Suns star deserves better from organization

After spending the last 18 months trying to find a new home for Ayton, the Suns have accepted defeat. Phoenix's inability to put Ayton in a position to succeed has come back to haunt them. Ayton has every right to feel aggrieved. The sulking on the sidelines makes sense. It's clear that Phoenix doesn't want their big man and he doesn't want to be there.

However, after signing a four-year $132M deal last summer, finding suitors for Ayton has proven problematic. Not because the 24-year-old lacks talent, but because his reputation has taken a beating in recent years. Most of the negative connotations surrounding Ayton are not of his making, though. 

Phoenix hasn't don't their part to feature Ayton within their offensive and defensive schemes. They play him because they have to. Because they committed such a significant portion of their cap space to him. The Suns only made that commitment after refusing to offer Ayton a max contract extension the year prior. Everything has been mixed messages from the front office. 

No wonder Ayton has failed to show an unwavering commitment. The Suns have made it clear, time and time again, that they are not committed to Ayton. They view his contract as a means for landing another star. Because Ayton isn't a modern-day floor-spacing big, he is viewed as expendable. 

In 67 regular-season games this past season, Ayton averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, shooting 58.9% from the field. For a player who hasn't totally brought in, those numbers are impressive. Imagine what Ayton could do if he was asked to be more than just an overpriced role player. Phoenix clearly saw star potential in Ayton when they drafted him first overall in 2018, before they quickly changed their minds.

Ayton deserves to be on a team that believes in him and until that happens, we'll never see his full potential.