Tag: DeAndre Ayton

Deandre Ayton agrees to max offer sheet with Pacers: Now what?

The Indiana Pacers and center Deandre Ayton have agreed on a four-year, $132.9 million maximum offer sheet, according to Adrian Wojanarowski. If there’s a sign-and-trade to be done between the two teams, now is the time… because that possibility for …

The Indiana Pacers and center Deandre Ayton have agreed on a four-year, $132.9 million maximum offer sheet, according to Adrian Wojanarowski. If there’s a sign-and-trade to be done between the two teams, now is the time… because that possibility for Ayton gets eliminated once he officially signs the offer sheet.

3 shocking facts about the Pacers and Deandre Ayton agreeing to largest restricted free agency offer in NBA history

This is a potentially league-altering move involving the Pacers and the Suns.

The Indiana Pacers have reportedly agreed to a 4-year, $133 million offer sheet with long-time Phoenix Suns star Deandre Ayton, who is now a restricted free agent.

Phoenix’s front office will have 48 hours to match the offer sheet, which they are expected to, even if such a move would push them deep into the luxury tax. However, if they don’t believe Ayton is a max-contract player, they risk losing him for nothing.

Meanwhile, if the Suns do let Ayton walk, the Pacers will pay out the largest deal in the history of NBA’s restricted free agency — and the largest average annual value contract in team franchise history.

With that in mind, here is what you need to know about the deal.

If the Pacers acquire Deandre Ayton, he and Tyrese Haliburton would be the best young pick and roll duo in the NBA

There would not be a better pick-and-roll duo in the NBA both under 25 years old.

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The Pacers are reportedly interested in acquiring restricted free agent Deandre Ayton, and it would be a brilliant use of their cap space.

The 23-year-old Ayton would be an ideal fit alongside Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, who is 22 years old. When surveying the league for a rim runner who can maximize Haliburton’s talents as a playmaker, you would be hard-pressed to find one with a better resumé than Ayton.

The former No. 1 overall pick averaged a league-best 4.6 points per game when rolling to the basket in pick and roll sets, per Synergy. When including the regular season and the playoffs, in fact, the big man was the only player who scored at least 300 points on these possessions.

After his midseason trade to the Pacers, meanwhile, ball screens in which Haliburton passed to a teammate rolling into the post resulted in 6.1 points per game. That is the same amount as Luka Doncic. The only players whose passes yielded more scoring were James Harden, Chris Paul, and Trae Young.

Opponents would have a nightmare defending a high pick and roll from Haliburton and Ayton. On one hand, you would have to stay attached to Ayton, who personally scored more points per game on pick and rolls from the top of the key than every player in the league except for Joel Embiid.

But it is hard to defend Haliburton when he is operating the high screen and roll as a scorer, too. Among the 127 players who recorded at least 60 such possessions between the regular season and the postseason, no one was more efficient than Haliburton. Defenders would have to pick their poison because neither scenario is ideal.

Harden (32 years old) and Embiid (28) make for a fantastic PnR threat in Philadelphia. The Bulls have something interesting with Zach LaVine (27) and Nikola Vucevic (31). It is hard to argue with what Jamal Murray (25) and Nikola Jokic (27) bring to the table.

If the Pacers are able to land Ayton, however, I’m going with Indiana’s duo. It’s hard to imagine a more productive pick-and-roll tandem who would both be 24 years old or younger next season.

The Tip-Off

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

If you haven’t been paying attention to NBA 2K23 Summer League, one player you have missed is Jabari Walker — son of former NBA champion Samaki Walker.

I wrote about what he has brought to the Trail Blazers thus far in Las Vegas:

“This defensive tenacity is exactly what you need alongside Damian Lillard, especially if Walker can continue to show that he can defend on the perimeter at the professional level.

It’s worth noting that the advanced stats love Walker, too. Win Shares (WS), Player Efficiency Rating (PER), and Floor Impact Counter (FIC) are three of the only catch-all metrics that are publicly tracked for Summer League.

Although these stats are a bit flawed, for context: Walker leads all drafted players in Win Shares (0.7) and PER (33.0) and he trails only first-round pick Tari Eason in FIC (40.1) thus far.

It is hard to make a sweeping claim about raw plus-minus in an exhibition game, but in Las Vegas, the Blazers tend to perform better when Walker is on the floor relative to when he is not.”

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Portland coach Chauncey Billups, who like Walker also attended the University of Colorado, finds some playing time for the rookie next season.

One To Watch

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

(All odds via Tipico.)

