On Monday, reports surfaced that the Phoenix Suns are planning to engage in sign-and-trade talks for star center, Deandre Ayton and according to NBA insider, Marc Stein, among the teams interested in talking with the Suns about Ayton is the Atlanta Hawks. When the NBA free agency hits, Ayton will be a restricted free agent, to which Jon Chuckery believes a trade for Ayton by the Hawks would not make sense because they would have to likely give up a lot in trade value and that is a move that may not make the team better from his point of view.
“You know Ayton is a really good player,” Chuckery said as he shared his thoughts on the Phoenix center, but as he continued to share his thoughts, Chuckery pointed out that Ayton is not known for creating his own shot or being an elite defender. Chuckery would go on to add that does not believe Ayton will be on another team next season. “I won’t be convinced until it actually happens, that Ayton is going to be on the move. You’re going to lose Chris Paul in a year or two, you going to leave Booker there by himself,” Chuckery asked.
Chuckery continued by pointing out that with Ayton being a restricted free agent during the off-season and looking at four years and $131M as a max deal, which is what he’s looking for, the Suns will have the leverage in any type pf deal they enter for Ayton and whichever team is on the receiving end, will have to give up a lot in return. For the Hawks, such a trade could result in them having to give up “all kinds of assets and sign him to a max caliber deal. I don’t see where that makes us better,” Chuckery said adding that he doesn’t believe the trade would put the Hawks “over the top”. Chuckery would then take calls from listeners to get their thoughts.
Here the full segment in link above: