NBA Trade Idea: Deandre Ayton Joins Mavs; Christian Wood Signs with Suns?
One of the worst-kept secrets in the NBA is that the Dallas Mavericks desperately need an upgrade at the starting center position. That’s not a knock on Dwight Powell or Christian Wood, who both started at center for Dallas this year, but more is needed than what they can provide.
One potential option for an upgrade at center this summer could be Phoenix Suns big man Deandre Ayton, who could really use a change of scenery and has been linked to the Mavs in a handful of trade rumors.
Many have speculated on potential trade packages the Mavs could send the Suns for Ayton, and Bleacher Report recently added to it by formulating a deal that has Christian Wood making his way to Phoenix via sign-and-trade, as well Josh Green and JaVale McGee, in exchange for Ayton straight up with no picks involved.
"A shaky center position in Dallas only gets worse as both Wood and Dwight Powell now become free agents. Getting Ayton, who was selected two picks ahead of Luka Doncic in 2018, would give the Mavs another franchise centerpiece who's still only 24 and under contract for the next three seasons," Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz writes, explaining his reasoning for the trade.
"Wood is capable of starting at power forward or center, giving Phoenix yet another offensive weapon to take the pressure off Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. McGee thrived during his previous stop with the Suns as a backup center and Green is a good, young 3-and-D piece to place between the stars."
Who knows if that offer is enough to entice the Suns into parting ways with Ayton, especially given that he’d be going to a Western Conference rival. But if the Mavs are going to take a flier on a big man with motor concerns making an average of $33 million per year over the next three seasons, doing so while not having to give up any draft capital and making something positive come from Wood’s imminent departure is definitely the best-case scenario.
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