AYTON TRADED!

[CardNots]

Ayton should never be mentioned in the same sentence as Shaq, KG or Robinson again. Starting now.

NEVER

 

[Dback Jon]

LOL - I can't quite figure out why the biggest U of A fanboy doesn't see Ayton as the biggest bust...hmm.

I think he is saying that DA was the biggest bust

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I think he is saying that DA was the biggest bust

Uh...no.

For as irritating as the DA situation had been, Josh Jackson was infinitely worse when you consider everything that was done to actively dissuade us from getting Tatum and the other mishigas that surrounded him afterwards. Josh Jackson was completely useless to the Suns.

 

[95pro]

LOL - I can't quite figure out why the biggest U of A fanboy doesn't see Ayton as the biggest bust...hmm.

Biggest expectations, underwhelming output = biggest bust imo

Edit:
Josh Jackson wasn't #1 but #4, he still did try to produce. Things were pretty rocky at the time we drafted him, if we had a better owner, coaches, etc, things could have turned out differently i think. Josh did have a high motor and some flashes here and there, being on a horrible team meant empty stats though.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Ayton unfollowed Booker and KD on social media. He's had Chris Paul unfollowed for a while. He also has Gambo blocked. Stark contrast to the Twins, Payne, and even what Paul has said and done since leaving Phoenix.

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To me, this is no surprise and a non-issue. We already know that Booker and probably KD were at odds with DA and vice versa. And, it appears that, in DA's mind, Booker and the Suns were the reason he wasn't viewed as th

For as irritating as the DA situation had been, Josh Jackson was infinitely worse when you consider everything that was done to actively dissuade us from getting Tatum and the other mishigas that surrounded him afterwards. Josh Jackson was completely useless to the Suns.

DA was clearly a better player than Jackson, Bender or Christ. If there was nothing else to consider, Bender, Christ and Josh would all be much bigger disappointments than Ayton. But we didn't give max deals to any of those guys, we didn't draft any of them with the number 1 pick, and we never saw anything from them during their stay in Phoenix to convince us they were anything but horrible picks.

IOW, we tend to place more of the blame for those guys on Ryan than on the players themselves as they simply weren't NBA players. DA let us down even if you spin it the best possible way in his favor, he let us down by choice.

 

[Hoop Head]

To me, this is no surprise and a non-issue. We already know that Booker and probably KD were at odds with DA and vice versa. And, it appears that, in DA's mind, Booker and the Suns were the reason he wasn't viewed as th

I found the blocking Gambo a bit more odd than anything. Is he really that mentally fragile that he can't handle a local sports radio guy's opinion?

 

[AzStevenCal]

I found the blocking Gambo a bit more odd than anything. Is he really that mentally fragile that he can't handle a local sports radio guy's opinion?

Fair point but I'm pretty sure a lot of athletes block some or many or all sports media personalities.

 

[95pro]

I found the blocking Gambo a bit more odd than anything. Is he really that mentally fragile that he can't handle a local sports radio guy's opinion?

Book is still friends with Bridges and Cam. I think some even went Jock's wedding over the summer, makes you think how close this past team was, but DA seemed disconnected from everyone else.

DA is just a weird guy, he doesn't think about ramifications. Just another bridge he's burning.

 

[Covert Rain]

I found the blocking Gambo a bit more odd than anything. Is he really that mentally fragile that he can't handle a local sports radio guy's opinion?

Yeah....makes no sense. Gambo is hardly the harshest critic of Ayton. My guess it had to do with all the insider information and Gambo flatout saying stuff like "Team X" has no interest in Ayton and putting the kind of stuff out there no agent or player wants out there.

 

[Mainstreet]

Ayton unfollowed Booker and KD on social media. He's had Chris Paul unfollowed for a while. He also has Gambo blocked. Stark contrast to the Twins, Payne, and even what Paul has said and done since leaving Phoenix.

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It's hard to believe Ayton has unfollowed Booker... well, maybe not.

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[TJ]

LOL - I can't quite figure out why the biggest U of A fanboy doesn't see Ayton as the biggest bust...hmm.

Because factually, he wasn’t the biggest bust. Did he live up to expectations? No. But to say he’s the “biggest bust” when Bender, Josh, Chriss et al exist is not seeing the forest thru the trees.

 

[Proximo]

Uh...no.

For as irritating as the DA situation had been, Josh Jackson was infinitely worse when you consider everything that was done to actively dissuade us from getting Tatum and the other mishigas that surrounded him afterwards. Josh Jackson was completely useless to the Suns.

I have to agree. Jackson was the forth pick and never contributed like a decent NBA player. Than combine that with the off court stuff, I can't see how he would not be considered a bigger bust.

Ayton is a goofball who has never realized his potential, but he has still always been an above average NBA player.

 

[leclerc]

Oh well, in my mind I wish Ayton the best and hope it works out for him in Portland! No reason to be immature and start throwing muck around.

Looking forward to the season!

 

[Proximo]

It's hard to believe Ayton has unfollowed Booker... well, maybe not.

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I'm not surprised by this. I think he grew to see everyone on the Suns as against him, whether that was true or not. I think it's his way of explaining why his career has not gone as well as he thought it would.

 

[TJ]

I have to agree. Jackson was the forth pick and never contributed like a decent NBA player. Than combine that with the off court stuff, I can't see how he would not be considered a bigger bust.

