Atlanta Hawks’ Interest In Deandre Ayton May Fizzle Out Due To Price Tag

Jun 27, 2022

3 Min Read

The free agency saga of Deandre Ayton may be one of the most important developments of the summer. The Phoenix Suns look almost certain to lose the 2018 1st overall pick due to management not wanting to give Ayton a max contract. So, if Ayton is leaving, the question is where will Ayton go next?

Many teams would be interested in a big man with the skill-set he has. In addition, Ayton is also still extremely young and has a lot of room to grow. The center is seeking a max contract that not many teams have been willing to offer, but many teams are interested in getting him on board for a discount.

The Atlanta Hawks reportedly have a strong interest in making a Trae Young-Deandre Ayton duo happen, but it seems Atlanta will not be interested in maxing out Ayton if that is the price he comes at.

The Hawks’ interest in Deandre Ayton would be contingent on landing him for less than a max contract, sources tell @ChrisKirschner.

More Atlanta draft-night intel: https://t.co/DNQOLxyvzL pic.twitter.com/zr7vHg97D1

— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) June 24, 2022

“The Hawks could still pursue Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton in free agency. Sources tell The Athletic that the Hawks’ interest in the 23-year-old would be contingent on landing him for less than a max contract. That may not be an option, as the Pistons, who have the cap space for a max contract, are expected to be aggressive in their pursuit of Ayton in free agency.” (h/t Chris Kirschner, The Athletic)

Ayton seems to be between a rock and a hard place. His relationship in Phoenix has soured, but that is the best team that he can play next season. If nobody else offers him a max, leaving Phoenix may be a bad career decision. His relationship with the Suns’ management seems too damaged for that to be a possibility now.

The Detroit Pistons seem like the only team left that is looking to give Ayton the max, but even they drafted a center in Jalen Duren to have a contingency and have reportedly cooled off on signing the Bahaman big man. It seems the summer may not be the one Ayton expected.

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ByIshaan Bhattacharya

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun