3 Ways the Phoenix Suns Can Trade Deandre Ayton to the Indiana Pacers

Phoenix Suns Deandre Ayton Trade to Indiana Pacers: Buddy Hield Package

This move is my emergency plan for not allowing the Ayton dilemma to spill into training camp and potentially next season. As always, personnel changes are better off made before training camp, and a Buddy Hield deal is a final defense for that.

Although a package around him might help Phoenix push Ayton out of the door, Hield’s skills do little for Phoenix’s team as currently constructed, hence why this is the last ditch option.

Hield does not defend well and can be a bit inconsistent with his shot selection and tunnel vision. No matter how you cut it, his game leaves a lot to be desired once you discount shooting the rock.

However, he remains a threat to light it up at any time and a solid sixth man for Phoenix. Hield will give the Suns their most punch off the bench since the days of Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, and Isaiah Thomas. The lack of talent on the team’s bench was a major weakness for the team in the playoffs but Hield helps solve that.

I must say, if there was an Ayton for Hield swap, I hope that the trade is rounded out by a first round pick rather than the Suns trying to squeeze two rotational guys out of Indiana. Getting greedy would mean the trade is Ayton for Hield and Myles Turner.

Either way, the Suns need to add additional young pieces to this team. Drafting another player that can come in next year and play some meaningful minutes would be a major blessing for the Suns since they possess very little financial wiggle room going forward.