Two Teams Reportedly Interested in Suns Center Deandre Ayton
Deandre Ayton’s time with the Phoenix Suns could be coming to an end very soon.
According to a report by Hoops Wire’s Sam Amico, both the Indiana Pacers and Portland Trail Blazers are looking into Ayton’s availability.
“The Suns are likely to reach out to the Pacers about a potential trade centered on Ayton, sources said. Indiana signed Ayton to an offer sheet last summer, prompting the Suns to match and keep him. The Blazers may be among the teams interested in Ayton, per Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. Portland was linked to Ayton last summer when he was a restricted free agent,” Amico wrote.
The Pacers' four-year, $133 million offer sheet to Ayton last offseason shows that they believe in his potential and still must have interest in him if he were to be made available.
Indiana has a solid young core and are still in the rebuilding process, so there could be less pressure on Ayton to deliver championship play, which will help him primarily focus on furthering his development.
One player the Suns could target in a trade with the Pacers is Myles Turner. He is an established center in the NBA that would fit better for Phoenix's win-now mentality. Turner averaged 18 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists this past season.
The Trail Blazers are in a little bit of a different situation. With Damian Lillard still on the roster, the window for the team to compete is still on the table - but they've failed to make the playoffs each of the past two seasons.
If Ayton could reach his first overall status, he would be extremely useful for Portland as the second option behind Lillard. His presence could be exactly what they need to get back on track and into the playoff picture.
Portland could offer the Suns their own big man in Jusuf Nurkic among other assets for Ayton. While Nurkic’s stats don’t jump off the charts, similar to Turner he is an established center who is comfortable just playing his role. Last season, Nurkic averaged 13.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
The Suns have a lot to consider this summer regarding Ayton’s future in the Valley.
