Damian Lillard trade: Suns end rocky relationship with Deandre Ayton, adding necessary depth around star trio

The Phoenix Suns may not precisely be on the best of maximum NBA lovers’ minds over the approaching days, for the reason that the Milwaukee Bucks simply pulled off the Ocean’s Eleven-like heist of swiping Damian Lillard from the expectant clutches of the Miami Heat. Lillard becoming a member of Giannis Antetokounmpo right away creates some of the ambitious duos within the league, and probably some of the dynamic we have ever observed.

Meanwhile, the Suns have a horny respectable celebrity duo of their very own in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, strengthened through the addition of Bradley Beal previous this summer time. The prevailing query was once how Phoenix was once going to finagle sufficient manufacturing out of the remainder of its roster, most commonly made out of minimal contracts, to be a sensible playoff contender. After all, we simply watched Durant and Booker do the whole thing humanly conceivable to win a playoff sequence, and nonetheless fall significantly brief in opposition to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets.

To that time, on Wednesday the Suns cashed of their greatest industry chip, Deandre Ayton — the previous No. 1 general choose who was once a key issue within the crew’s 2021 NBA Finals look — for a handful of gamers (Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson) who may not essentially make headlines, however can fill necessary roles as new head trainer Frank Vogel makes an attempt to type out his rotation.

Ayton gave the impression of a long run All-NBA middle right through the 2021 postseason run, apparently content material with his function as a defensive-minded rim-roller who was once handiest sporadically a featured participant within the Phoenix offense. That following summer time, on the other hand, Ayton was once pressured to look at as different notable gamers from his draft magnificence like Luka Doncic, Trae Young and Michael Porter Jr. signed max extensions. The Suns failed to supply Ayton a max deal, and the rumblings of his discontent grew louder when he introduced firstly 2021-22 coaching camp that he hadn’t spoken to then-head coach Monty Williams over all of the summer time.

After every other productive season through which Ayton averaged 17 issues and 10 rebounds consistent with recreation on a career-best 63% capturing, the Suns may have apparently mended the tenuous state of affairs through providing their large guy a five-year, $180 million deal at the first day of 2022 unfastened company. Instead, they let him input limited unfastened company and later matched a four-year, $133 million be offering sheet from the Indiana Pacers.

“I’ve come to understand that this is a business,” Ayton mentioned after signing the deal with Phoenix. “So, I was more anxious to know the end of the result so I could focus, move on and just get back to work. I just treated everything like a business. Just keep being professional, approach everything with professionalism and not looking too deep into it.”

Despite placing up every other double-double season of 18 issues and 10 rebounds consistent with recreation in 2022-23, Ayton struggled right through the Suns’ postseason run. Things got here to a boil in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals in opposition to the Nuggets, when Ayton was once visibly disillusioned after being subbed out for backup Jock Landale with just below 5 mins ultimate. At the time, Ayton had 4 issues on 2-of-6 capturing in 25 mins.

The Suns went directly to win the sport however misplaced the sequence through which Ayton averaged 11 issues and 8 rebounds on 58% capturing. It did not take lengthy for the discourse in regards to the rift between Ayton and Phoenix to reemerge. There was once a way that the Suns’ firing of Williams following the postseason go out may just sign a recent get started for Ayton however, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, the problems went way past the participant and his trainer.

All of the historical past is helping provide an explanation for why Ayton, a 25-year-old strolling double-double with quite a few ultimate untapped attainable on each ends, was once traded on Wednesday. Phoenix noticed a possibility to switch one gifted participant for 4 attainable rotation items, getting rid of an organizational headache within the procedure. Here’s a take a look at what the Suns were given within the deal.

Jusuf Nurkic

A veteran bruiser who averaged 13 issues and 9 rebounds final season for the Blazers, Nurkic may have the scoop to be the Suns’ beginning middle after Ayton’s departure. He’s greater than succesful offensively, in a position to do a little injury within the post, however Vogel most likely may not ask a lot of him relating to scoring. Instead, Nurkic will likely be requested to dominate the glass on each ends and set monitors to liberate Durant, Booker and Beal. Nurkic was once 6th within the league with 4.4 display assists consistent with recreation final season, and that quantity will virtually surely leap given his new environment.

Nurkic’s defensive boundaries at the perimeter are obtrusive, however he is a good sufficient rim protector to play drop protection, which Vogel has hired with nice good fortune prior to now. An intriguing facet of Nurkic’s offense is his rising 3-point capturing — he shot 36% from deep final season on over two makes an attempt consistent with recreation — and he must get extra of the ones seems with the offensive consideration his celebrity teammates will draw.

Grayson Allen

Despite some tough playoff showings, Allen has been a particularly dependable function participant over the last 3 seasons. A profession 40% 3-point shooter who averaged over 10 issues for the Bucks final season, Allen will completely ceremonial dinner on open seems created through Durant, Booker and Beal, as he knocked down 42% of his “wide open” 3-pointers final season, according to NBA.com.

Allen may be a reasonably underrated playmaker, notching a career-high 2.3 assists consistent with recreation final season. He ranked within the 72nd percentile in pick-and-roll potency together with passes, in keeping with Synergy Sports, and he may well be tasked with much more advent on a Suns squad that lacks a real level guard.

Nassir Little

The topic of a lot hype from the Blazers over the last few years, Little was once restricted through accidents in each and every of the final two seasons. His 6-5, athletic body supplies some severe defensive upside, whilst he shot a career-high 37% from 3-point vary final season. Little ranked within the 52nd percentile in catch-and-shoot scenarios final season, consistent with Synergy — a long way from elite, however just right sufficient to be a succesful floor-spacer around Phoenix’s offensive firepower. He must have the ability to compete for wing mins, assuming he absolutely recovers from April core surgical procedure.

Keon Johnson

The proprietor of the very best vertical jump on the 2022 NBA Draft Combine (41.5 inches!), Johnson has but to constantly translate that athleticism to the courtroom. He had a three-game stretch right through the Blazers’ Tankapalooza towards the end of final season through which he averaged 15 issues and 6 assists on 40% 3-point capturing, however that is about as small of a pattern dimension as one can muster. While he is not more likely to be a fixture within the rotation, Johnson may well be useful in stretches if the Suns’ participant building body of workers can paintings some magic.