Suns Reportedly 'Dark Horse' to Help Facilitate Damian Lillard Trade

No, Dame isn't coming to the Valley.

Trade speculation has followed Damian Lillard over the past few months, and the Phoenix Suns could be a crucial team in ensuring a deal is happening.

A snippet from Gerald Bourguet's recent piece from PHNX:

"According to multiple sources who spoke to PHNX Sports‘ Flex from Jersey, trade talks from the most active teams — Philadelphia, Miami and Portland, as well as the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls — are heating up…and many of them view the Suns as a team that could push a potential blockbuster deal across the finish line.

"While the Suns lack the assets and/or contracts to trade for Lillard or Harden themselves, one source referred to the Suns as a 'mystery team' in regards to their potential involvement. Another called them a 'dark horse' to help facilitate a deal as an additional party."

Most believe the status of Deandre Ayton is largely up in the air, as the team hasn't been shy about involving him in potential trade talks in the past. Ayton is currently viewed as the piece that would be moved out of Phoenix in a three-team deal for Lillard. 

Yesterday, Arizona Sports insider John Gambadoro offered the following on trade buzz surrounding Ayton:

"Let me address some of the Deandre Ayton rumors. The Suns have not been willing to move DA all summer because they think he fits well and there were no offers that would change that. If Nurkic was on the table I would be surprised if the Suns didn't look into it because an argument could be made that is an upgrade for Phx," wrote Gambo.

"This would be contingent on Dame being moved. Portland has previously shown no interest in DA but that was with Dame staying. If they do not have Dame on the roster they could very well want a young 25-year old to build around Vogel needs a defensive minded Center to build his defense around and Nurkic does fit that mold. This would be contingent on a Lillard trade and I do expect that to happen very very soon."

Gambadoro also said on air that a Lillard trade was "imminent". 

We'll see if Ayton is truly on the way out, though it seems like new Suns coach Frank Vogel really wanted to work with him.

"I think he can be one of the best centers in the league," said Vogel earlier in the offseason.

"I think he's shown that at times throughout his career, and I know he showed that when we played him in the playoffs a couple years back and he shot about 80% from the field and deterred every drive, every cut, every effort to attack the basket.

"He can be a big time deterrent. There's still areas that he can grow offensively. But I'm intent on really connecting with him and restoring him to an all star level player."