Deandre Ayton

[atlantabbq99]

The rumor mill has the Hawks as one of the team that could possibly be a landing spot for Deandre Ayton.

I'm a big fan. A max contract for Ayton is a big pill to swallow, but i'm okay with it.

I would rather try to make a trade for Anthony Davis (as long as the trade price is not too high) but I would also be ok with Ayton being a plan B for the Hawks.

[Jamaaliver]

^The article linking us to Ayton:

Early NBA Free Agency Buzz: Intel on Deandre Ayton



Now, there are three teams most often linked by league personnel as Ayton's potential suitors on the open market: Atlanta, Detroit and Portland. Multiple team executives also pointed to Charlotte, with a clear hole at center, and San Antonio, one of the few teams with significant cap space, as possible landing spots for Ayton.

Would a package surrounding Clint Capela help facilitate a sign-and-trade to bring DeAndre Ayton to Atlanta? Ayton has been a popular rumored target for Schlenk's front office, but multiple league sources with knowledge of the Hawks' thinking have also pointed to various wing scorers as Atlanta's prioritized endgame.

The Hawks hold all their first-round picks plus a 2023 first-rounder from Charlotte, in addition to a series of contracts that can be stacked to match a maximum salary: Capela, John Collins, Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De'Andre Hunter and Kevin Huerter.
League sources told B/R Atlanta already explored Collins, Huerter and Gallinari trade conversations prior to February's deadline...if any trade request did arrive, the Hawks could create as strong an offer as any suitor.

Bleacher Report

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

[jayu70]

Read on Twitter

1. Ayton is BYC limiting how much Suns can take back (50% of his deal)
2. We cannot include this year's pick in any SNT since the draft is prior to FAcy

[atlantabbq99]

^ I would rather trade Collins for Ayton than Cap.

[jayu70]

^ I would rather trade Collins for Ayton than Cap.

$50.2 million tied up in the center position with Ayton and Cap with Onyeka in the wings waiting to be paid?????

[HMFFL]

^ I would rather trade Collins for Ayton than Cap.

I don't believe Coach Nate has utilized his front court properly. John Collins and CC received limited field goal attempts, so I don't believe Ayton improves things, until Coach wakes the hell up.
I would happily take Ayton and throw most of our young talent at Phoenix to acquire him. If it takes John Collins, so be it, or CC, just make a deal happen. I personally don't believe John Collins or CC are fixtures here anyways. However, I do believe John Collins would be viewed different, if we actually gave him a proper amount of attempts.

My issues with our front court are similar to how Phoenix used Ayton. They lost to Dallas because they opted to not go inside.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

[D21]

Ayton wants a Max contract, which puts him around 10M more per season than Capela (if he doesn't get All-NBA next season, and more if he does)
Do anyone seriously think he will be worth 10M more than Capela?

I prefer keeping Capela and spend the 10M elsewhere

[atlantabbq99]

^ I would rather trade Collins for Ayton than Cap.

I don't believe Coach Nate has utilized his front court properly. John Collins and CC received limited field goal attempts, so I don't believe Ayton improves things, until Coach wakes the hell up.
I would happily take Ayton and throw most of our young talent at Phoenix to acquire him. If it takes John Collins, so be it, or CC, just make a deal happen. I personally don't believe John Collins or CC are fixtures here anyways. However, I do believe John Collins would be viewed different, if we actually gave him a proper amount of attempts.

My issues with our front court are similar to how Phoenix used Ayton. They lost to Dallas because they opted to not go inside.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

I'm okay with trading Collins for Ayton and starting Cap and Ayton with Kong getting heavy minutes. The reason why I would do this is because i would do heavy load management for Cap and Ayton to save them for the playoffs. I would put Cap at 23-25mpg and run alot of Ayton and Kong

[atlantabbq99]

Ayton wants a Max contract, which put him around 10M more per season than Capela (if he doesn't get All-NBA next season, and more if he does)
Do anyone seriously think he will be worth 10M more than Capela?

I prefer keeping Capela and spend the 10M elsewhere

What most likely they will give in 2023...

Ayton 23yr, 18ppg, 10rpg, 1block, 37% from three, 75% free throw

Cap 28yr, 13ppg, 13rpg, 1.5block, 0% from three, 50% free throw

Health problems for both guys

Cap has the advantage in rebounding and offensive rebounding

Cap will get more blocks but both guys are elite rim protectors

Ayton has a big advantage on the offensive end. Ayton's 3pt shooting would be a huge advantage for Trea and his free throw shooting gives Ayton clutchness for a playoff team.

