the smart deal… You lack depth but not the scoring punch when one of the 3 stars is sitting some games…
Vogel might be able to get more out of Ayton and have some sort of defence out of the team…
But overall they just look like an also ran with 3 high profile scorers…
Sign and trade FVV for ayton. If I’m the raps I’m taking DA over poetl. He is stronger , just as tall(if not taller) , more skilled , & can shoot outside 3ft(unlike JP). Trade siakim for assests and now you can build off of Scottie, OG & ayton.
2 packages I can think of
Clips – Zubac Mann batum – This takes some faith by LAC just watching Zubac and Plum give DA the business last month. I wouldn’t do this if Lac but Ballmer seems like a go getter. Phenomenal trade If phx can land this
Mavs – kleba McGee hardaway jr – Cuban could def entertain this so availability could be the best ability here – I’d prolly hold here if Phx till the deadline if this was the best I could get but it’s at least worth mulling over
Swap Green for McGee (who’s worth the minimum at this point) and the Suns might bite on that.
A 3 team trade whereas Ayton goes to the Pacers, Robinson to the Suns and Turner to the Knicks. It kinda solves everyone’s problem at the 5. Robinson is a rebound, lob guy and is cheaper. Turner spaces the floor for the Knicks and the Pacers lands the 5 they wanted
I can’t see any Western team dealing with them. If they can’t deal him they’re going to be fielding a G League bench and probably won’t be much of a threat.
Capela and THT to the Suns
Collins to Jazz
Gay and Ayton to the Hawks.
If they can get 2 quality starters/short rotation players for Ayton (2 for 1 in effect), then do it. But that seems unlikely, and a pure salary dump seems like a bad idea basketball-wise. The luxury tax doesn’t get assessed until the end of next season, so there is no need to panic like WSH did. If nothing good comes up, keep him to start the year and see how it goes. The market for him can’t get much worse.
I like it how everyone talks crap but copies me
How about capela and something,miles Turner and a pick, Adams and kennard? Brodgon, Pritchard and picks. Celtics, hawks, OKC, Memphis, Dallas and other teams should be trying right now
Maybe a 3 team deal:
Mavs get Ayton
Lakers get Kyrie
Suns get Mo, Beasley, Vando, 10th & 17th picks
Not bad. I like it. Mikey likes it
trade ayton. sign naz reid.
Surprised no one is mentioning the thunder, pistons.
For the pistons I think having Wisemam and Ayton in the front court is better long term.
Ivey, Cunningham, draft SF at 5, Ayton at PF, Wiseman at C starting 5
Deal from Stewart, Burks. Bogdanovic, and possibly Duren.
Thunder definitely have a lot of pieces to trade for Ayton. Tre Mann, Jaylin Williams (C), Pokusevski, Isiah Joe.
Thunder add Ayton to a promising young Core of SGA, Giddey, Dort, Jalen Williams, Holgrem.
Suns new owner is being reckless and ignorant in his thinking. He’s about 10 years behind the “Big 3” model doesn’t work, especially with the new CBA and aging BIG contracts. Trading Ayton will only add to the problem but Suns are left with no choice at this point. Poor Booker.