Ayton is a goofball who has never realized his potential, but he has still always been an above average NBA player.

Simple question to ask those who think DA was the bigger bust: Which player is still in the league?

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Did he live up to expectations? No. But to say he’s the “biggest bust” when Bender, Josh, Chriss et al exist is not seeing the forest thru the trees.

Comparing the #1 pick in a loaded draft, a guy that was considered a can't miss prospect to Bender (complete unknown lottery pick in every sense), Chriss (lol), and Josh Jackson, an ok prospect with little track record of success) is apples to oranges.

Perhaps we should focus on disappointment more than the word bust. Yes - Ayton is probably not technically as big a bust/total non-performer as a guy like Jackson but hes a far bigger disappointment relative to expectations.

Ayton undoubtedly can and should make a much larger contribution than the other 3 - Chriss/Jackson/Bender proved very quickly they were lottery tickets that didn't pan out, and weren't NBA players.

 

[TJ]

Comparing the #1 pick in a loaded draft, a guy that was considered a can't miss prospect to Bender (complete unknown lottery pick in every sense), Chriss (lol), and Josh Jackson, an ok prospect with little track record of success) is apples to oranges.

Perhaps we should focus on disappointment more than the word bust. Yes - Ayton is probably not technically as big a bust/total non-performer as a guy like Jackson but hes a far bigger disappointment relative to expectations.

Ayton undoubtedly can and should make a much larger contribution than the other 3 - Chriss/Jackson/Bender proved very quickly they were lottery tickets that didn't pan out, and weren't NBA players.

I mostly agree with you, but when the #4 pick literally fizzles out of the league before his rookie contract expires, it’s hard to even bring up that question when DA is an 18/10 guy. And with that said, DA did make a much larger contribution to the team, just not perennial all-star like he should have

Let’s also not forget that Josh Jackson was the #1 recruit in the 2016 recruiting class out of high school. The promise was always there

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Simple question to ask those who think DA was the bigger bust: Which player is still in the league?

I think the issue is with expectation vs outcome. Yes Jackson was also a very high pick and completely busted out of the league, but the expectations for Ayton were on another level and thus can be seen as as much if not more of a bust than Jackson even if he has been the far better NBA player of the two.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm not surprised by this. I think he grew to see everyone on the Suns as against him, whether that was true or not. I think it's his way of explaining why his career has not gone as well as he thought it would.

Sometimes one has to look in the mirror. Ayton had the talent to be the player the Suns drafted #1.

This is what made the situation so perplexing. Everyone wanted him to succeed.

 

[TJ]

I think the issue is with expectation vs outcome. Yes Jackson was also a very high pick and completely busted out of the league, but the expectations for Ayton were on another level and thus can be seen as as much if not more of a bust than Jackson even if he has been the far better NBA player of the two.

If DA were nothing more than a journeyman player in the NBA, I’ll entertain the argument. But you’re comparing a guy who’s top-10 at worst at his position and a notch away from being an all-star to a guy who has to learn Cambodian to continue his playing career. Significant difference.

 

[Superbone]

To me, this is no surprise and a non-issue. We already know that Booker and probably KD were at odds with DA and vice versa. And, it appears that, in DA's mind, Booker and the Suns were the reason he wasn't viewed as th

DA was clearly a better player than Jackson, Bender or Christ. If there was nothing else to consider, Bender, Christ and Josh would all be much bigger disappointments than Ayton. But we didn't give max deals to any of those guys, we didn't draft any of them with the number 1 pick, and we never saw anything from them during their stay in Phoenix to convince us they were anything but horrible picks.

IOW, we tend to place more of the blame for those guys on Ryan than on the players themselves as they simply weren't NBA players. DA let us down even if you spin it the best possible way in his favor, he let us down by choice.

Is this a typo? I think Christ would have been a knock down shooter if basketball had been invented at the time.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

If DA were nothing more than a journeyman player in the NBA, I’ll entertain the argument. But you’re comparing a guy who’s top-10 at worst at his position and a notch away from being an all-star to a guy who has to learn Cambodian to continue his playing career. Significant difference.

The expectation for Ayton was all star and the hope was all NBA first team/MVP contender. Jackson the expectation was good player and the hope was all star. An argument could be made for either guy being further away from the hopes and expectations that the fans placed on them.

 

[Superbone]

Oh well, in my mind I wish Ayton the best and hope it works out for him in Portland! No reason to be immature and start throwing muck around.

Looking forward to the season!

Agreed. It doesn't have to go both ways.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Arguing who’s the bigger Suns lottery bust… Blegh.

I ain’t looking back anymore when the future is so enticing.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

. But you’re comparing a guy who’s top-10 at worst at his position

Wrong. Not even close.

Jokic
Embiid
Capela
Kessler
Bam
Jarrett Allen
Valanciunas
Gobert
Brook Lopez
Wendell Carter Jr.
Porzingis
Claxton

That doesn't even include players that many of us would rather have than Ayton:
Turner
Robert Williams
Steven Adams
Nurkic
KAT

and a notch away from being an all-star

Do you recall any speculation at all during the last couple seasons that Ayton could be an All-Star? There hasn't even been a little buzz about it - he's nowhere close to being an All-star.