The Phoenix Suns and Deandre Ayton find themselves at a crossroads, with something to think about in terms of his future, with him being a restricted free agent moving forward. Ayton had a disappointing series in the playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks, which resulted in a heated exchange between him and coach Monty Williams in Game 7 as well.
The Suns didn’t offer Ayton the max extension and they seemed to be partially proved right after he came up small in the playoffs this season, but now they have to make the decision as soon as they can. Because as the offseason rolls around, other teams around the league are showing interest in signing Ayton to their roster.
According to a report by Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, 4 teams have been named as potential suitors for Ayton’s services, as they aim to get better at the center position in the long term:
“Now, there are three teams most often linked by league personnel as Ayton’s potential suitors on the open market: Atlanta, Detroit and Portland,” Fischer reported. “Multiple team executives also pointed to Charlotte, with a clear hole at center, and San Antonio, one of the few teams with significant cap space, as possible landing spots for Ayton.”
Ayron has averaged 16 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game throughout his 4-year career in the NBA. In the last couple of seasons, though, he has been the third option for an excellent Suns team behind Chris Paul and Devin Booker. A larger role with another franchise may motivate Ayton to take the next step.
Atlanta, Portland, and Charlotte all have excellent point guards that they can pair him with to allow him to become a superstar in his own right. The money may end up being a sticking point here or there, but it seems like there is no dearth of teams interested in the Phoenix big man.
