The Phoenix Suns have an update on if Deandre Ayton will remain with the team or move elsewhere and according to reports, he is now much more valuable to the team than ever and would remain via the New York Post;
The Phoenix Suns have gone through a lot of changes this offseason, but one thing won’t change.
Deandre Ayton doesn’t appear to be headed elsewhere after all, according to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes.
The Suns had reportedly been exploring the trade market for Ayton after they were bounced in the second round of the NBA Playoffs by the title champion Nuggets.
Now the organization feels that Ayton’s value to the Suns is “at an all-time high” and they’d like to see him play alongside Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant, Haynes also reported.
New Suns head coach Frank Vogel said during his introductory press conference this month that Ayton “can be one of the best centers in the league.”
“I think he’s showed that at times throughout his career,” Vogel said. “I know he showed when we played them in the playoffs a couple of years back, and he shot 80 percent from the field. And deterred every drive, every cut, every effort to attack the basket.
“He can be a big-time deterrent and there’s still areas he can grow offensively, but I’m intent on really connecting with him and restoring him to an all-star level player.”
Ayton just finished the first year of a four-year deal that he had signed with the Indiana Pacers as a restricted free agent last offseason, which the Suns matched.
The big man had 18 points per game during the regular season last year, but put up a career low with 10 rebounds per game and just 0.8 blocks per game, which is the second-lowest of his career.
Ayton’s numbers dipped in the second round of the playoffs against Denver, when he had just 10.8 points per game and averaged 8.2 rebounds.
After a very busy offseason already, with the addition of Beal in a blockbuster trade and the firing of Monty Williams, there will be plenty of expectations for Phoenix next year.
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