Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns have been a hot topic since their second-round exit. After struggling in the postseason with some questioning his efforts, many thought the Suns were ready to trade the former first overall pick.
Especially now that the team parted ways with Chris Paul, all signs indicated that Phoenix almost completely retooled their roster to build Devin Booker, Bradley Bell, and Kevin Durant. The Suns were reportedly in trade talks with the Philadelphia 76ers for touchdown Tobias Harris, but they wanted a third team involved to take on Deandre Ayton. Now, it appears as if that is over with the team now set to keep Ayton on the roster for next season.
The Phoenix Suns are willing to keep Dean Ayton
How Deandre Ayton will fit into Phoenix’s new big three
While Deandre Ayton has certainly been on the receiving end of many jokes post this season, he’s still one of the best players in the league that shouldn’t be overlooked. The Suns’ new trio of Bell, Booker and Durant will indeed be killer. Having a center that averaged 18.0 points, 10.0 total rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game also on the floor would make Phoenix one of the top five teams in the Western Conference once again.
He likely won’t be in any All-Star Games anytime soon, but if this coming year comes around with a chip on his shoulder willing to do what it takes to succeed with this new rotation, he could be in for a rejuvenating season in a number of ways. Phoenix still has to field shows if the right offer comes their way, but the Suns still have a fearsome starting lineup with Deandre Ayton still on the roster.
The repercussions of keeping the big guy
While the Suns now plan to keep Deandre Ayton, it will certainly hinder their financial flexibility. Phoenix is already tied for the trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and newly added Bradley Bell. The depth of the bench will again be a big question mark and the team are limited in who they can afford this off-season. As a result, they will have to focus on signing players to minimum contracts.
With Ayton in the books now, Phoenix will have over $185 million for the four star players. The team is already taking a big risk by relying heavily on an attack-minded trio with a questionable second unit. We’ll see if Ayton can fit into the system next season.