The Phoenix Suns went all-in and traded for Bradley Beal on Sunday. It was a bold move that improved their title odds but is projected to blow the franchise past the NBA’s new second tax apron and puts some serious constraints on building their roster. Phoenix did not give up a ton to acquire Beal, but it could prove costly moving forward.
The Suns have to figure out how to fill out their roster in the short term. They only have a handful of players under contract heading into Thursday’s draft and just the 52nd overall pick to add to it. Phoenix had depth issues after trading for Kevin Durant, and those will remain unless the Suns are prepared to make additional moves.
New Suns head coach Frank Vogel has massive plans for Deandre Ayton, but now the only move is to trade the former number one overall pick for depth. Phoenix needs role players in the worst way, and trading Ayton is their only path to acquiring them.
Trades Phoenix Suns must make to get rid of Deandre Ayton
5. Deandre Ayton goes to Nets as Suns get role players
Phoenix has been shopping Ayton, but they have not found a deal to their liking thus far. What is the market for the former number-one pick? Having three years left on his contract at $102 million for a non-All-Star is not attractive to teams. The 24-year-old has plenty of talent, but the decline in his defense has not helped his value.
Brooklyn could have acquired him in the Kevin Durant deal but passed. They do not have a ton of interest, but the Suns could help to clear the Nets logjam on the wing along with giving up Ayton on the cheap.
The Suns get three role players, including a starter in Royce O’Neale. Devin Booker likely slides down to point guard, but Phoenix needs someone to defend at the point of attack. O’Neale fills that role and gets the chance to play with three All-Stars. The Suns would try to turn the 22nd overall pick in this year’s draft into a fourth rotation piece.
Ayton joins Nicolas Claxton in the frontcourt in Brooklyn. With more offensive opportunities does the former number one overall pick take his game to another level? The Nets would hope if they make this deal. It seems a bit far-fetched, but other teams will have interest in Deandre Ayton.
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?
3. Deandre Ayton finally lands on Pacers as Suns get depth
The Pacers signed Ayton to a four-year $133 million offer sheet last summer in restricted free agency, but Phoenix matched the deal. Indiana is interested in Ayton, but are they willing to give up a haul to acquire the 6’11 big man?
The Pacers are looking to consolidate picks 26, 29, 32, and 55 in the 2023 NBA Draft to move up, but what if they could turn one of them and some role players into Ayton? Indiana cannot fit five draft picks on their roster, but they can squeeze in more if they move out some players.
This could be a win-win trade. The Pacers get the most talented player and someone they have a plan on how to maximize as the Suns add depth. They could get four role players from this move. Phoenix would have to nail the draft pick, but Hield, McConnell, and Neismith will all immediately find minutes and opportunities in the Valley of the Sun.
The Phoenix Suns would love to get more for Deandre Ayton, but the market may not exist. Only a handful of teams want a starting center. Some are scared off by his contract and others do not have the offensive role that will keep him happy. The Suns could look to add better role players, but that may be their only option.
2. Mavericks swing for Deandre Ayton as Suns get depth
The Mavs have been rumored to be interested in Ayton for months. Would the former number-one overall pick want to be the third option in Dallas? He shares an agent with Luka Doncic, and the two know each other well. They could form a dynamic pick-and-roll duo that would help Ayton get plenty of easy buckets.
Would the Suns prefer a future first-round pick or Maxi Kleber in this deal? Phoenix appears all-in on right now and exceeding the second tax apron will severely limit their ability to make trades. They might want a role player to use right now over a pick that is years away.
Tim Hardaway Jr. would give them a sharpshooting sixth man that could help space the floor. Maxi Kleber is a versatile big man that was massive when Dallas upset Phoenix in the second round of the playoffs in 2022. JaVale McGee is a solid backup big man that would be returning to the Suns and playing under Frank Vogel again.
The Phoenix Suns should be searching hard for a move like this. Yes, they are not getting maximum value on Deandre Ayton, but this trade gives them depth and a chance to compete for a championship next season.
1. Rockets improve as Suns create some space
Houston wants to jump from rebuilding to contending this summer, and they have a mountain of cap space to work with. Fans have heard the James Harden rumors, but the Rockets will still have room beyond that to make moves. Could they take on Ayton’s contract as an upgrade at the five?
The Rockets have a talented young center in Alperen Sengun, but will he fit in Ime Udoka’s system? The new head coach will be preaching defense, and Sengun struggles mightily on that end of the floor. Could Houston look to get the best out of Ayton as a better fit?
The Suns’ would further harm their defense, but they get a skilled young center, a draft pick to acquire another rotation piece, and space to maneuver. It allows Phoenix to use their mid-level exception to sign a few role players in free agency. This trade creates just enough room to let them round out their roster around Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.
Will the Phoenix Suns trade Deandre Ayton this summer? Can they get enough depth in return to be serious title contenders? The Suns are certainly all-in, so stay tuned to see how it all shakes out in what promises to be a wild summer in the Valley of the Sun.