Deandre Ayton’s free agent market has apparently been paralyzed by trade talks involving the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets. Now, it appears we could soon see movement with Ayton.
Reports out of Phoenix are that Ayton could sign an offer sheet, possibly as soon as Thursday. That would force the Suns hands on matching his deal or letting him leave.
Ayton has been rumored to be a part of trade for Kevin Durant via a sign-and-trade to the Nets. However, Brooklyn doesn’t seem to have a lot of interest in acquiring Ayton in a Durant trade, which would mean involving a third team in any potential deal.
The only two teams with the cap space to sign Ayton to an offer sheet are the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs. Indiana has been mentioned as a possible landing spot for Ayton. This goes as far back as the 2022 trade deadline, when the Pacers considered dealing for young center.