I do admit max for Ayton would be a big pill to swallow but i'm okay with it. Both Trae and Ayton are 23yr, Trae and Ayton would be an elite star duo for Atlanta for the next 15 years, like Stockton and Malone were in Utah for 17 seasons.

[saloonyk8]

Austin age, health, defense and 3 point ability makes him easily worth $10M more than Cap.... EASILY! This guy could be a top 30 NBA player during his contract.

If the Suns want cap and need a third team to make it work they'll get him. If they want Collins they'll get him instead.

I think Cap + Hunter nearly works btw.

[D21]

3pt abitlity?
Yes, ability but ability only at this moment, because if it's a weapon for him or impacting his game? No:
his 37% at 3pts is for 7-19 this season, so one 3pts shot attemp every 3 games, and one made every 9 games

Comparing Trae+Ayton to Malone and Stockton ?
- both Trae and Ayton have certainly already missed more games than how many Malone and Stockton missed in their entire careers.
Except two seasons for each one, they almost played 82games per season
- I see a bit of that on offense, but on defense, Stockton was one of the best defenders at PG...

[Jamaaliver]

'A Thought Around' NBA Is Paying Centers Is a Mistake amid Deandre Ayton Rumors

Watch on YouTube

"There is a thought around the league that paying centers in the modern NBA is a mistake," McMahon said (5:40).

McMahon did acknowledge there are still exceptions with elite players, notably Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid after they finished first and second in MVP voting this past season. Ayton, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft, is a restricted free agent this offseason.

Ayton averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in 2021-22 and averaged a double-double in each of his four NBA seasons.

Despite his impressive numbers, there are questions about his value on the roster. He ranked just fourth on the team in win shares (7.3) behind Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges and Devin Booker, per Basketball Reference. His 2.1 value over replacement player was the same as Cameron Johnson, who is also eligible for an extension this offseason.

Even the most productive centers have struggled to lead their teams deep in the playoffs.

The four highest-paid players at the position in average salary—Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jokic and Embiid—have a combined one career appearance in the conference finals.

Bleacher Report

[Slim Charless]

^ I would rather trade Collins for Ayton than Cap.

I don't believe Coach Nate has utilized his front court properly. John Collins and CC received limited field goal attempts, so I don't believe Ayton improves things, until Coach wakes the hell up.
I would happily take Ayton and throw most of our young talent at Phoenix to acquire him. If it takes John Collins, so be it, or CC, just make a deal happen. I personally don't believe John Collins or CC are fixtures here anyways. However, I do believe John Collins would be viewed different, if we actually gave him a proper amount of attempts.

My issues with our front court are similar to how Phoenix used Ayton. They lost to Dallas because they opted to not go inside.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

I'm okay with trading Collins for Ayton and starting Cap and Ayton with Kong getting heavy minutes. The reason why I would do this is because i would do heavy load management for Cap and Ayton to save them for the playoffs. I would put Cap at 23-25mpg and run alot of Ayton and Kong

Would you guys do Collins/00 for Ayton and CamJo? We basically switch our young frontcourt guys. I assume after doing that you can move Capela separately to another team and recoup value that way.

Ayton is great inside and we should've gone to him more in the Dallas series, if we had I think we'd still be playing. I blame our coach, who has issues with Ayton.....I'd fire the coach and make Ayton the go to guy with Booker being his 1b. But that's just me.

[D21]

I don't believe Coach Nate has utilized his front court properly. John Collins and CC received limited field goal attempts, so I don't believe Ayton improves things, until Coach wakes the hell up.
I would happily take Ayton and throw most of our young talent at Phoenix to acquire him. If it takes John Collins, so be it, or CC, just make a deal happen. I personally don't believe John Collins or CC are fixtures here anyways. However, I do believe John Collins would be viewed different, if we actually gave him a proper amount of attempts.

My issues with our front court are similar to how Phoenix used Ayton. They lost to Dallas because they opted to not go inside.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

I'm okay with trading Collins for Ayton and starting Cap and Ayton with Kong getting heavy minutes. The reason why I would do this is because i would do heavy load management for Cap and Ayton to save them for the playoffs. I would put Cap at 23-25mpg and run alot of Ayton and Kong

Would you guys do Collins/00 for Ayton and CamJo? We basically switch our young frontcourt guys. I assume after doing that you can move Capela separately to another team and recoup value that way.

