When the Phoenix Suns traded for Bradley Beal, most people around the NBA especualted that Deandre Ayton would be next. They were in a tough spot with this new CBA, and they needed to clear salary cap space.
Even so, the team moved on from Chris Paul instead, and now that Monty Williams is no longer in town, perhaps they hope that Ayton takes a major leap with Frank Vogel.
While that could be the case, and Kevin Durantās team will definitely hope that, Zach Lowe of ESPN reveals that the only reason they decided to hold onto him was because of his limited trade value.
Deandre Aytonās Trade Value Is Low Right Now
āAyton is the make-or-break factor in Phoenixās defense being good enough to win four playoff series,ā wrote Lowe. āHe developed from a confused, out-of-his-depth rookie into a reliable centerpiece during the Sunsā 2021 Finals run. As last season unraveled, the balance Ayton had worked so hard to hone eluded him.ā
āThere is no viable trade right now turning Ayton into the kinds of players (or picks) that would maintain or boost the Sunsā NBA title odds, per league sources,ā Lowe added. āThe Sunsā top priority ā from Ishbia to Ayton and down to the 15th man ā should be doing whatever it takes to repair their relationship with Ayton, to lift him back up. The Sunsā likely path toward a good-enough defense is switching a ton across the perimeter while keeping Ayton closer to the paint as the last line.ā
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Kevin Durant"s Suns could trade for another star
Of course, everything can change throughout the course of the season, and it could all go down to whether Ayton is motivated enough to play and get back to his old level or not.
