Phoenix Suns: 3 Reasons Why Deandre Ayton Deserves a Max Extension

Why the Phoenix Suns Must Extend Deandre Ayton: Center Market is Depleted

As the NBA moves into a “positionless” league, the center spot continues to hurt the most. Although once seen as the marquee spot to fill on a team, over the last 20 years, centers have become somewhat extinct.

The NBA’s MVP history best represents this phenomenon. Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic indeed won the award last year, but he came as the first center to do so since Shaquille O’Neal after the 1990-2000 season. Before that, a center won the award 54.5 percent of the time.

Remaining versatile is the best way for a big to stay afloat amidst this trend. Gone are the days of “back to the basket” scoring spearheaded by Al Jefferson, Dwight Howard, and Pau Gasol. Instead, modern centers need to stretch the floor with a decent jump shot, while still dominating at the rim.

But luckily for the Suns, Ayton fits this versatile, and necessary mold. With the center position simultaneously dying out, that makes him an incredibly hot commodity, so extending him becomes an obvious move.

With the league’s talent pool, one can easily find a talented forward or guard. But a center? That takes some serious digging, and the Suns need to recognize this treasure while they still can.