Deandre Ayton, fresh off of his first NBA Finals appearance with the Suns, is eligible for a five-year, $168MM max contract that would kick in at the start of the 2022/23 season, and Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic takes a look at what could be next for the big man.
Ayton’s career lows in PPG and APG were a result more of the context of adding Chris Paul and reorganizing the offense, rather than any regression on Ayton’s end, Rankin writes. In fact, Ayton’s growth as a team-first player willing to do whatever it takes for the success of the Suns adds even more appeal for the club as it decides if it will offer him a max deal.
“If sacrificing is leading the wins and where we are today, I’ll sacrifice everything, you know what I’m saying,” Ayton said. “Everything (Paul’s) told me has led up to here, so why stop now?”
We have more news from the Pacific Division:
- Kai Jones, the big man out of Texas, interviewed with Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka at the NBA Combine, and has since worked out at the team’s facility, tweets Kyle Goon of The Orange County Register. The big man out of the Bahamas is a Klutch Sports client who participated in Rich Paul‘s Klutch Pro Day, so the Lakers figure to be very familiar with him. Jones is considered to have one of the widest draft ranges in the first round, as he could go anywhere from the top-10 to the early 20s.
- The Lakers worked out six prospects yesterday, tweets Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times: Josh Christopher, Joshua Primo, Marcus Zegarowski, Anthony Tarke, Jayvon Graves, and Eugene Omoruyi. Christopher and Primo are potentially candidates for the Lakers’ pick at 22. The Lakers are also working out six prospects today, tweets Goon: Carlik Jones, Feron Hunt, Jeremiah Tilmon, Mitchell Ballock, Greg Brown, and Neemias Queta. The Lakers don’t have a second-round pick but could try to trade into the second round.
- The Warriors are bringing back Chris Duarte and Trey Murphy III for second workouts this weekend, tweets Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report. While the 14th pick may be seen as a slight reach for the two older prospects, either would fit in right away with the Warriors’ needs and could have untapped upside in the team’s system.
Lakers can sign and trade Tucker for 15th pick and take Jones
Why would they trades young talent for a pick instead of star. No way they do that rather have them stay where their are
I projected $147 luxury tax for Lakers if giving all their own FAs market price
Jeanne will pay tax if it gives the Lakers a better shot at a championship. You need to read more about how she was taught it is all about winning by her dad before you start talking out of your butt.
No they can’t.
Wash has No cap so who is LAL getting back?
Cmon Silly your a cap man, better than this
Its my fault
I am saying it would be 12-18 picks not necessary Wizards.
Only SAS and OKC fit that criteria …
Sas unlikely
OKC interesting indeed, as they have the cap and 16 shouldn’t be a burden to lose whatsoever – I dont think Lakers are looking for the 16 pick regardless but I wouldn’t hate the move from OKC to try-
Duarte and Murphy are Knick targets. Perhaps, like in every other draft, shooters are rising in the last week before the draft. Both these guys were 2nd rounders in the mock drafts up until a month or so ago, not that they’re current with teams’ thinking. Still, #14 seems high, in what was supposed to be a deep draft.
In 2011, GSW did pick a shooter projected to be picked in the late teens at #11, and it worked out OK.
Ayton $168 million contract
Paul opt in, Suns beach would be scary weak
You don’t pay big 3 so much money if you are a small market
It would create the tax problem for future
Duarte and Murphy are big wings. Seems the toy of the month now. Both play D too. I’m sure both will be there at 19. I take Murphy if we don’t trade up. Best case scenario for Knicks. Is trade up for someone who falls out of top 10. Mitchell, Bouknight maybe. It’s looking like Johnson could fall 12-15. We can definitely move up to that.
Knicks have no shot to take one of them.
Duarte age 24.1
Murphy age 21.1
For Warriors,
I’ll take Murphy, then trade 7 and Murphy for 5.
What are you Benjamin Buttons now Sillyman ?
We doing this draft in reverse next Thursday; I missed the memo ?
This one was strange, even for you
Seen a very interesting take the other day.
CP3 turns down his player option, Suns then say okay that’s cool we will look in another direction. They instead take Lonzo Ball for 3 years 45mil roughly, saving themselves about 25mil a season on a 36 year old point guard.
Probably won’t happen but resigning CP3 isn’t going to bring them back to the final next year. He’s old and only going to get worse as the rest of the team is young and continues to get better. He will be expensive and holding you back.
Instead you save 25 mil and get Lonzo who can grow with all the other young guys. He’s better 13 years younger than Paul, defensively at 6’6 he’s better. He’s improved a lot as a shooter, setting career highs in FG%, 3P% and FT%. He could be a great long term fit with Booker and Ayton.
Then that 25mil could be spent in FA bringing in a better bench possibly even the return of Kelly Oubre. Or on the extensions needed for Bridges and Ayton.
Would put CP3 in an interesting situation. He would be without a team and looking at offers. At 36, would he still be after the money or would he be after success. Would love to see him finally go to the Lakers where he should have been allowed to go years ago. Team up with his mate LeBron James and AD. Bring in Melo as a bench scorer too. The Lakers would be fire with them as a big three and would be favourites to win a title. Bron with 5 rings, would be crazy at 37 and Paul getting his first.
Would be interesting asthey could bring Payne back too. Does CP sacrifice that much money though.