Grade the Trade: Suns add Bucks All-Star in Ayton deal
Starting with the Trail Blazers, and there is quite a bit to like about this deal for them. Any time you lose a superstar, and in the case of Lillard the best player in franchise history, you are never going to get fair value in the moment. Moving on from an iconic stings, and it always will.
But Ayton is one of the 10 best centers in the league today. Last season he gave the Suns 18 and 10, and alongside Henderson and Anfernee Simons, that is not a bad place to start in a rebuild. Ayton would also be the oldest of the three, and that change in role may be exactly what he needs to kickstart his career.
Can we please, please stop talking about where to trade Deandre Ayton (Jusuf Nurkic? Come on...) and instead see how he actually plays on a real basketball court with this #Suns team? (✍️ @ValleyoftheSuns)https://t.co/SFbercyxmi
— Luke Duffy (@LucaLockheart) September 22, 2023
Grayson Allen is a good shooter with a streak of toughness (and at times, dirty play…) that would be ideal for the Trail Blazers off the bench. He also represents a player who could be moved to a contender for another young player in future. Andre Jackson Jr. was a second round pick in this year’s NBA Draft – and if he is going to get playing time anywhere – it’ll be in Portland.
Grade: B