It is officially the offseason for the Phoenix Suns, and with a new owner in Mat Ishbia, it is expected to be a wild one.
Already, rumors have surfaced that the Suns are open to the idea of replacing HC Monty Williams. Additionally, several reports indicate that the Suns may move on from PG Chris Paul and C Deandre Ayton.
However, Ayton, who has played for the Suns his entire career, supposedly does not see himself moving on any time soon.
When speaking about his future in Phoenix, Ayton stated:
“I love Phoenix, man. Honestly, I’m gonna continue to play hard for Phoenix.”
Now, whether or not this is Ayton attempting to not destroy his trade stock is another question.
While Ayton did not necessarily have a bad 2022–2023 season, averaging over 18 PPG, he was not there in the playoffs when the Suns needed him most.
In the postseason, he averaged barely over 13 PPG and did not finish any game in the Western Conference Semifinals with over 10 rebounds.
After he became a restricted free agent last offseason, the Suns signed Ayton to a 4-year, $132.9 million contract. But, as of January 2023, Phoenix can elect to trade away their starting center.
Stay tuned for further updates.
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