Should Ayton be Traded?

[Mainstreet]

I have a strong feeling he was instructed to stay near the paint with our offense to be in position for offensive rebounds and dump off passes. And since he shoots 70% in the restricted area that is the best usage for him IMO.

It would be one thing if he was capable of dribbling without getting the ball stolen even 60% of the time - but thus far he has shown that is not the case.

If we are keeping him he needs to understand clearly he is almost never going to get offensive opportunities unless he is wide open or on offensive rebounds. If he isn't ok with that, then we should trade him.

With 3 guys that are top 10 scorers in the NBA in the last 5 years, he isn't going to have plays run for him if they are available ever.

The Suns move Ayton around defensively and often as a screener. If he could something similar on offense, he wouldn't be so easy to guard. I'm hoping Frank Vogel has some fresh ideas.

 

[Covert Rain]

The Suns move Ayton around defensively and often as a screener. If he could something similar on offense, he wouldn't be so easy to guard. I'm hoping Frank Vogel has some fresh ideas.

If they keep Ayton he isn't going to get very many touches IMO. Vogel will have him focused on defense. Suns are could be deadly on offense so maybe that is OK.

 

[Proximo]

The Suns move Ayton around defensively and often as a screener. If he could something similar on offense, he wouldn't be so easy to guard. I'm hoping Frank Vogel has some fresh ideas.

I think he is getting traded tomorrow. Guess we will find out.

 

[BirdGangThing]

I think he is getting traded tomorrow. Guess we will find out.

I'd be the happiest hippie on the planet

 

[Mainstreet]

I think he is getting traded tomorrow. Guess we will find out.

If it's a good trade for the Suns, I have no problem with it.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Ayton traded to the Pacers. They have more draft picks than they know what to do with. Of course, the Suns will need depth and a center.

 

[Covert Rain]

I think he is getting traded tomorrow. Guess we will find out.

If it's for cap space we can't use it would be beyond stupid. Trading him just to trade him for guys that will never play is just as dumb even if we get assets. The goal is to get better as a team while this window is open. If we can't move him for players that add real depth and a big in return? Keep him for now. It has to be a good trade.

 

[Proximo]

If it's for cap space we can't use it would be beyond stupid. Trading him just to trade him for guys that will never play is just as dumb even if we get assets. The goal is to get better as a team while this window is open. If we can't move him for players that add real depth and a big in return? Keep him for now. It has to be a good trade.

Here is the conclusion I have come to - what we need out of Ayton with this big 3 is Defense and Rebounding - pretty much exclusively. Will he be happy in that role even if we can motivate him to do those things at his best ability? I don't think so.

There are better centers at Defense and Rebounding available for far less - Capella, maybe Steven Adams, and others that are at least comparable to him like Mitchell Robinson and Wendell Carter.

If our goal is to make the team better, getting an additional rotation player along with a guy that can do everything we need out of a center only makes sense, not to mention getting rid of a constant distraction that Ayton's personality seems to generate.

Basically what I am saying is I have come to the realization that Ayton's unlocked potential is almost all on the offensive end - and with the Beal trade we don't need it. The other consideration is breaking his salary into 2 or 3 smaller salaries gives us greater flexibility in making future trades.

Therefore I now think trading him for at least 2 usable guys is better than 1 even if we don't get full value.

 

[95pro]

I am just not sure where the interest for Adams comes from. He's just not playable in the playoffs. He's only 29 but seems to be slowing down already as well. Can't shoot (yes we have the other 3) but still he needs to keep the opposing defense honest and only averaged 9 and 11 last season.

 

[Yuma]

Here is the conclusion I have come to - what we need out of Ayton with this big 3 is Defense and Rebounding - pretty much exclusively. Will he be happy in that role even if we can motivate him to do those things at his best ability? I don't think so.

There are better centers at Defense and Rebounding available for far less - Capella, maybe Steven Adams, and others that are at least comparable to him like Mitchell Robinson and Wendell Carter.

If our goal is to make the team better, getting an additional rotation player along with a guy that can do everything we need out of a center only makes sense, not to mention getting rid of a constant distraction that Ayton's personality seems to generate.

Basically what I am saying is I have come to the realization that Ayton's unlocked potential is almost all on the offensive end - and with the Beal trade we don't need it. The other consideration is breaking his salary into 2 or 3 smaller salaries gives us greater flexibility in making future trades.

Therefore I now think trading him for at least 2 usable guys is better than 1 even if we don't get full value.

