Report: Suns Have No Viable Trade Options for Deandre Ayton
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton has found himself near plenty of trade talk, speculation and rumors over the last few seasons. Whether it be the offseason or near the trade deadline, Phoenix's only No. 1 pick was - at minimum - a point of discussion among interested NBA teams.
Since the arrival of new head coach Frank Vogel, that noise has been silenced. Vogel has been highly complimentary of Ayton's game and the Suns have since stopped looking for potential packages for their big man.
"I think he can be one of the best centers in the league," said Vogel.
"I think he's shown that at times throughout his career, and I know he showed that when we played him in the playoffs a couple years back and he shot about 80% from the field and deterred every drive, every cut, every effort to attack the basket. He can be a big time deterrent. There's still areas that he can grow offensively. But I'm intent on really connecting with him and restoring him to an all star level player."
After the Suns acquired Bradley Beal, many thought Phoenix would look to move Ayton to supplement the needed bench depth. Yet the team ultimately kept Ayton and banked on signing key veterans on minimum deals in free agency.
Fast-forward to present day, where the Suns were able to accomplish just that and now tout a starting lineup that features Ayton, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and one more player yet to be named.
There's been chatter on the Suns still being interested in forcing Ayton out down the road, though ESPN's Zach Lowe recently reported the team has seen "no viable" trade packages for the center:
"There is no viable trade right now turning Ayton into the kinds of players (or picks) that would maintain or boost the Suns' title odds, per league sources.
"The Suns' top priority -- from Ishbia to Ayton and down to the 15th man -- should be doing whatever it takes to repair their relationship with Ayton, to lift him back up. The Suns' likely path toward a good-enough defense is switching a ton across the perimeter while keeping Ayton closer to the paint as the last line."
Ayton - should he find his footing and truly grab hold of his potential - could undoubtedly spark this team to greater heights moving forward, heights that should indeed deliver a first NBA Finals title back to the Valley.
