[Highkin] Can’t speak to how imminent anything is but Portland has wanted to upgrade the starting center spot for a while and have had interest in Ayton in the past. Kicked the tires last spring but it was hard to make the money work with S&T rules. Not sure how it helps Phoenix.
Can't speak to how imminent anything is but Portland has wanted to upgrade the starting center spot for a while and have had interest in Ayton in the past. Kicked the tires last spring but it was hard to make the money work with S&T rules. Not sure how it helps Phoenix.
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) September 22, 2023
by NokCha_
17 Comments
ive already lost all the short term memory i had about the new CBA so i dont even know if the Suns are affected by the 2nd apron restrictions wrt sign and trading players this 1st season.
Gambadoro (the guy who reported a Dame trade is imminent) went on a podcast hosted by Jake Fischer shortly after DA’s offer sheet was matched and said the Sun’s brain trust would rather pay $10m for a serviceable center like Kevon Looney than pay Ayton $30m.
Nurk earns about half of what Ayton makes per year.
Thankfully im pretty sure the laws of nba salary caps and mathematics make an ayton for dame deal almost impossible. Idk tho I’m not a mathematician
Ayton’s trade value is much higher than Nurkic. Nurkic is a negative contract at this point. Not sure how the trade will work out value wise
If Portland does trade Lillard to the Suns, what does that trade even look like without a third team? I feel like a third team would give a pick plus filler for Nurkic.
Unless the Suns keep Nurkic, so now you have to trade something more along with Ayton.
it’ll be caleb to phx
I feel like this trade will involve a fourth team. Don’t think just Phoenix-Miami-Portland is enough
Nurkic makes way more sense on the Suns IMO
I take it back, this would be the funniest outcome
Nurkic, Caleb Martin, and two 2nds for Ayton is my prediction
It makes sense for Phoenix for the reason u/lopea182 gave…less $$$ tied up in the C position. Relieving themselves of some lux tax penalty. Also gives the Suns more flexibility to play KD at the 5 at times. We’ll see that this season, if this deal does come to fruition.
The Blazers have definitely been interested in Ayton. Interested enough in Ayton to facilitate a Lillard to Miami deal with Ayton as the centerpiece? We will see. They view him highly, and Ayton would surely love to have a renewed sense of air and be able to reset and grow with the Blazers. Less pressure, less spotlight, more opportunity offensively.
Nurkic is a downgrade to Ayton but is better than people in the comments are giving him credit for, and tells you how much narrative colors people’s opinions. Nurkic is a solid defensive center and is an overall above average center.
Nurk + Caleb Martin for Ayton
Sign Dwight as back up centre for Nurk
It works
Shut your mouth highkin don’t ruin this
Of course it doesn’t help Phoenix. Cause Nurkic is not an upgrade at all. He’s older, less athletic a worse defender, worse finisher and way more injury prone. Maybe Booker is just sick of Ayton and wants him gone. I could understand that to a degree but Nurkic is not the answer. Most likely scenario he gets hurt at some point and Drew Eubanks is starting come playoff time.
The calm before the storm
>Not sure how it helps Phoenix.
It doesn’t. I fuckin’ hate everything about this trade.
Do all the people in NBA internet remember the experience of watching DeAndre Ayton play. I feel like the stuff that was written about him during his most recent NBA games and stuff written about him now are about two extremely different players.