The Phoenix Suns hope to find another star to place next to Devin Booker this offseason. But could that star come at the cost of Deandre Ayton?
Most Phoenix Suns fans – and potentially management themselves – are hoping that the franchise can find a third star to place next to Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton this summer, whether he be established or still young.
Making a trade is certainly a possibility, but the expectation is something along the lines of what both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers did in acquiring Jimmy Butler, and less the replacement of one of their current core pieces with another from an external location.
Trade rumors involving both Anthony Davis and the Phoenix Suns have existed for some time (although never with any real tangibility). And when a superstar is dangled out in the open like Davis has been for the past season, every team in the league (or at least their fans) are going to come up with as many wild scenarios as possible to try and pry him away.
Of course, Phoenix’s primary goal should be to want to add to the current core without taking away from it, however, this current rumor would be one that would force the Suns to separate Ayton from Booker, with the hope that the addition of Davis would be a large enough upgrade to take the team to a whole different level.
Now, a quick Google search once again does not turn up any tangible rumors about such a trade being in any way discussed, however, the Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin and Greg Monroe mentioned that it is a rumor on today’s 100 Second Shot Clock, particularly noting the connection and relationship new Suns head coach Monty Williams has with the superstar center.
A possible trade for Anthony Davis to the Suns, plus Zion Williamson goe... https://t.co/9iXgHj3L21 via @YouTube
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) May 10, 2019
Let’s say for the sake of argument that this rumor has some teeth. New Orleans’ general manager is Dave Griffin, after all, who too has a relationship with the Suns (hopefully a good one).
If he does blow up the Pelicans’ roster, and whatever package Phoenix might be willing to offer (or accept) is in any way relative to the one’s he can get from elsewhere, Griffin might lean in the Suns’ favor just because of those personal contacts (after all, he was James Jones‘ general manager in Cleveland as well).