For quite some time now, Chris Paul's leadership and Devin Booker's incredible ability to make buckets are the two key factors that have catapulted the Phoenix Suns to the top of the NBA. But what many seem to overlook is the impact Deandre Ayton brings to his team on a nightly basis. And while there are other promising prospects in the hobby when it comes to Phoenix, such as Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson, the number one pick from the 2018 Draft is looking to be the better option behind Paul and Booker.
With his current contract soon to expire and a new one coming down the road, Ayton has been out there trying to prove himself worthy of an increase. We take a look below at the reasons why his rookie cards are a great option for collectors.
Ayton is the third star in Phoenix
When he was taken using the first pick in the 2018 Draft, the Suns weren't the powerhouse they are right now. But after exploding inside the Bubble and acquiring the Point God, Phoenix suddenly caught the league by surprise and made it all the way to the NBA Finals.
During that season, the 6'11” center averaged 14.4 points on 62% shooting from the field, 10.5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and 1.4 assists in 30.7 minutes on the floor. His massive frame and athleticism also made him the ideal pick and roll partner for Paul as the Suns' offense became more diverse with this combination. At the same time, Ayton became a better defender and even extended his coverage towards the three-point line.
In his third year in the league, Ayton has developed into a talented big who can anchor Phoenix's defense. And even if he can't stretch the floor, his overall upside elevates the Suns to another level. This season alone, the center is averaging 16.8 points by efficiently hitting 64% of his field goals, 10 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
But Ayton's worth is more than what meets the eye. In the four games Phoenix played without Paul and Booker recently, the center notched 19.3 points on 61% shooting from the field while providing quality stops on the other end of the floor. During that stretch, the Suns went 3-1 with wins over the Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, and Orlando Magic and a single loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
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All of these numbers show that behind the Point God and an elite scorer in Booker, Ayton is the next guy up in the Suns' ladder. With the kind of production he brings on offense and defense, he has to be the Suns' third most important player.
The Suns have a good chance to win it all
At this point in time, the Suns are not only on top of the Western Conference. They're leading the league with a 53-13 record.
Phoenix is currently 7.34 SRS, which takes the average point differential and strength of schedule into account, is first among 30 teams in the NBA. They're also sixth in points scored per game (113.7), fourth in offense (114), second in defense (106.2), and their +7.9 rating is first in the league. These numbers show that the Suns should be taken seriously as contenders for the championship this year.
With this kind of momentum pushing them towards the postseason, and with a playoff spot clinched, it's not hard to imagine that Ayton will be bringing his a-game in the coming months. In the event Phoenix goes the distance and wins it all, the big man's rookie cards will enjoy a sweet boost and collectors should be prepared for that possibility.
The state of Deandre Ayton rookie cards in the market
As it stands, Ayton's stock in the card market is on a short-term downward slump. A three-month graph by Card Ladder backs this claim up.
In the said graph, Ayton's PSA 10 Prizm Silver rookie card has gone down by 7.9% from $153 to $141. This drop occurred over 62 confirmed sales on eBay.
All things considered, that's not a big drop at all. With a population count of 1,523 for this particular Silver rookie card from Panini's 2018 Prizm set, there's still enough room to grow if the right catalyst comes along.
The verdict on Deandre Ayton rookie cards
Collectors looking for an overlooked guy playing for a serious contender will have limited options in the market. Among them is no other than the Suns' big man, Deandre Ayton.
Taking his impressive frame, an improvement on both ends of the court, and his contributions to the top team in the NBA, one wouldn't have to go far to see why his rookie cards can still grow from where they are. Of course, this increase will depend on how he performs in the playoffs and if Phoenix can finally do what they failed at last season – win the championship.
If these two requirements are met, those who invested in Deandre Ayton stocks while they're down will have their trust potentially rewarded. Until then, it's best to buy low and keep an eye on how this big man performs, especially since he's up for a contract extension soon.
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