How much longer will Deandre Ayton be a part of the Phoenix Suns?
Will he find a new home in NBA free agency when it starts on Thursday night or will he and the Suns kiss, make up, and decide to stay together for another run at the Finals?
Honestly, it could go either way: a few weeks ago, everyone would have predicted that Ayton would certainly be packing his bags and leaving Phoenix.
However, it’s been hard to get a clear signal of what’s next for Ayton, leading some to believe he might end up remaining with this team.
Not reporting, but reading the free agency landscape this morning:
It's starting to feel like the Pacers might be the most "real" spot for Deandre Ayton via S&T. Indiana having cap space + contracts to send back to Phoenix eliminates most of the Base Year Compensation issues.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 30, 2022
NBA analyst Keith Smith isn’t so sure about that: he feels that the Indiana Pacers have the best chance at landing the Suns’ big man, due to their cap space and contracts they can send to Phoenix.
Sure enough, Indiana would be able to make a deal happen.
Plus, it’s a deal that could make both teams happy.
Inbound To Indy?
Ayton to the Pacers would be great news for the team, which is trying to rebuild itself quickly.
Indiana wants to get back into playoff contention soon and having Ayton on the floor certainly helps with that, especially if they can get him on a cheaper contract.
They have plenty of players they can send to Arizona in exchange for Ayton, including Myles Turner, whose name has been a trade target for what feels like decades now.
Turner is great when healthy so he could bolster the Suns’ chances.
All in all, there are a few viable options between these two teams, which makes a trade all the more likely.
We should know more soon and a lot can change but don’t be surprised if you see Ayton suited up in Indianapolis next season.
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