Would the New Orleans Pelicans do this trade for Deandre Ayton?
The New Orleans Pelicans will be keeping an eye on the Deandre Ayton situation as it develops in Phoenix.
Yesterday it was reported that Ayton was not offered a max contract extension by the Suns and that talks had ended:
ESPN Sources: Suns talks with Deandre Ayton on rookie extension have ended --- without a deal. Ayton expected max contract and owner Robert Sarver hasn’t offered it. More coming on consequences for failing to reach deal with 2018 No. 1 overall pick. NBA Today debut, ESPN2. Now.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 18, 2021
Ayton is reportedly very unhappy about the situation, especially after watching other players in his draft class ink big deals.
If the Suns are unable to work out an extension, Ayton would become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
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The New Orleans Pelicans could just wait and try to steal him away then, but they would have more competition, which is why it might make more sense to trade for him how to gain an advantage.
But what would a trade look like and would the New Orleans Pelicans consider it?
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading for Deandre Ayton
Any trade for Ayton would likely have to include Valanciunas, who is also on the final year of his deal and has a salary that matches up with Ayton’s.
The two are very similar players in many ways as throwback centers who defend and rebound but don’t have the greatest range, so it makes sense for the Suns, who are trying to get back to the Finals and wouldn’t lose much with Valanciunas and wouldn’t have to take on any long-term salary.
For the New Orleans Pelicans, this trade would not be about the present, but the future, so would it be a good idea? Let’s break it down.