Nets (-1.5, -118) vs. Grizzlies (-107), O/U 172.5, 6:30 PM ET

The last time that he was on the floor, Brooklyn guard Cam Thomas was shown rolling his eyes in this viral video when asked about passing the ball more often. I’m curious how he responds in his next game.

But I’m also going to watch the Summer League Grizzlies whenever they are on, especially if there is a chance we can see the delightful pairing of David Roddy and Kenneth Lofton Jr. in the thicc-and-roll.

Shootaround

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

— Richard Jefferson blew an easy call in his ref debut and the NBA Summer League crowd went nuts

— JJ Redick thinks he is one of the 3 most hated college basketball players ever: ‘It’s all Duke guys’

— Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin caught up with 19-year-old guard Jaden Springer

— HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto discusses Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving trade talk; Deandre Ayton free agency

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

When should Houston capitalize on its future Brooklyn draft picks?

The Houston Rockets own Brooklyn’s draft capital until 2027. Should they stand pat, or look to cash in some of those assets in the 2022 offseason? Here’s our look at the pros and cons.

As a franchise, the Rockets are starting to arrive at an inflection point as Houston coasts through its hottest July on city record. At the moment, general manager Rafael Stone and the rest of the organization are watching the team’s young foundation currently play in Las Vegas.

Rookies Jabari Smith, Tari Eason, and TyTy Washington are playing with key second-year players such as Josh Christopher and Usman Garuba for a summer league roster that shows immense promise. The organization is holding its breath that these new pieces, in conjunction with existing young standouts such as Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Kevin Porter Jr., can bring more wins and defensive intensity than last season.

This is all happening through a fascinating organizational lens. Seemingly, the upcoming season is the last in which the Houston Rockets can truly afford to be amongst the worst in the NBA. After finishing with the league’s worst record in each of the past two seasons, 2023 will mark a transition point where Houston will finally be forced to change.

Beginning in 2024, the Chris Paul-Russell Westbrook trade picks are due to be conveyed from Houston to the Thunder.

One of the worst trades in the organization’s history is set to rear its ugly head following the 2023 NBA offseason, since Oklahoma City will own Houston’s first-round draft selections outright in 2024 and 2026 (with light protections) and have a right to swap picks in 2025.

While Houston dodged the bullet of conveying its 2021 pick to the Thunder by securing the No. 2 overall selection for Green (which made the top-four protection kick in), it’s hard to envision the Rockets finding that type of lottery luck, again — and particularly not during years in which that Green-led core is likely to improve its on-court production.

The Westbrook trade would be talked about far more, if it wasn’t for one overriding circumstance. The importance piece of context is this: Even considering those obligations, it’s not as if Houston is devoid of future draft capital. The James Harden trade from early 2021 affords Stone and the rest of the organization the right to Brooklyn’s picks all the way through 2027. The apparent explosion of the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving core has left Houston in a beautiful position entering the next five years.

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Going forward, Houston’s impetus to improve dramatically within the next 12 months and transition back to contention status raises interesting questions. When is the best time for the Rockets to capitalize off that Nets capital? Is patience or a parlay the best way forward?

There are sound arguments for both.

On one hand, the idea for Stone to stay put and allow head coach Stephen Silas the opportunity to develop his young core for another risk-free year is appealing. Green, Smith, Eason, Sengun, and Porter could be allowed to play together as one of the youngest starting lineups in the league and to develop chemistry without consequence. Players such as Christopher and Washington could settle into important bench roles while still leaving plenty of minutes for Silas to use elsewhere.

In all likelihood, the natural development of the young guys would organically produce one of the worst records in the league (again) and strong lottery odds in the 2023 NBA draft. That draft class could be one of the best in years and is headlined by 7-foot-2 French prospect Victor Wembanyama, along with some elite domestic prospects. Adding another rookie with star potential to the  young core and carrying a ton of salary cap space into the 2023 offseason ⁠— along with having those Brooklyn picks for future use ⁠— creates many avenues for further growth.

Houston has historically been able to attract star talent, and their cap space combined with the Brooklyn capital would suggest they could land a disgruntled star to play alongside Green and Smith. As is often the case in the NBA, nobody ever truly knows who will be next to move.

The other option, though, is equally sound: Houston could pounce this summer and pursue an All-Star caliber talent.

If they are forced to trade Durant and Irving, the Nets would be in an odd position where they are currently unable to build their next contender through the draft, since any resulting high picks (from being bad) would convey to Houston. As things stand today, they are effectively forced to try and compete immediately, which is likely to result in a middling team built around perennially injured guard Ben Simmons.

The Rockets could change that calculus as a third-team trade partner, if they wanted to offer Brooklyn a tanking avenue. Returning some of those pick assets to the Nets could yield Houston with a high-level player to join that young core and potentially accelerate its winning timeline.

