Suns, Pacers Talked Deandre Ayton Trade Ideas Before Deadline
While they didn't go anywhere, the Phoenix Suns and Indiana Pacers had exploratory talks on a trade centered around Deandre Ayton prior to the trade deadline. Those conversations didn't get very far, because Phoenix didn't want to disrupt their team in-season. Often, however, those talks set the table for a deal that gets made in the offseason.
ESPN previously reported that Ayton will have "max offers" as a restricted free agent in July. Whether one of those teams will be the Pacers, who do project to be a cap space team this summer, is up in the air.
The sense is that if Phoenix explores ways to make major changes to their team this summer, an Ayton sign-and-trade is the most likely way it happens. He's had issues on and off throughout his Suns tenure. The most recent of which was a run-in with head coach Monty Williams, as Phoenix got blown out by the Dallas Mavericks in Game 7 of their second round series.
#DmtDailySports
via https://www.DMT.NEWS
, Khareem Sudlow
