Outside Phoenix, Ayton is viewed as an enticing piece who could help facilitate a Lillard trade. Sources in Portland confirmed that Deandre 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. 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.
Source: gophnx.com
Source: gophnx.com
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
The Suns have emerged as a “dark horse” to help facilitate a Damian Lillard trade (or another larger deal) as teams call about Deandre Ayton. For @PHNX_Suns, here’s what we’re hearing about DA, Jusuf Nurkic, the Blazers, the Raptors and more: bit.ly/45Zr3Bv pic.twitter.com/eI0AlvJWag – 8:16 PM
The Suns have emerged as a “dark horse” to help facilitate a Damian Lillard trade (or another larger deal) as teams call about Deandre Ayton. For @PHNX_Suns, here’s what we’re hearing about DA, Jusuf Nurkic, the Blazers, the Raptors and more: bit.ly/45Zr3Bv pic.twitter.com/eI0AlvJWag – 8:16 PM
Sean Highkin @highkin
Can’t speak to how imminent anything is but Portland has wanted to upgrade the starting center spot for a while and have had interest in Ayton in the past. Kicked the tires last spring but it was hard to make the money work with S&T rules. Not sure how it helps Phoenix. – 8:07 PM
Can’t speak to how imminent anything is but Portland has wanted to upgrade the starting center spot for a while and have had interest in Ayton in the past. Kicked the tires last spring but it was hard to make the money work with S&T rules. Not sure how it helps Phoenix. – 8:07 PM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Condensed thoughts: Ayton is a better player than Nurkic and a much better fit for the Suns, even with his flaws. Any deal primarily built around that swap would be operating under the belief that Phoenix gets better without Ayton in general. That is up for debate, obviously. – 7:54 PM
Condensed thoughts: Ayton is a better player than Nurkic and a much better fit for the Suns, even with his flaws. Any deal primarily built around that swap would be operating under the belief that Phoenix gets better without Ayton in general. That is up for debate, obviously. – 7:54 PM
More on this storyline
That leaves Deandre Ayton, who’s been the subject of trade speculation off and on for years now. One source told PHNX Sports that the Dallas Mavericks made an underwhelming offer for Ayton over the summer, and ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported in May that Ayton would be “excited about a fresh start with another franchise” following the Suns’ second-round playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets. -via gophnx.com / September 21, 2023
A look at Portland’s rebuild shows why a third team needs to be involved if they’re targeting Ayton. Jusuf Nurkic is the name that keeps coming up, but aside from their salaries not matching, it’d be shocking if Phoenix entertained the idea of an injury-prone, 29-year-old downgrade serving as their new starting center…unless the right piece was attached from another team. -via gophnx.com / September 21, 2023
It would take a compelling offer to get the Suns to reconsider their stance on Ayton. Not only would Phoenix seek a starting-caliber big man to replace DA, but they’d also need additional assets — either a young player with potential who could also contribute right now on a contender, draft compensation to help refill their empty cupboard, or both. Although the Suns considered trade offers for Deandre Ayton the night of the 2023 NBA Draft, those offers were subpar. One source went as far as calling them “trash,” so the Suns kept their former No. 1 pick through the offseason. -via gophnx.com / September 21, 2023