For example, Houston could perhaps parlay some of the swaps and selections into the rumored Durant-to-Phoenix interest, if the Rockets were interested in center Deandre Ayton or swingman Mikal Bridges. The Suns would still be paying the primary bill for Durant’s services, but returning some of Brooklyn’s capital could provide more long-term upside to the Nets than an Ayton-Simmons (or Bridges-Simmons) core.

Another potential target of much discussion is Toronto’s Scottie Barnes or OG Anunoby. The Raptors have by far and away the most potential asset capital to offer Brooklyn, should the Nets choose to disregard Durant’s wishes. This option could benefit Houston, as well.

While Brooklyn can regain the potential to tank and acquire a high draft pick to build around, the Rockets could acquire a small forward or center more talented than anyone at those positions on the current roster. That talent boost could make the transition to playing winning basketball a year from now a little bit easier. There’s also the argument that, while the core meshes, the potential for a high draft pick in 2023 would remain.

Caveats exist, of course. A player such as Barnes may command much of, if not all of, the Brooklyn capital, as compared to a restricted free agent like Ayton. Additionally, some of these trades could require an immediate contract extension for Houston to feel safe to participate. This opportunity cost of salary cap flexibility would have to be weighed by the organization to determine what works best for its future.

Regardless of how you slice it, the Rockets are in an excellent position heading into the 2022-23 campaign. There appears to be a strong young core in place, and multiple paths to improve the team should be available before Oklahoma City is due its Westbrook draft capital.

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Nets want Devin Booker in trade with Suns for Kevin Durant, not Ayton

Reports indicate that the Brooklyn Nets want Devin Booker in a potential Kevin Durant trade with the Phoenix Suns.

As one the most talented players in the NBA requests a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, the organization is reportedly not willing to part with Kevin Durant only to receive DeAndre Ayton.

John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports reports that the team “is not interested in” Ayton, and “may have to make a deal without him or with a third team.”

Ayton is a very talented young big man who is looking for a change in environment. With an impressive skillset around the rim and lockdown paint defense, Ayton makes himself a trade target for any team needing a big across the league.

Now if Kevin Durant is absolutely determined to play in Phoenix, Brooklyn reportedly would only accept the trade if it means bringing sharpshooter Devin Booker to play in Barclay’s Center.

NBA insider Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reports that the Nets want Booker back:

From Brooklyn’s perspective, sources said, there’s no deal to land Durant in Phoenix that doesn’t start with sending back Devin Booker to Barclays Center. The Suns, of course, would likely hold the line firm. But early indications are the Nets brass is not particularly inclined to take a sign-and-trade that brings back restricted free agent Deandre Ayton.

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Rumors: Brooklyn Nets in contention to acquire DeAndre Ayton via trade

Reports indicate that Brooklyn could be a landing spot for Phoenix Suns big man DeAndre Ayton.

The Brooklyn Nets have been caught up in rumors that they are in the mix for undervalued Phoenix Suns big man DeAndre Ayton.

Basketball insider Quinton Mayo indicated he’s heard rumblings about the Nets becoming a landing destination.

Mayo reports that he’s heard a possible package for the Suns big man. The package would include the lengthy Nic Claxton, lights-out three-point shooter Joe Harris and possibly young talent Cam Thomas. The Nets have been shopping Harris over the last few days, making him an essential piece for an Ayton blockbuster trade.

While the Suns continue to push Ayton away, the contract negotiations have all but completely broken down making him a huge trade target across the league. The talented big man has solidified himself as one of the NBA’s best young big centers with interior defense skills.

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Should Houston inquire about Suns center (and looming free agent) Deandre Ayton?

Probable free agent Deandre Ayton played a huge role in elevating the Phoenix Suns to a strong defense. Could the 23-year-old center do the same for a young Rockets team?

The Houston Rockets want to get better defensively. Head coach Stephen Silas has been beyond clear regarding his biggest frustration with the 2021-22 team that finished last in the NBA with a 20-62 record.

“I want to be a better defensive team,” Silas said. “We just have to be, and for young guys, that’s hard. Hard for them to grasp the defensive end and be able to anticipate what’s coming. To see a set develop and know where they’re supposed to be, when they’re supposed to be there and be there on time. I want to improve on the defensive end.”

Last season, Houston finished with the worst defensive rating in the league at 116.4 points per 100 possessions, and they were No. 28 (of 30 teams) in defensive rebounds at just 32 per game. In contrast, the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors, who are playing in the NBA Finals this month, finished No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in defensive rating. They were both top five teams in defensive rebounding, as well.

