Deandre Ayton averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Phoenix Suns in 2022-23. But the Suns didn’t come close to achieving their postseason goals (they were NBA title favorites entering the postseason, according to NBA futures odds). 

Changes have already begun in Phoenix, with head coach Monty Williams now gone. Ayton may be next. 

The Suns will continue to build around Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. The Suns matched the Pacers’ four-year, $133 million offer sheet for Ayton last offseason, but bringing on Durant ate up a significant portion of Phoenix's salary cap space (not to mention depleted its depth significantly).

Ayton turns 25 this summer and could be a key part of any team’s plans. From the Suns' perspective, trading him offers the most in terms of restocking their roster. 

He was rumored in Durant trade talks initially, but couldn't be traded until February 15 due to league rules regarding his contract extension. 

There's nothing stopping a trade now, and it appears likely. Ayton's effort and attitude were repeatedly questioned during the postseason series against Denver, which has contributed to the current questions about his future in Phoenix. Bookies.com oddsmaker Adam Thompson has revealed his hypothetical NBA odds on Ayton’s 2023-24 team. 

Deandre Ayton 2023 Team Odds

Odds are projected and do not reflect any odds that may be available at legal betting sites or betting apps.

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Realistic Landing Spots For Deandre Ayton

As it stands now, the Suns are projected to have -$18 million in cap space for next season. Something has to be done and Ayton is the most-logical piece to move. There are only seven teams that can afford to take on Ayton’s contract, and about 12 total teams that can make such a move after giving the Suns some contract in return. 

No team has more projected cap space for this offseason than the Chicago Bulls, whose starting center Nikola Vucevic is now a free agent. Vucevic’s style didn’t particularly mesh well on the court with DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. 

The athletic Ayton could be a better fit, and Chicago has players that Phoenix could use, including the physical Vucevic in a sign-and-trade option. 

The Dallas Mavericks have been linked to Ayton, mainly because the Mavs desperately want to make a run at a title while Luka Doncic is still under contract. Luka and Ayton have the same agent and it fits a Texas-sized hole in the Mavs’ rotation. It remains to be seen if Dallas has what Phoenix would want, or if the Suns would trade him to a Western Conference contender. 

The Utah Jazz are flush with draft picks and young talent and no bad contracts. They may not be interested in acquiring Ayton at that price, but they have the capital to do so and arguably the worst starting center situation in the NBA. Ayton could be a big addition in terms of helping Utah take the next step. 

The Houston Rockets won’t get Victor Wembanyama after the San Antonio Spurs won the NBA Draft Lottery. But Houston has a ton of money to burn, and are reportedly planning to get aggressive this offseason. James Harden has been strongly linked to a return to Houston. Adding Ayton as well bolsters a win-now direction. 

The Boston Celtics were not very big or strong in the paint this year. Jayson Tatum was forced to line up at power forward, and 6-foot-9 Robert Williams III was the center who averaged a modest 8.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. 

If the Celtics wanted to move Jaylen Brown, adding Ayton might be a best-case scenario, though Brown doesn’t necessarily fit a need for Phoenix.

The New York Knicks don’t have any true glaring needs in the frontcourt, but the athletic, stretch-5 Ayton could be a better fit than the burly Mitchell Robinson, especially for RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson. Could Julius Randle be a trade piece? Randle has two years left in his contract before a player option kicks in. 

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