Report: Ayton Would Embrace Detroit, Playing With Cade Cunningham
The dominoes for Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton continue to fall, as Ayton's timeline in Phoenix may be coming to an end before it could even truly get started.
The former No. 1 pick was set to become a key cornerstone of the Suns for years to come, forming a dynamic duo with Devin Booker while patrolling the paint.
Phoenix has seen a jump in success in the previous two years, whether it be making the NBA Finals or setting numerous regular season records. While perhaps not the most important piece to the puzzle, Ayton's importance during those runs can't be denied.
Yet here we are: The Suns are projected to send Ayton on his way out of town, and the Detroit Pistons appear to be favorites to land him.
Detroit was named as one of three top teams by Bleacher Report to be in contention for Ayton just weeks ago, yet their latest deal that sent Jerami Grant to Portland (clearing up $21 million in cap space) has positioned the Pistons to be prime contenders in the free agent market.
Apparently, Ayton wouldn't mind that at all. NBA Insider Marc Stein reports that Ayton would "embrace" forming a duo with last year's No. 1 pick in Cade Cunningham.
Playing as a guard, Cunningham finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and gathered All-NBA Rookie first team honors after averaging 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.4 assists in 64 games played.
Detroit is on a youth movement, and believes capturing Ayton would give the Pistons a strong group of young stars to move into the franchise's future. Ayton is set to turn 24-years-old in July, while Cunningham will turn 21-years-old later in September.
The Pistons are certainly poised to offer Ayton and force the Suns into either matching the offer sheet or completing a sign-and-trade with Detroit, even after Phoenix's likely preferred chess piece in Grant is no longer available.
As a restricted free agent, Ayton is allowed to help facilitate a sign-and-trade with a new team as long as he does not sign an offer sheet with them.
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