Mavs, Suns Deandre Ayton Trade? Talks Could Resume, Says NBA Insider

The Mavs continue to be linked in trade rumors to Suns center Deandre Ayton even after selecting a center using a lottery pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks have been linked often in trade rumors to Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton. Despite adding Dereck Lively II in the NBA Draft, the Mavs continue to be linked to the former No. 1 overall pick.

According to Marc Stein, the Mavs attempted to trade for Ayton with a package including Tim Hardaway Jr., Richaun Holmes and JaVale McGee, but the Suns decided not to make the deal due to McGee being included.

"The proposed deal, sources tell The Stein Line, would have sent Ayton to Dallas for Tim Hardaway Jr., Richaun Holmes and JaVale McGee — but the Suns balked at McGee’s inclusion," Stein wrote.

The Mavs' trade involving Holmes' contract has not yet been made official, enabling them to expand the deal to send him elsewhere. If that trade becomes official as presently constructed as its set to do so on July 6, Holmes will not be able to be aggregated in a trade with another player for 60 days due to the recently traded players restriction. 

While a trade has not transpired yet, the outlook for a trade occurring in the future cannot be ruled out. The Suns have a short window to reshuffle the roster ahead of the implementation of the new CBA when the league year flips.

"Sources with knowledge of the Phoenix/Dallas trade discussions said a resumption of the Ayton talks could not be ruled out," Stein wrote. 

Signed to a four-year, $132.9 million contract, Ayton is set to earn just under $32.5 million in 2023-24. He is signed through the 2025-26 season. Given Ayton's contract, it'll be difficult to net a strong return in trade talks. 

Ayton is coming off a season averaging 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 67 games. He shot 58.9 percent from the floor and 76.0 percent from the free throw line. He remained productive, but his impact diminished in the playoffs, particularly in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Denver Nuggets.

Against the Nuggets in the playoffs, Ayton was contained to just 10.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in five games. He failed to produce a positive plus-minus in any of his performances and was held to single figure scoring twice, including a four-point performance in Game 3 of the series.

With the Suns now having Bradley Beal in the fold alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, there isn't a need to prioritize an expensive scoring threat at the center position. Phoenix may choose to break up his contract into multiple players in order to maximize the depth that they have. 

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Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).

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