Report: Suns considering flipping the script on plan for Deandre Ayton?

Following a 2023 NBA trade deadline featuring Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton's name as a constant in rumors and linked to numerous trades, it's been almost a foregone conclusion that his days with the franchise were numbered. Then came the blockbuster trade that is set to send longtime Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal to Phoenix, and the idea of the Suns keeping Ayton, at times, didn't even seem like it would be on the table.

But following the Suns' move to create one of the most impressive scoring trios to wear the same uniform and take the floor together in the NBA, the franchise may be changing its tone a bit on the former No. 1 overall pick.

According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (via Evan Sidery of Forbes Sports), the Suns haven't found proper trade value for Ayton, and in turn, it's reportedly led to some level of a change of heart from the franchise. Per Gambadoro, there's now a "really good chance" that Ayton will stay with the Suns going forward, which he revealed on the Burns & Gambo Show.

To say this decision would be shocking is probably an understatement, especially when considering another point made by Sidery. If the Suns do opt to keep Ayton after acquiring Beal, they would be paying $162.9 million between their four max players, which includes Kevin Durant and Devin Booker also. For comparison's sake, there were a total of 12 teams last season with a higher total cap than what the Suns would be paying four players, per Spotrac. Phoenix's own cap last season was just a bit above that number, coming in just north of $175.8 million, and they had Chris Paul under contract at that point.

While it's still early in the offseason, the Suns could very well find a deal they believe is more in line with what they were hoping to receive in exchange for Ayton when all is said and done. But if Phoenix does opt to keep the 24-year-old big man, they're going to have a tall task when it comes to filling out the rest of their roster, and the depth behind Durant, Booker, Beal and Ayton will almost certainly be filled with question marks.