Hypothetical Mavs Trade Sends Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber to Suns for Deandre Ayton

The Deandre Ayton to Dallas rumors and mock trades continue to be the talk of the town as NBA Insider Marc Stein proposes a trade between the two rivals.

The Phoenix Suns are no strangers to losing a must-win game in embarrassing fashion. And even though Phoenix's season just ended in a 4-2 series defeat to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals, the speculation on their future has already begun.

Going back to last year's second-round defeat to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 7, Suns center Deandre Ayton and head coach Monty Williams were seen in a heated discussion on the bench, which may have played a part in Ayton signing an offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers during the summer, which Phoenix ultimately matched.

Despite being back in a Suns uniform, Ayton's future in The Valley always seemed bleak, but after this year's loss in the postseason, his departure feels likely … even after Williams got fired on Saturday.

On the latest episode of “#thisleague UNCUT,” NBA insider Marc Stein proposed a trade that would land the Suns big man with the Mavs in exchange for Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber, and the No. 10 pick in this year’s draft. 

Of course, the hypothetical is based on the the Mavericks keeping their pick in Tuesday's draft lottery. Dallas’ need for an upgrade and an anchor at the center position is evident, but would parting with the No. 10 pick along with Hardaway Jr. and Kleber be too much? 

Like Phoenix, the Mavericks need to bolster their depth this summer, and Stein’s hypothetical would essentially be swapping three players for one, if the proposed trade would even entice the Suns. Despite Ayton being a former No. 1 pick, his stock isn't necessarily through the roof after two consecutive disappointing postseasons.

Ayton was the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA draft for a reason — the skillset is there. But, is the work ethic there? Is the desire to be the best there? Because despite the untapped potential, if Ayton doesn’t want to tap into that, it’s a lost cause. Perhaps a change of scenery would do him some good.

The Ayton to Dallas rumor is one that will linger throughout the offseason until Phoenix makes a decision on the future of their big man. But until then, expect to see a number of mock trades with Ayton in a Mavericks uniform. 

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