I would add not only is the offensive side where he has upside, but also his rebounding seems to be declining. You can get guys cheaper for similar numbers on the boards.

The one plus I can give Ayton, is with three scorers, he is one of the best, if not the best screen setter I have seen at Center in the NBA. Is that worth $30 million? Probably not, but he could make a living just assisting on screens with the three guys on the court we would have.

 

[BirdGangThing]

Good (recent) piece on Adams

Unpacking Steven Adams' knee injury and how it impacted the Memphis Grizzlies

Steven Adams was a big part of the Memphis Grizzlies on and off the floor this season, so his absence was notable after a knee injury.

www.commercialappeal.com

 

[Proximo]

I would add not only is the offensive side where he has upside, but also his rebounding seems to be declining. You can get guys cheaper for similar numbers on the boards.

The one plus I can give Ayton, is with three scorers, he is one of the best, if not the best screen setter I have seen at Center in the NBA. Is that worth $30 million? Probably not, but he could make a living just assisting on screens with the three guys on the court we would have.

The screen setting is a good point - but are we really going to be running many screen and roles with him, when we could instead be doing it with Durant and Booker or Beal?

 

[Yuma]

The screen setting is a good point - but are we really going to be running many screen and roles with him, when we could instead be doing it with Durant and Booker or Beal?

I was surprised we did NOT do that with Monty. In a screen situation, guys switch, players roll, etc. You would have thought KD screening for Book, or vice versa, would have opened up a worse case scenario for defenders on wether to switch, double, go over the screen, stay under, etc.

 

[Proximo]

I am just not sure where the interest for Adams comes from. He's just not playable in the playoffs. He's only 29 but seems to be slowing down already as well. Can't shoot (yes we have the other 3) but still he needs to keep the opposing defense honest and only averaged 9 and 11 last season.

He's a great offensive rebounder. The only shooting from him I care about is can he make a layup.

Do you not get the goal of our offense is going to be the initial shot almost always will be taken by our big 3, on the rare occasions it won't be it will be an open 3. We aren't going to involve a center in the offense.

 

[Yuma]

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[JCSunsfan]

He's a great offensive rebounder. The only shooting from him I care about is can he make a layup.

Do you not get the goal of our offense is going to be the initial shot almost always will be taken by our big 3, on the rare occasions it won't be it will be an open 3. We aren't going to involve a center in the offense.

He is one scary dude. Thats the interest. Seems like a perfect fit on this team.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Boston. Good grief I hope they don't trade for the corpse of Al Horford.

 

[Yuma]

That article above posted by @BirdGangThing has a stat showing Adams is the top offensive rebounder when healthy. That's why I want Landale back. He isn't the answer at center, although he played Joker better than Ayton defensively, he is active on the offensive boards and gets boards or fouled on the offensive end.

 

[JCSunsfan]

We need a 3 and D wing and a defensive, shot-blocking, rebounding center. I think two players would do it, besides signing a selected group off of our roster from last season.

 

[taz02]

Don't we need a center who can score to keep the defense honest. In his last playoff run Adams averaged 3ppg 6rpg .535FT.

 

[Mainstreet]

Steven Adams is not that mobile. I'm not sure if the Suns need an old school center.

 

[Proximo]

He is one scary dude. Thats the interest. Seems like a perfect fit on this team.

Yes, that is a good point also. We could use an enforcer type as well

 

[Proximo]

Steven Adams is not that mobile. I'm not sure if the Suns need an old school center.

Why do we need a mobile one? We need a dirt worker.

 

[Proximo]

Don't we need a center who can score to keep the defense honest. In his last playoff run Adams averaged 3ppg 6rpg .535FT.

No we don't.

Did the Net's need one when Harden, Kyrie and Durant were all playing together?

Did the Warriors need one with Steph, Klay and Durant?

 

[Mainstreet]

Why do we need a mobile one? We need a dirt worker.

Opponents are going to drive around and shoot over the top of Adams. That's want the Suns current would do to him less Ayton.

 

[95pro]

He's a great offensive rebounder. The only shooting from him I care about is can he make a layup.

Do you not get the goal of our offense is going to be the initial shot almost always will be taken by our big 3, on the rare occasions it won't be it will be an open 3. We aren't going to involve a center in the offense.

They can all make layups. Good teams in the playoffs will make other guys work for their shot. Its not like our "big 3" will draw so much attention away that Adams will be within his range every time to make a layup, this also clogs the lane. Remember he also has to play defense where he'll get drawn out on the perimeter.