This Pacers-Suns trade proposal sends Deandre Ayton to Indiana

One NBA writer is proposing that the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns make a trade this summer centered around big man Deandre Ayton.

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed that the Pacers trade Myles Turner, T.J. McConnell, a 2023 first-round pick (No. 26 overall) and a 2023 second-round pick (No. 55 overall) to the Suns for Ayton.

“A year after signing Ayton to a record-high four-year, $132.9 million offer sheet, the Pacers finally get their newest franchise center,” Swartz wrote. “This deal would take some patience, as both sides would need to wait for the one-year trade restriction to expire on July 14. If the rookies originally selected by Indiana sign their contracts, this would extend the wait 30 days as well, meaning Ayton-to-Indiana would likely be completed by the end of July. If both sides agree ahead of time, however, the Suns would let the Pacers know who to select at 26 and 55 overall, players who eventually give Phoenix more depth to complement Devin Booker and Kevin Durant."

Ayton tried to leave the Suns last offseason by signing a four-year, $132.9 million offer sheet with the Pacers in restricted free agency. However, Phoenix matched Indiana’s offer sheet. The 24-year-old averaged 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds during the regular season for the Suns, but his numbers dipped in the postseason to 13.4 points and 9.7 rebounds.

The former No. 1 overall pick put up 10.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in the Denver Nuggets series and didn’t register a positive plus-minus rating in any game.

Ayton would be “excited” if he got traded by the Suns this summer, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN. The Suns, who lost to the Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals, are expected to aggressively explore the trade market for Ayton this offseason.

Ayton will make $32.5 million next season. He turns 25 in July.