Basketball insider Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer named two teams that have been connected to restricted Phoenix Suns free agent Deandre Ayton.
O’Connor said on Tuesday’s episode of The Mismatch Podcast that the Atlanta Hawks and the Detroit Pistons are in on the former No. 1 pick out of Arizona, which was also reported by Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer last week.
O’Connor wondered what the Suns would want in return if a sign-and-trade is imminent, be it another big man or depth on the wing.
Hawks center Clint Capela has one year left on his deal for $18.2 million and has been a topic of trade rumors this offseason, like Ayton.
The Hawks made the playoffs this past year as the No. 8 seed after prevailing in the play-in tournament, but they lost in the first round and could look to shift their roster. They reportedly are shopping high-flying forward John Collins.
The Pistons are a younger team with the No. 5 pick in the upcoming draft. Wing Jerami Grant has one year left on his contract worth just shy of $21 million and has also been the subject of trade speculation.
O’Connor also brought up a wild-card team in the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He said he has not heard Minnesota is interested in Ayton but reported that they are looking into another big, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert.
O’Connor presented a made-up Ayton for guard D’Angelo Russell and picks transaction if the Timberwolves want the center.