4. Spurs pay for Deandre Ayton
The Spurs may feel like an odd fit given Ayton’s attitude issues and San Antonio is about to draft the most-hyped big man since Shaq. Victor Wembanyama changes the franchise’s trajectory. They now want to put more talent around him to try to contend, and the 7’4 big man is not ready to be a full-time center in the NBA. The Spurs could look to put some muscle beside him and put their cap space to use.
San Antonio is trading three role players for a starting center. The Spurs have more draft picks than they can make after dealing away Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, and others in recent years. Ayton has immense talent and would be their starter the moment that he arrived.
The Suns get a less-than-stellar package, but Collins, Graham, and McDermott could all play a role in Phoenix. Getting a sharpshooter, a ball-handler, and a big man is massive in rounding out their roster, and the Suns have a future first-round pick as Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal age.
The Phoenix Suns can do better, and the San Antonio Spurs may not bite on that deal. Could they look to move Deandre Ayton to the team that signed him to an offer sheet last summer?