Despite any shift in basketball towards the offensive game, it’s good defensive teams that are finding the most success. The Rockets just didn’t have a lot in common last season with these veteran-laden, disciplined teams that ran circles around the rest of the NBA.

When forecasting Houston’s future, one current problem is that their probable big-ticket acquisitions don’t necessarily project them to be much better defensively. Duke forward Paolo Banchero appears to be the likely draft pick at No. 3 overall in the 2022 first round, and his biggest knock as a prospect is how his defensive game transitions to the NBA level. Big man Christian Wood is under contract for another season in Houston, and he is considered a relative liability on that end, as well.

The Rockets are in desperate need to import defensive talent in one capacity or another. Somehow, elsewhere in the Western Conference, an interesting opportunity has emerged. While the rest of the league talks about how current Phoenix center Deandre Ayton could make a great pairing with Detroit and prized prospect Cade Cunningham, maybe Houston should take a look at the former Arizona Wildcat, themselves.

The Suns are clearly title contenders, but they suddenly find themselves in an interesting situation. After going down in a devastating Game 7 loss to Dallas in the Western Conference semi-finals, they’re at a crossroads in terms of what to do with the team. Many have argued that Phoenix should simply run it back and try again next season, while others say the NBA’s best regular-season squad has a responsibility to revamp and re-tool around All-Star guards Devin Booker and Chris Paul.

This leaves Ayton just sitting there while the Suns’ front office decides. The fifth-year center is set to become a restricted free agent later this month, and has reportedly yet to receive a contract offer from Phoenix.

He’s seeking the equivalent of a maximum contract, which ⁠— while well-deserved for his production ⁠— could limit the Suns’ ability to diversify their roster moving forward. Some might argue that Phoenix is better off seeking cheaper production at a position that is becoming increasingly less important in the NBA, and it also remains to be seen if much-maligned owner Robert Sarver will spend deep into the luxury tax.

If that’s a debate, it makes sense for the Suns to explore sign-and-trade possibilities, rather than risk losing Ayton for absolutely nothing. In such an arrangement, a cheaper young center in Wood may have appeal.

Someone on the open market, potentially the Detroit Pistons, will offer Ayton a maximum-salary deal. Last season, he averaged 17.2 points per game with 10.2 rebounds on a 63.9% eFG. He’s the definition of a great center and, at 23 years old, is bound to find a home somewhere.

There’s a great argument to be made that this “somewhere” should be with Houston and general manager Rafael Stone.

Ayton’s age fits perfectly alongside the rest of Houston’s young core, and his prime years should be similar to Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Banchero. In addition, he brings an ideal skillset that most of the other young players on the Rockets do not… Ayton is a fabulous defender.

He’s shown in the playoffs that he’s viable against any rotation and doesn’t fall into the “Rudy Gobert” category of borderline unplayable in certain matchups. Just last year, fans watched Ayton play a great series versus Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 2021 NBA Finals, and he was dominant versus the defending-champion Lakers prior to that.

On the offensive end, Ayton would open up sets for Green and Kevin Porter Jr. in the pick-and-roll game. While not as versatile on offense as Wood, he may actually serve to make Houston’s offense function better as a unit. In recent years, Ayton played alongside Devin Booker as Booker ascended from “good scorer” to an All-NBA caliber player.

In this hypothetical, it isn’t hard to imagine Ayton playing a similar role in the career trajectory of Green.

Due to his restricted free agency status and Houston’s lack of immediate salary cap room, it would likely require a trade for the Rockets to land Ayton. Offering up role players such as Wood and/or Eric Gordon — remember, JJ Redick recently blasted the Suns for passing him up at the February trade deadline— could give the Suns a replacement big man and a complementary sixth man to supplement Paul and Booker.

The Rockets are at a place in their rebuild where the emphasis must be on maximizing young talent and putting it in position to succeed. Acquiring a player like Ayton, a defensive minded center who is more than capable as a complementary scoring piece, could potentially help Banchero defensively and assist Green with elevating his game to the next level.

Plus, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2018 NBA draft is talented enough that nobody would be surprised if he still develops into more.

If Phoenix is truly set on moving forward from their former franchise center, the Rockets should do their due diligence before forfeiting his service to the likes of Cade Cunningham or a conference rival.

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Woj mentions the Oklahoma City Thunder as a possible team who could sign Deandre Ayton

Should the Thunder offer Deandre Ayton a max contract?

During NBA Today on Monday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski mentioned the Oklahoma City Thunder as an example team who could hand Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton — who will be a restricted free agent this summer — an offer sheet.

