EMPIRE OF THE SUNS

Deandre Ayton trade chatter already hits as Suns’ offseason begins

May 12, 2023, 8:26 AM | Updated: 9:02 am

Deandre Ayton, Suns, trade rumors, Nuggets, Game 6...

Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns looks on after the second quarter in game six of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Footprint Center on May 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

It didn’t take the Phoenix Suns losing Game 6 to the Denver Nuggets in embarrassing fashion Thursday night before the smoke started rising regarding the possibility of center Deandre Ayton being on the trade block for the second summer in a row.

Hours before the Suns’ 125-100 Western Conference semifinals defeat at Footprint Center, Arizona Sports’John Gambadoro painted the still-problematic picture of a fractured relationship between head coach Monty Williams and Ayton.

“Monty Williams soured on Deandre in the Milwaukee series,” Gambadoro said of the 2021 NBA Finals.

Maybe we knew Williams’ frustrations considering Ayton began 2022-23 by telling reporters at media day his coach hadn’t spoken to him since benching him in Game 7 of Phoenix’s last playoff exit. The Suns matched Ayton’s max contract offer sheet signed with the Indiana Pacers in the free agency that followed, and it was more glaring Williams did not reach out after the team brought its starting center back.

Williams later said the pair didn’t need to air anything out, and at some point, Ayton moved on. They went about their season.

Now, it seems the rumor-mill is back on full-bore.

ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon’s review of Phoenix’s up-and-down season that ended Thursday included these tidbits:

Sources told ESPN that Ayton’s teammates have shared their coach’s frustration with what they perceive to be inconsistent effort and aggression from the 7-footer.

Ayton would be excited about a fresh start with another franchise, sources told ESPN. The Suns are expected to aggressively explore the trade market for him this summer, league sources said.

Ayton played 67 regular season games, averaging 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks on 58.8% shooting.

In the playoffs, he averaged 13.4 points and 9.7 boards on 55% shooting.

He ended the year as a bench viewer with a rib contusion in the Game 6 embarrassment Thursday, as Nuggets center Nikola Jokic closed the series averaging 34.5 points, 13.2 rebounds and 10.3 assists on 59.4% shooting.

Between MacMahon’s and Gambadoro’s insight, it goes beyond financial reasons for the Suns to discuss trading Ayton. Offensively, his brief runs of success in the playoffs were directly tied to the pick-and-roll game with Chris Paul, whose own future in Phoenix remains unclear.

Ayton is set to make $32.5 million next season, with two more years on his contract after that.

As rocky as his season went, he is the most valuable asset the Suns could trade, though opposing teams surely are aware of his inconsistency that has been a part of his game dating back to a single season in college with the Arizona Wildcats.

Even if Williams has his frustrations about Ayton, it’s clear the head coach is quite aware of what losing Ayton would take from this Phoenix roster. It means a bit after Ayton averaged 31.9 minutes during the playoffs, quite a few for a player whose coach reportedly has frustrations about him.

“I thought the shot-missing messed with us a little bit,” Williams said of how the Nuggets pulled away from the Suns early Thursday. “Not having D.A. as a roller tonight, you could see the difference in the pick-and-roll coverage.

“They were stealing out to shooters a bit more tonight and they actually were in the passing lanes more.”

Empire of the Suns

Frank Vogel, Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns...

Kevin Zimmerman

What does Frank Vogel’s hire tell us about how Suns build the roster?

Frank Vogel agreeing to become the Phoenix Suns' head coach gives us a North Star of sorts for how the team will begin constructing a roster.

4 days ago

Head Coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers coaches against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena o...

Kellan Olson

Frank Vogel sets tone for Suns’ makeover, steps toward 1st title

Hiring Frank Vogel is a solid yet fairly predictable and uninspiring direction from the Suns. That doesn't mean it's a bad thing.

4 days ago

General view of action between the Phoenix Mercury and the Chicago Sky during the second half of th...

Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns, Mercury partner with city to pursue future All-Star games

The Phoenix Suns and Mercury are working directly with the city of Phoenix and other parties in a pursuit of future All-Star games.

12 days ago

Nikola Jokic, Bam Adebayo...

Kevin Zimmerman

A guide to being compelled by the likely Nuggets-Heat NBA Finals

It can be factual that the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat will not draw as many viewers as would the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.

12 days ago

Chris Paul...

Kellan Olson

Suns face complex avenues for potentially moving on from Chris Paul

The Phoenix Suns know what they want to get done this offseason with what will be some type of roster makeover.

14 days ago

Tyronn Lue, Clippers...

Kevin Zimmerman

Empire of the Suns: Who we like as a new Phoenix head coach

The pros and cons of the Monty Williams hire and who would fit best around him as the next Phoenix Suns head coach.

21 days ago

Deandre Ayton trade chatter already hits as Suns’ offseason begins