NBA Rumors: Suns ready to engage in sign-and-trade talks for Deandre Ayton
NBA Rumors: Another report suggests that the Phoenix Suns are ready to engage in sign-and-trade talks for Deandre Ayton.
Losing in the Western Conference semifinals was not exactly something that many Phoenix Suns fans expected this season. Even less so considering that the team won 64 games during the regular season.
However, after blowing a Game 7 at home, the Suns were sent into the offseason earlier than expected by Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. Now, the Suns are left picking up the pieces and will need to figure out how to recover from what will be remembered as an extremely disappointing season.
And at the forefront of their tasks this summer is a huge decision on what to do with Deandre Ayton, who is a restricted free agent and will be free to sign offer sheets with whichever team he wishes this summer.
After refusing to offer him a max extension last offseason, there is some doubt about whether or not the team views Ayton as a long-term piece of the franchise. And the recent musings have not quieted that sense at all.
According to a recent report, the Suns are expected to “seriously” discuss possible sign-and-trade deals for Ayton. This falls in line with the recent report that suggests Ayton has played his final game with the team.
From all sides, this seems puzzling. And not just because the Suns are coming off a run to the NAB Finals and then a 64-win regular season. But also because Ayton is just 23 years old and may have not even reached his ceiling as a player.
Ayton is coming off a season in which he averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds on 63 percent shooting from the field. He played a huge part in the team’s overall success and has become a building block next to Devin Booker – or so it seemed.
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The next few weeks will be interesting and Ayton is another big name that needs monitoring. Would the Suns actually trade him? On one hand, it seems outlandish to even suggest. On the other, why hasn’t he been extended yet?