The Magic Insider

Betting Odds: Magic Favorites in Suns' Deandre Ayton Trade?

The Orlando Magic could look to trade for Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton this offseason.

Jeremy Brener

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ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic may have missed out on the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, but there's still a chance the team could pair Paolo Banchero with a fellow No. 1 overall pick in the frontcourt.

BetOnline laid out odds for Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton's next team should he be traded, and the Magic is tied with the Atlanta Hawks for the best odds at +500.

Ayton, who turns 25 this summer, was the No. 1 pick by the Suns back in 2018. He was a key part of Phoenix's 2021 run to the NBA Finals, but back-to-back second-round exits have the Suns re-evaluating things, and if a trade was made, Ayton is a logical candidate to part ways with.

Ayton was a restricted free agent last summer, and the Suns neglected to sign him on their own, forcing the Indiana Pacers to sign a historic four-year, $133 million offer sheet that Phoenix matched immediately.

With Kevin Durant in the fold, expectations have grown for the Suns, and Ayton could yield back the best value in all of Phoenix's potential trade assets.

The Magic would benefit from an Ayton upgrade, but Orlando has arguably a player of better value in Wendell Carter Jr.

Ayton averages 18 points and 10 rebounds per game while making over $33 million per year. Meanwhile, Carter averages 15.2 points and 7.8 rebounds and has about $36 million left on his contract for the next three years combined.

Ayton may have a new home, and while the bookies like Orlando as a new destination, it seems very unlikely that it will come into fruition. 

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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