Three Players for Suns to Land in Potential Deandre Ayton Trade

Suns center Deandre Ayton may be on the move, and here's who Phoenix could potentially grab in exchange according to Bleacher Report.

The storm of talks surrounding Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton and his future with the franchise has only begun, as we're early in the offseason and free-agency won't begin until July 1. 

Even then, the Suns may take their time ultimately deciding on Ayton's future. 

The former No. 1 pick has been a part of strong teams for Phoenix in the last few years, yet questions around his attitude and overall fit under coach Monty Williams have come under heavy fire since the end of the season. 

"The recent Williams dynamic may simply echo consistent word—dating back to the trade deadline—from league sources with knowledge of the situation that Ayton is not particularly a favorite of Phoenix's head coach," said Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer.

"Williams has purportedly griped about Ayton's waning focus, which some people contacted by B/R said has often been reflected by the ebbs of his playing time. There's a stronger sense among league figures that Phoenix brass simply does not view Ayton, or any center, as a player worth greater than $30 million annually."

Fischer also confirmed other reports about the Suns shopping Ayton near the trade deadline, "including one structure with Indiana that featured Domantas Sabonis."

There are a handful of teams that immediately find themselves in the running for Ayton's services, and the interest to move the center is undoubtedly there from Phoenix. 

So, who could the Suns grab back in a trade with Ayton? 

The finer details of a trade, especially with factors such as cap space and draft picks, make it difficult to craft an exact package for Ayton. The Suns would be expected to sign-and-trade Ayton rather than letting him go for nothing in exchange.

However, B/R did point out three potential players for the Suns to target in trade talks with other teams. 

Three Players for Suns to Land in Potential Deandre Ayton Trade

Clint Capela

Team: Atlanta Hawks

In his report, Fischer also stated the Hawks were one of a number of teams interested in Ayton, and believes they have the capital to get a deal done. 

All Hawks' Pat Benson said although some things in a trade for Ayton could be interchanged, sending Capela back to Phoenix makes the most sense. 

"For Atlanta's front office to pull off such a move, they would not only have to part with Capela but other key players and draft picks. It's worth noting that it's not set in stone that Capela must be involved in the deal; the Hawks have plenty of contracts to make the deal work. But in this scenario, a center swap is the most logical," said Benson.

At 27-years-old, Capela played in 74 games and averaged 11.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He is the Hawks' franchise leader in career field-goal percentage and led the NBA in rebounds in 2021. 

The Suns were reportedly "enamored" with Capela when he was a free agent prior to the 2018-19 season, and his fit in Phoenix's championship window (which is currently now) makes sense. 

Jerami Grant

Team: Detroit Pistons

"Detroit's longstanding willingness to discuss Jerami Grant could provide a window for Phoenix to nab a versatile frontcourt defender in return," wrote Fischer. 

The Suns will likely be in search of an actual center in exchange for Ayton, although the temptation of small-ball could be in play in Phoenix. 

Locked On Blazers host Mike Richman believes a swap with Ayton and Grant makes "too much sense" for the Suns and Pistons.

A Phoenix-Detroit swap featuring Ayton and Grant makes a ton of sense for both sides and sheesh would it be a gut punch for Portland and the Blazers two oft-linked offseason targets. (Don’t shoot the aggregator)

— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) May 24, 2022

Grant played in 47 games last season, averaging 19.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. 

Jusuf Nurkic

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Fischer said, "Perhaps Portland, where free-agent center Jusuf Nurkic is expected to command far less than Ayton on the open market, could be a trade partner."

Nurkic, who made $12 million last year, would indeed be a step down in the $30+ million the Suns would commit to Ayton. 

Of course, Suns fans would want the likes of Damian Lillard back in a trade for Ayton, yet Nurkic fills a void in Phoenix's lineup and is likely a more realistic trading piece. 

He played in 56 games last season, averaging 15 points and 11.1 rebounds per contest. 

Portland's No. 7 overall pick may also be on the table during negotiations, although the Suns may be more inclined to acquire players to help them win now. 

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