NBA Rumors: 3 Teams & Names That Could Be On The Move For Deandre Ayton

June 06, 2022 , , ,


If, as reported, Deandre Ayton is on his way out of Phoenix this summer, a number of teams have some intriguing assets that could pave the way for a sign and trade. Ayton is a restricted free agent, so the Suns can match any offer he receives, or opt to work out a deal with the team he signs an offer sheet with. 

James L. Edwards III and John Hollinger of The Athletic have put forth a number of teams and players that could be in the running to land Ayton. 

Detroit Pistons / Jerami Grant

All the discussion over Ayton seems to start with the Detroit Pistons. They do have one of the league's most attractive trade chips, note Edwards and Hollinger, in Jerami Grant. Using him in a sign and trade could get a deal done. 

Adding a big man like Ayton seems like a great fit to the dynamic backcourt of Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey. 

San Antonio Spurs / Jakob Poeltl

The Spurs do have the cap room to make Ayton a max offer, and they have a very intriguing center to send back that can keep the Suns at the top, in Jakob Poeltl. Hollinger suggests adding in Keldon Johnson to get a deal done from the salary-matching perspective. But is this too much for the Spurs to give up? 

Portland Trail Blazers / Jusuf Nurkic

Another team with loads of cap space, they can also put forth a max offer sheet for Ayton. And pairing up Damian Lillard with a big man like Ayton could be a real boon to the Blazers. Nurkic is an unrestricted free agent, so this would have to be a double sign and trade, which Hollinger admits would be tricky.

Anyway you look at it, all the reports suggest that Ayton is destined to be moving on from Phoenix.

Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports



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