Should Ayton be Traded?

[Proximo]

I don't see anything here that includes Ayton that makes sense to me.

Unless there are significant picks in the compensation. But with the apron thing, do picks you trade for go to the end of the first round as well?

No, just your own picks.

 

[Proximo]

I don't see anything here that includes Ayton that makes sense to me.

Unless there are significant picks in the compensation. But with the apron thing, do picks you trade for go to the end of the first round as well?

Only reason to even consider this is if Ayton really is an issue in the locker room and you can get an unprotected Portland 1st.

But that is more of a move for the future than this season, which seems counter to being all in for this year to me.

 

[TJ]

Listened to the Pod with Flex. Sounds like a lot has to happen for a deal to be made. Nurkic for DA doesn’t work because the dollars don’t match up. Portland would need to sweeten the pot. Sounds like this is not likely to happen

 

[Covert Rain]

Listened to the Pod with Flex. Sounds like a lot has to happen for a deal to be made. Nurkic for DA doesn’t work because the dollars don’t match up. Portland would need to sweeten the pot. Sounds like this is not likely to happen

The rumors are not around a simple player trade. It's either a multiplayer deal and/or multi-team team deal with other players coming along to make the numbers work. Having said that? If the Suns basically trade Ayton for Nurkic the team is worse. Pass.

 

[GatorAZ]

Can’t believe Gambo didn’t shoot this down.

 

[BirdGangThing]

No need to worry yall - nobody wants Ayton at $33 million a year - especially if they have to give up any of their own talent to land him

I still see a sign and trade as being the only possibility - but even that is highly unlikely - because like I said

 

[Cheesebeef]

Can’t believe Gambo didn’t shoot this down.

That means there has to be some credence to it.

 

[Mainstreet]

Here is the tweet from John Gambadoro.

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[Mainstreet]

What really caught my attention is the Lillard trade is supposed to happen within the next 24 hours.

 

[TJ]

No need to worry yall - nobody wants Ayton at $33 million a year - especially if they have to give up any of their own talent to land him

I still see a sign and trade as being the only possibility - but even that is highly unlikely - because like I said

You literally pay zero attention to anything that goes on

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Only reason to even consider this is if Ayton really is an issue in the locker room and you can get an unprotected Portland 1st.

But that is more of a move for the future than this season, which seems counter to being all in for this year to me.

Is it more of a move for the future if Ayton is indeed expected to be an issue in the locker room? That could easily stop this team from winning a title this year, especially when you consider he is the last line of defense.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Is it more of a move for the future if Ayton is indeed expected to be an issue in the locker room? That could easily stop this team from winning a title this year, especially when you consider he is the last line of defense.

It's certainly possible that he's a much bigger distraction amongst the team than we realize but we've heard more to suggest that isn't true than the reverse. I think trading him for anything less than real and immediate value is a mistake but I also realize that this is a case of "we don't know what we don't know".

 

[Proximo]

Listened to the Pod with Flex. Sounds like a lot has to happen for a deal to be made. Nurkic for DA doesn’t work because the dollars don’t match up. Portland would need to sweeten the pot. Sounds like this is not likely to happen

I mean obviously, only an idiot would accept Nurkic for DA straight up.

Do you not understand Portland is desperate to dump him for anything? They are, he is not a good center, and certainly is not worth his contract.

 

[Proximo]

Is it more of a move for the future if Ayton is indeed expected to be an issue in the locker room? That could easily stop this team from winning a title this year, especially when you consider he is the last line of defense.

Well I doubt it is that bad - after all it's the offseason so the Suns should have known all summer whether if it was a tenable situation to bring him back, and they didn't make a deal. So unless they have learned something about his offcourt behavior over the last couple months that changes things I would assume they still think they can make it work with him.

 

[GatorAZ]

It's certainly possible that he's a much bigger distraction amongst the team than we realize but we've heard more to suggest that isn't true than the reverse. I think trading him for anything less than real and immediate value is a mistake but I also realize that this is a case of "we don't know what we don't know".

