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Dallas Mavericks could pursue Deandre Ayton to pair with Luka Doncic

Deandre Ayton

With Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks have one of the best young players in basketball. But the Slovenian legend needs some help on the court to help the Mavs get to the promised land.

One potential name that’s come up is Deandre Ayton, who has been a mainstay in NBA trade rumors for a few seasons now, both due to frustrations with his role as well as some run-ins with head coach Monty Williams.

During a recent appearance on The Lowe Post podcast, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported the Mavericks have been mentioned in trade rumors for the Phoenix Suns center, but he indicated that a trade may not get executed before the Feb. 9 NBA trade deadline.

Instead, the Mavericks may see Ayton as an option to revisit in the offseason rather than make drastic changes mid-season. With Christian Wood set for free agency, the Mavericks’ need for a presence in the paint could prompt Dallas to make a bolder move when the time comes.

Ayton, who signed a four-year, $132.9 million contract to stay with the Suns this past offseason, has a full no-trade clause, giving him veto power in any potential deal that may pop up. Yet, after the 24-year-old tried to depart Phoenix during the offseason, signing an offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers, it’s believed Ayton would welcome a trade out of town if given the opportunity.

For now, both the Mavericks and Suns will continue looking to improve their playoff positioning in a tight race in the Western Conference. But don’t be surprised if rumors linking the Mavericks to Ayton heat up again should either team begin to struggle in the next two weeks.

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