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The Phoenix Suns and Indiana Pacers had a brief conversation around a trade of Deandre Ayton for Domantas Sabonis, sources tell Zach Lowe of ESPN.

The talks didn't get far and may have been informal and exploratory without a formal offer from other team.

Sabonis is due $18.5 million next season and $19.4 million in 2023-24, while Ayton will be a restricted free agent almost certain to command a far higher salary this offseason.

The Pacers instead traded Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings for Tyrese Haliburton.

Via Zach Lowe/ESPN

That might have been foolish for both teams.

Imagine Suns sign and trade Ayton to the Kings. All of a sudden the deal makes a ton of sense for everyone.

Pacers- "hey, can we get Ayton for Sabonis?"

Suns- "No."

This has been a brief dialogue on Deandre Ayton for Domantas Sabonis

Fin.

Grew wrote:Pacers- "hey, can we get Ayton for Sabonis?"

Suns- "No."

This has been a brief dialogue on Deandre Ayton for Domantas Sabonis

Fin.

uh...sabonis is the better player. he's 25 and on a very reasonable deal for 2 additional seasons

dice wrote:

Grew wrote:Pacers- "hey, can we get Ayton for Sabonis?"

Suns- "No."

This has been a brief dialogue on Deandre Ayton for Domantas Sabonis

Fin.

uh...sabonis is the better player. he's 25 and on a very reasonable deal for 2 additional seasons

I don't disagree. It also wouldn't make sense for IND because they are trying to get away from having to run a two-big lineup. So it was likely PHX initiating those talks. But I think PHX might have dodged a bullet. Why would they want to mess with their chemistry? When you're rolling like that you want to keep the changes on the margins.

Pickled Prunes wrote:

dice wrote:

Grew wrote:Pacers- "hey, can we get Ayton for Sabonis?"

Suns- "No."

This has been a brief dialogue on Deandre Ayton for Domantas Sabonis

Fin.

uh...sabonis is the better player. he's 25 and on a very reasonable deal for 2 additional seasons

I don't disagree. It also wouldn't make sense for IND because they are trying to get away from having to run a two-big lineup. So it was likely PHX initiating those talks. But I think PHX might have dodged a bullet. Why would they want to mess with their chemistry? When you're rolling like that you want to keep the changes on the margins.

cp3 is instant chemistry (unless your name is james harden, apparently). ayton owes him an agent's cut of his next contract

dice wrote:

Grew wrote:Pacers- "hey, can we get Ayton for Sabonis?"

Suns- "No."

This has been a brief dialogue on Deandre Ayton for Domantas Sabonis

Fin.

uh...sabonis is the better player. he's 25 and on a very reasonable deal for 2 additional seasons

I'd say 90 percent of gms take ayton over sabonis but you can have your opinion.

Grew wrote:

dice wrote:

Grew wrote:Pacers- "hey, can we get Ayton for Sabonis?"

Suns- "No."

This has been a brief dialogue on Deandre Ayton for Domantas Sabonis

Fin.

uh...sabonis is the better player. he's 25 and on a very reasonable deal for 2 additional seasons

I'd say 90 percent of gms take ayton over sabonis but you can have your opinion.

that's plainly incorrect not only as a matter of talent evaluation but also because ayton will be making big money sooner than sabonis will

dice wrote:

Pickled Prunes wrote:

dice wrote:uh...sabonis is the better player. he's 25 and on a very reasonable deal for 2 additional seasons

I don't disagree. It also wouldn't make sense for IND because they are trying to get away from having to run a two-big lineup. So it was likely PHX initiating those talks. But I think PHX might have dodged a bullet. Why would they want to mess with their chemistry? When you're rolling like that you want to keep the changes on the margins.

cp3 is instant chemistry (unless your name is james harden, apparently). ayton owes him an agent's cut of his next contract

CP3 is instant chemistry on the floor... if you are willing to listen to him. I'm not sure Sabonis would be more willing to be told where to stand on D than Griffin or Harden were. I mean, clearly CP3 was right most of the time, but it does wear on people. Monty and CP3 have 18 months in on getting Ayton to stand in the right spot. Everything is clicking. Sabonis is a better player, but it's still a gamble.

Don't get me wrong, I am a huge CP3 fan. I think he should be talked about more seriously in the MVP conversation, which he certainly would be if he shot more and made the right play less. Kinda funny how that works.