He punched his ticket during the Denver series. Yeah Monty is gone but when the best player on the team is sick of a guy we know what usually happens. I think their plan was to trade him earlier this off-season but the offers were so bad they had no choice but to publicity back him for the time being. Vogel said all the right stuff and Gambo the mouthpiece ran with all of it. Now he’s putting it out there that Nurkic is “serviceable” on defense and that he wouldn’t be surprised if they looked into it.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Okay… starting to get a bad feeling about this.

Suns could look into trade for Blazers' Nurkic with Deandre Ayton

While the Phoenix Suns' intention all summer was to not trade Deandre Ayton, an imminent Damian Lillard trade could make Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic available, something that could interest the Suns, according to Arizona Sports' John Gambadoro.

arizonasports.com

If this happens, I think it’s pretty clear Booker/KD loathe Ayton.

 

[Yuma]

My thinking is Nurkic is not enough to match Ayton's salary. You throw in a Buddy Field into the mix, and now it may be interesting. I roll with Ayton over Nurkic. You would have to give me something else, like Hield, to make it worth the downgrade at center.

 

[Mainstreet]

If the Suns trade Ayton for Nurkic and say an expiring contract, his value has to be near the bottom of the barrel.

Over the last 4 years, Nurkic has only averaged 38.25 games per season. As such, Nurkic might be viewed as a negative asset with his salary.

 

[Phrazbit]

My thinking is Nurkic is not enough to match Ayton's salary. You throw in a Buddy Field into the mix, and now it may be interesting. I roll with Ayton over Nurkic. You would have to give me something else, like Hield, to make it worth the downgrade at center.

There is only one ball, I don't know that another volume shooter moves the needle much for this team. We're more in need of defense, rebounding, guys who don't mind not getting touches.

 

[AzStevenCal]

There is only one ball, I don't know that another volume shooter moves the needle much for this team. We're more in need of defense, rebounding, guys who don't mind not getting touches.

Nurkic won't mind getting any touches in the 30 plus games he misses

 

[BirdGangThing]

You literally pay zero attention to anything that goes on

Never. Gonna. Happen.

 

[Covert Rain]

No need to worry yall - nobody wants Ayton at $33 million a year - especially if they have to give up any of their own talent to land him

I still see a sign and trade as being the only possibility - but even that is highly unlikely - because like I said

In any trade scenario the other team is giving up their own talent.

 

[elindholm]

I've seen very little of Nurkic on the court, which isn't surprising, since he's injured so often. Comparing him statistically to Ayton, he's clearly a step down, but it might not be too bad if he can stay healthy.

He's more versatile offensively, having adding a three-point shot last season (.361 on 2+ attempts per game) and being a better passer (3.4 assists per 36 vs. 1.9 for Ayton, an a slightly better A/TO ratio).

Also, according to the statistics, he's not much worse defensively: a defensive rating of 114 last season compared to Ayton's 111. Over his career, Nurkic is a better shot blocker, but his numbers in that department have dropped off significantly since whatever his big 2020 injury was.

I'm disappointed in Nurkic's bad free throw shooting (.671 career, with no upward trend line). His foul rate is much higher than Ayton's (4.7 per 36 vs. 3.3). Even more than his health, Nurkic's inability to stay out of foul trouble means that he can't ever really be more than he is. Ayton presumably still has upside, although many of us here have our doubts.

It's maybe worth noting that Nurkic's primary backup last year was ... Drew Eubanks. Maybe they have a good rapport.

Nurkic is never on the short list of the NBA's impact centers, but, if we're being honest, the only reason that Ayton is in the discussion at all is because he's a still-young former #1 overall pick and the Suns are a marquee franchise. Put Ayton on a mediocre team, and he'd be no more relevant than Nurkic is.

I don't know Caleb Martin's game either, but from the stats he looks like your standard 3-and-D hustle guy. He rebounds pretty well for his size.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

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[Germz249]

Weeks ago I said the Suns want to keep Ayton but if they are presented with an opportunity to improve the team then yes he could be traded.

Yes.. It is true... it is something the Suns will look into. It will not be just Ayton for Nurkic. There will be other players or picks involved. The Suns are leaning more towards Nurkic, draft picks and possibly another player who can bolster the roster. Multiple teams will have to be involved.

The other player(s) who come with Nurkic is the real deal breaker. The Suns are in a win now mode and trying to build their roster for that.

Thats all I gathered from the Waffle House meeting.