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Deandre Ayton was traded by the Phoenix Suns to the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team deal that also involved Damian Lillard, who went to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Speaking on the news, Adrian Wojnarowski said: “Lillard goes Milwaukee as part of a 3-team deal with Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, a 2029 unprotected MIL 1st, and unprotected MIL swap rights in 2028 and 2030 to Blazers. Phoenix lands Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson.”
Shams Charania provides a more straightforward breakdown:
Ayton, who was selected by the Suns with the first overall pick a couple years ago, is now formally released by the franchise. Phoenix achieved great heights thanks to Ayton, including the NBA Finals in 2021 and a regular season record 64 victories the following year.
He occasionally had his effort and motor questioned, but he never quite lived up to the hype.
When Ayton became a restricted free agency last summer, the Phoenix Suns were compelled to match the Indiana Pacers’ offer sheet in order to keep him.
There was some anticipation that the new head coach Frank Vogel, who had spoken about doing so throughout the offseason, would be able to maximize Monty Williams’ abilities now that he had left Phoenix.
“I think he can be one of the best centers in the league,” said Vogel.
“I think he’s shown that at times throughout his career, and I know he showed that when we played him in the playoffs a couple years back and he shot about 80% from the field and deterred every drive, every cut, every effort to attack the basket.
“He can be a big time deterrent. There’s still areas that he can grow offensively. But I’m intent on really connecting with him and restoring him to an all star level player.”
Simba Daily reported that an Arizona Sports insider, John Gambadoro, predicted the move last week:
“Let me address some of the Deandre Ayton rumors. The Suns have not been willing to move DA all summer because they think he fits well and there were no offers that would change that. If Nurkic was on the table I would be surprised if the Suns didn’t look into it because an argument could be made that is an upgrade for Phx,” wrote Gambo.
“This would be contingent on Dame being moved. Portland has previously shown no interest in DA but that was with Dame staying. If they do not have Dame on the roster they could very well want a young 25-year old to build around Vogel needs a defensive minded Center to build his defense around and Nurkic does fit that mold. This would be contingent on a Lillard trade and I do expect that to happen very very soon.”
On Monday, October 2, the Suns are scheduled to have their media day.
Back then, North Texas native and Gonzaga Bulldogs star, Drew Timme, agreed to an “Exhibit 10 deal” with the Milwaukee Bucks after going undrafted for the season.
Drew Timme, the Bulldogsall-time leading scorer was among the 58 players to hear his name called Thursday night after the two-round NBA draft ended at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
According to ESPN, Timme was the 12th-best player available after the end of the draft. He averaged 21.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.4 APG, and 1.0 BPG this past season as well as 17.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 2.4 APG over his Gonzaga career
With an Exhibit 10 deal, the Bucks will essentially give Timme a one-year, minimum-salary NBA deal with the option to convert his contract to a two-way contract if that change is made before the season begins.
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