Update on Deandre Ayton's Potential Landing Spots
The Phoenix Suns and center Deandre Ayton are all but set to part ways, should any of the numerous reports and rumors be true.
Since their Game 7 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, just about any team has been linked to be interested in Ayton's services.
With his youth, scoring ability, athleticism down low and potential that many believe has yet to be reached, Ayton will be a highly coveted target for many teams come July.
That is, if the Suns actually choose to move their former No. 1 pick.
Where will Deandre Ayton play?
Nobody knows the ultimate destination for Ayton and where he'll be playing basketball for the foreseeable future, just that he'll end up getting that max contract he seeks so desperately.
However, Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reports that three major teams can be tabbed as "realistic" landing spots for Ayton, with one more team reportedly taking themselves out of the race.
Out of the race: Portland Trailblazers
Fischer doesn't believe Portland is in the running for Ayton.
"Portland does not appear to be a legitimate landing spot for restricted free agent Deandre Ayton, sources said. The Trail Blazers are expected to retain starting center Jusuf Nurkic, and they are prioritizing Toronto Raptors swingman OG Anunoby in any return for the No. 7 pick in next week's draft, sources said. But there has been increasing talk about Portland potentially targeting the seventh selection to Oklahoma City for No. 12 and a package that could include Lu Dort."
Reports surfaced earlier this week of Damian Lillard wanting to play with Ayton, yet the Trail Blazers appear to have other moves in mind.
Leading the pack: Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors
The three aforementioned teams appear to be the most serious contenders when it comes to landing Ayton.
However, Fischer also sprinkled a surprise team with a trade involving a hot name in the trade market:
"Ayton's most realistic landing spots outside of Phoenix appear to be Atlanta, Detroit and Toronto, which all would present intriguing sign-and-trade opportunities for the Suns. League personnel have also whispered in recent days about a potential sign-and-trade of Ayton to Indiana for Myles Turner. Turner and Ayton share the same representation."
The long offseason of rumors, whispers and reports will continue for a few more weeks, yet we may have just gotten a clearer picture on what teams are big players in the Deandre Ayton sweepstakes.
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