The Suns have a DeAndre Ayton problem on their hands, and NBA odds seem to agree. Especially after they just acquired max contract player Bradley Beal, they may not be able to spend all the money they owe all four of their starters.
NBA picks today may favor a trade for the big man the team decided to extend last summer. More specifically, Indiana offered him a deal, but as a restricted free agent, Phoenix was able to match it, keeping Ayton around for a bit longer.
Whoever ends up winning the Deandre Ayton next-team sweepstakes may not be getting a player ready to contribute. He seems to disappear in the big moments, and it appears his game is exactly the same now as when he first entered the league in 2018.
No improvements have happened, and he does exactly the same thing. Similar to Ben Simmons and OJ Mayo before him, they show their best right away and seem content to just let that be. NBA player stats for Ayton could be a lot better, and he proved to be the easiest of NBA matchups for Nikola Jokic in the second round.
Deandre Ayton next team Odds (If not Suns)
| Team | Odds |
| +300 | |
| Chicago Bulls | +400 |
| Charlotte Hornets | +500 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +500 |
| Orlando Magic | +600 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +900 |
| Indiana Pacers | +900 |
| Boston Celtics | +1000 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +1200 |
| San Antonio Spurs | +1200 |
The Favorites to Land Him
Dallas Mavericks (+300)
The Dallas Mavericks, at +300, are the betting favorites to pry Ayton out of Phoenix. They had nearly no size on the roster last year, with the only seven-footer being a rapidly aging JaVale McGee. Christian Wood was coming off the bench, with 6’9 Dwight Powell serving as the starting center for much of the campaign. Their season was an absolute disaster, and it’s clear that a lot of changes need to be made.
Ayton, if he tried harder, would be a great fit for Dallas. He would play big minutes and, with his former draftmate Luka Doncic, could form a nice tandem.
Chicago Bulls (+400)
The Bulls are next at +400 and would surely be an interesting fit. They would likely include Nikola Vucevic in any trade for the Phoenix Suns, ending a far-from-impressive run for him with Chicago Bulls. He hasn’t been bad by any stretch, with his stats nearly matching what he also put up while playing for the Magic.
The issue with Vooch was the inconsistency on defense and the inability to protect the rim. It was among the biggest reasons for the late collapse against the Heat in the play-in tournament. If they are the winners of the Deandre Ayton next-team sweepstakes, they would have a bigger body guarding the paint behind them.
Charlotte Hornets (+550)
The Hornets slide in third at +550, though the fit would be interesting. 2022 lottery pick Mark Williams came into his own in the late stages of the season and fits nicely with the team’s timeline. They could try and speed things up with an Ayton type.
They pick second in the draft, so a trade could add them a few big names over the span of but a few hours. They may be better off keeping their second-year big and letting another team pull the trigger.
A look at which others are in play to be the Deandre Ayton next team winners.
A Few Others
When you see Deandre Ayton on the NBA schedule as a player, you may be licking your chops. His production tailed off in the postseason this year, failing to score more than 14 points in any of Phoenix’s games against Denver. Deandre Ayton hasn’t added an outside shot. He was giving up on the rebounds. He had four blocks in five contests. It really wasn’t all that great. He hasn’t added anything to his game.
Atlanta Hawks (+500)
The Hawks are in the mix at +500, though with Onyeka Okongwu and Clint Capela, they seem to be pretty set. Ayton would fit beautifully with Trae Young, but the team has no reason to make a move when Okongwu could slot in nicely should they choose to move Capela elsewhere for a player of a different position.
Orlando Magic (+600)
The Magic are a candidate at +600, but with a high pick and having Wendell Carter Jr. already, they appear to be set for the future. They will likely select a wing in the draft and could be a play-in team. Don’t mess with the chemistry by trading for Ayton.
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