Ayton played a career-low 17 minutes and scored a career-low five points in a Game 7 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. When asked why he only played Ayton so little minutes, Suns head coach Monty Williams said it was an internal decision.

“He wanted a max deal. He would not move off of that. So now, he moves toward restricted free agency this summer. Where now he’ll have some more options but ultimately Phoenix can still match an offer out there and keep him if he signs an offer sheet with another team,” said Wojnarowski. “You’re gonna look at the teams with cap space. A team — let’s say for example — Oklahoma City, a San Antonio, a Portland; teams who could create enough cap space to go out and sign him.”

Considering Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in his exit interview that he does not foresee the team spending a ton of money this offseason, I just think this is a classic example of Ayton’s agent trying to create leverage with his contract situation.

Ayton is a nice player, but it’s a year too early to go out and sign someone like him to a max deal. The Thunder want their books as clean as possible for after 2023 whenever the new CBA is agreed upon and the team finds out what new rules are in place.

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Does Suns’ collapse increase Lakers’ chances of regaining NBA title?

One of the Lakers’ biggest threats in the West could look different and weaker next season after collapsing in Game 7 against Dallas.

When the Phoenix Suns dominated the NBA in the regular season by finishing with a league-best 64-18 record andi n the top-four in both offensive and defensive efficiency, many thought they were on their way to winning the NBA championship.

Instead, the Suns not only lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Dallas Mavericks but were pulverized at home in Game 7, 123-90.

Now the team is facing a summer of sorrow, hard questions and hard decisions.

Losses like this can either devastate or motivate a team. The Los Angeles Lakers have had lopsided losses like this in elimination games before, only to come back and win it all later.

But there is a real chance the best days of this Suns team are in the rear-view mirror, and that could bolster the Lakers’ hopes of returning to glory in 2023.

The Suns lost because they’re still relying on a 37-year-old point guard to be their best player

Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton combined for 16 points in Game 7.

Chris Paul is one of the greatest point guards in the history of the NBA.

Chris Paul is also 37 years old and just 6-feet tall in a league where the average age is about 26 and the average height is 6-6. His ability to consistently carry teams deep in to the playoffs has been incredible, but it never should have been expected. And because his younger Phoenix Suns teammates never grabbed the reins of the team after last year’s surprise finals run is why their season came to a crashing end on Sunday.

In a game they were favored to win by 6.5 points over the Dallas Mavericks, the Suns trailed by as much as 46 and lost by 33. Through three quarters, Paul had three points on 1-of-5 shooting. He finished the game with 10. Like much of the series, he looked old and slow, and he rarely looked to shoot. He declined to acknowledge an injury in his postgame presser, but Andscape reported that his quad was hurt.

So how did the team’s 25-year-old ascending All-Star Devin Booker respond with Paul reportedly less than 100%? He scored 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting. That’s one less made field goal (on six more attempts) than Paul, who actually tied Ish Wainwright (?) for the team lead.

And that right there is the Suns’ problem in a nutshell. Paul, at 37 years old, is still their best player and the person who sets the tone for the team. It’s not simply a luxury for them to have his experience and expertise on the floor. They NEED him to be good, and that shouldn’t be the case any more. Booker and Deandre Ayton have the talent to be the team’s best players, but they aren’t yet. Paul led the team in win shares per 48 minutes, box plus/minus and value over replacement player this season, and that’s while having just the fifth-highest usage percentage of Suns players with at least 50 games played.

Booker, who averaged nearly 27 points this season, finished fourth in MVP voting largely because of his ability to score. But his impact is minimal when his shot isn’t falling, and his scoring average dropped to 23 points in the playoffs. Luka Doncic, who finished one spot behind Booker on the MVP ballot, gave the Suns guard a front-row seat to what a team’s best player is supposed to look like. He scored 35 in Game 7 and his average has gone up from 28 points to nearly 32 in the postseason. Ayton, who was drafted two spots ahead of Doncic in 2018, also failed to increase his production in the playoffs. He finished Game 7 with five points in just 17 minutes. The Suns could have use more from Mikal Bridges, too.

This isn’t to absolve Paul from blame, because he has to be better than he was — just ask Patrick Beverley, who thinks Paul should’ve been benched. And this is just the latest in a string of playoff collapses in Paul’s career.

But his age makes this latest blown series a little different. Paul doesn’t appear capable of carrying a team deep into the postseason, nor should he be expected to. His body could barely hold up in the playoffs when he was younger.

As long as he’s Phoenix’s best player, their window to win a championship is incredibly narrow and might already be closed. Last year was likely their best chance unless and until Booker and Ayton become the team’s leading one-two punch.

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