Deandre Ayton is officially heading back to the Phoenix Suns. After seemingly having a falling out with Monty Williams and the rest of the Suns organization, he looked to be on his way out. The Indiana Pacers extended the max offer sheet that Ayton desperately sought, but Phoenix elected to match the deal.
Even considering the frustrating end of the season, it should not be a major surprise that the Suns elected to keep the center. The soon-to-be 24-year-old was selected first overall in 2018 and has notched 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game during his four-year career. Allowing a former top pick and high-caliber NBA talent to walk away without getting anything in return can be a dooming decision for a franchise. The Suns did the right thing by matching.
This move assures that Ayton will start the 2022-23 season in Phoenix. Despite all the trade rumors leading up to the deal, Ayton is ineligible to be traded until Jan. 15. He also cann't be traded to the Pacers for a full year. The relationship is likely to be strained after Phoenix was firm in its belief Ayton was not worth a full max contract throughout the offseason. Regardless, the franchise swallowed their pride and paid the big man, so they will attempt to improve this relationship on the floor.
Given that his immediate future with the Suns is now certain, here are two Deandre Ayton predictions for the 2022-23 season.
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Deandre Ayton 2022-23 predictions with Suns
Ayton will be traded at deadline
Deandre Ayton is certain to start the season with the Suns, but it is not as clear where he will end it. It is evident Phoenix is not sold on Ayton as a long-term building block. The biggest factor in landing a star on the market via trade is having the right pieces to intrigue a team. He may not be looked at as a building block by the Suns, but there are plenty of teams who think otherwise.
It is unclear how long the Kevin Durant drama will drag on. Given the high price that other notable players have demanded in the trade market (Dejounte Murray, Rudy Gobert, etc), it is entirely possible no team can reach the price the Nets demand. Durant still has four years on his contract and Brooklyn has no responsibility to trade him until its number is met. If this carries on to the deadline, expect the Suns to be right back in the mix and Ayton to be a part of it.
Even if Kevin Durant is not the target, expect the Suns to explore Deandre Ayton's market. Just a few months ago, he was benched in Game 7 of the Suns' playoff exit. The team reportedly did not even offer Ayton a contract prior to matching the Pacers' offer sheet. The relationship appeared broken last season, and the perception was he had played his last game in Phoenix. If the bad blood boils on, expect him to finish off his four-year deal elsewhere.
Ayton sets career high in points
While there certainly seems to be behind-the-scenes issues with Deandre Ayton, there is still a lot to like about his play. Although the contract has already been delivered, expect Ayton to look at this year as a prove-it year. Going out and producing at a high level would be the quickest way to wipe the slate clean. The former top pick has had an up-and-down scoring performance in his four-year career. Ayton scored career highs in the 2019-20 season with 18.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. His numbers slipped in 2020-21 to 14.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Last season he saw his scoring move back in the right direction and averaged 17.2 points per game. Look for Ayton to continue in this direction and put the league on notice this year. He has shown flashes of a developing jump shot, and adding this would change his game. Ayton knocked down a career-high seven 3-pointers last year but attempted just 19. If he can continue to grow this area, it raises his ceiling greatly. The Suns may not view Ayton as the player they hoped, but he is still an impressive talent. If he can consistently play more assertive on the boards and as a shot blocker, he will lock in his status as a top-five center.
The Suns should still have a positive outlook for next season. While the disastrous playoff ending left a black eye on the season, the 2021-22 season was still a success. Phoenix had the best record in the NBA and still has its core in place. Both Deandre Ayton and the Suns should be looking to mend their relationship if they hope to achieve their ultimate goal.
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