Inside The Suns

Rumor: Mavericks Interested in Suns Center Deandre Ayton

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton could potentially unite with the same player who was debated against him for the No. 1 pick years ago.
Donnie Druin|
Rumor: Mavericks Interested in Suns Center Deandre Ayton
Rumor: Mavericks Interested in Suns Center Deandre Ayton

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Phoenix Suns

PHOENIX -- It's Super Bowl week here in Arizona, yet the Phoenix Suns have their own championship aspirations in mind.

The official completion of the Suns' sale to Mat Ishbia means Phoenix can now carry out business as usual on the trade market. With only two days left until the Feb. 9 trade deadline passes, Phoenix has their work cut out for them.

Jae Crowder has been the biggest elephant in the room and for obvious reasons: His absence the entire year has left the Suns short one potential puzzle piece short of their championship aspirations, and Phoenix general manager James Jones has held out hope that the team can get something of value for the power forward.

Yet Crowder isn't the only notable name to have attracted other teams.

NBA writer Doc Louallen says the Dallas Mavericks are interested in acquiring center Deandre Ayton from Phoenix, with Christian Wood and Tim Hardaway Jr. being rumored in trade talks. 

The Suns opted to take Ayton over Luka Doncic, who has run rampant on courts for the Dallas Mavericks since. Dallas would pair the two top picks from the 2018 NBA Draft in an effort to get him some much needed help if Dallas wants to reach greater heights in the postseason. 

Ayton - who had his offer sheet matched by the Suns in the summer - has trade veto rights for the first year of his new deal. 

The Suns have reportedly been fairly active in the trade market, pursuing both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets. Irving made his way to Dallas and Brooklyn seems content with keeping Durant. 

Arizona Sports' John Gambadoro isn't buying the Ayton-to-Dallas rumors:

There's a short time window for anything to happen, but it appears as if there's too many wheels that need to get spinning for that to gain any actual traction. 

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Donnie Druin
DONNIE DRUIN

Donnie Druin is the Publisher for Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Suns On SI. Donnie moved to Arizona in 2012 and has been with the company since 2018. In college he won "Best Sports Column" in the state of Arizona for his section and has previously provided coverage for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona State Sun Devils. Follow Donnie on Twitter @DonnieDruin for more news, updates, analysis and more!

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