Following the Bradley Beal trade, some wondered if the Phoenix Suns had another big move up their sleeves. But the community should have known Devin Booker wasn’t going anywhere. The same goes for Kevin Durant.
Yet, rumors about Deandre Ayton only seemed to heat up, with NBA teams ramping up their efforts to land the former No. 1 pick following the Beal blockbuster. Ayton, seemingly the only trade chip left on the roster aside from the new Big 3, is also a big part of what first-year coach Frank Vogel wants to do defensively.
So the report from NBA insider Chris Haynes, indicating the Suns don’t have any plans to part with Ayton or their All-Star trio, comes as no surprise. Instead, the Suns reportedly value Ayton more now than they ever have and are eager to see how he fits in with their superstar scorers.
Of course, a cynic will suggest the Suns hyping up their soon-to-be 25-year-old star could be another precursor to a trade, as has become common around the NBA. But that doesn’t appear to be the case here for a Suns team with very little depth on the roster at all, and certainly no one capable of replacing Ayton’s production as a steady paint presence and glass cleaner.
- Deandre Ayton’s stats last season: 18 PPG, 10 RPG, 0.8 BPG, 58% FG, 29% 3PT
Ayton is set to make $32.4 million this season, his sixth in the league. He’s averaged a double-double in each of his first five seasons, proving to be a reliable option in Phoenix, even if he hasn’t developed into the superstar that some former No. 1 picks become.
By keeping their core four players together, the Suns automatically become a top contender to threaten for the Western Conference championship. Yet, they will still face plenty of challenges defensively, as well as deciding who will handle point guard duties under coach Vogel.
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