Ayton is great inside and we should've gone to him more in the Dallas series, if we had I think we'd still be playing. I blame our coach, who has issues with Ayton.....I'd fire the coach and make Ayton the go to guy with Booker being his 1b. But that's just me.

Ayton not shining too much is also a benefit for the PHX owner as he can offer less money...

Regarding your proposal, it's a no for me, because:
- Okongwu should not move, he's very intelligent and athletic on defense, young...
- for what I saw from Ayton, I don't see why we should pay 30M for Ayton instead of 20M for Capela as we won't get 150% of Capela.
On the long term, it can be better, but it has nothing to do with the main ATL problem. The C spot is dominating, like the PG spot. The main problem is stopping the opponent SG.

Some here thinks that Ayton would open the floor having shot 37% from 3pts line, but it was only 7/19

He's a good player, but there are far better option for this team than giving the Max to Ayton and sending both Collins and Okongwu, and being forced to also move Capela later because both don't shoot a lot of 3s.

Better go after Turner. I'm not saying Turner is better than Ayton, just he fits better, and would cost less.

[ChuckChilly]

Ayton was benched in his last playoff game. Add his low motor and him being suspended for the year because of using PEDs, sums up to a player being what he is now or even worse.

[Jamaaliver]

Ayton was benched in his last playoff game. Add his low motor and him being suspended for the year because of using PEDs, sums up to a player being what he is now or even worse.

I forgot all about his PED suspension. These are the most compelling arguments against bringing him in...and I'm slowly moving away from a desire to see him in a Hawks jersey. The immaturity is concerning and the fact his current team/coach don't want him around is really telling.

[jayu70]

I don't believe Coach Nate has utilized his front court properly. John Collins and CC received limited field goal attempts, so I don't believe Ayton improves things, until Coach wakes the hell up.
I would happily take Ayton and throw most of our young talent at Phoenix to acquire him. If it takes John Collins, so be it, or CC, just make a deal happen. I personally don't believe John Collins or CC are fixtures here anyways. However, I do believe John Collins would be viewed different, if we actually gave him a proper amount of attempts.

My issues with our front court are similar to how Phoenix used Ayton. They lost to Dallas because they opted to not go inside.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

I'm okay with trading Collins for Ayton and starting Cap and Ayton with Kong getting heavy minutes. The reason why I would do this is because i would do heavy load management for Cap and Ayton to save them for the playoffs. I would put Cap at 23-25mpg and run alot of Ayton and Kong

Would you guys do Collins/00 for Ayton and CamJo? We basically switch our young frontcourt guys. I assume after doing that you can move Capela separately to another team and recoup value that way.

Ayton is great inside and we should've gone to him more in the Dallas series, if we had I think we'd still be playing. I blame our coach, who has issues with Ayton.....I'd fire the coach and make Ayton the go to guy with Booker being his 1b. But that's just me.

I would not do the Collins/OO trade - teams rarely get equal value in SnT deals for RFAs. Reference to the Lonzo Ball (Satoransky, Temple and a 2n rounder) and Lauri Maarkenan last year. No need for the Hawks to overpay.
Me personally, I'm against paying big money for a Center (unless Embiid, Joker etc). I'd rather keep Capela at $19 mil and upgrade the wings.

[D21]

This Ayton debate should have already ended, this just makes no sense to get a guy that would be a bit better than Capela, but making 10M more, being not less injury prone,... and the C position is not a main concern for this team as it's the second best position of the team.

I doubt that Schlenk wants to get this guy at the Max and think it would fix anything, it's all a media comedy.

The two worst are SG and SF, especially SG, not because they aren't producing, but because they let the opponent SG produce a lot.

If we want to improve the C position, I would even prefer paying 20M more for Gobert than 10M more for Ayton.
But if a change has to be made, I would get a C able to shoot the 3s (and really shooting it, not a 7/19 on the season like Ayton)

The best cost/impact we can get is Miles Turner if IND want to rebuild and don't see him as a long term option.
It's almost the only solution I see without increasing the cost, and if it's possible to do it without sending Capela (so using Gallo before the draft to let choose if they cut him for 5M, or using Huerter) and keeping him for another trade, it would be perfect.

[tbhawksfan1]

I think that SGA is the one player that can do the most for the team in a trade. OKC might also be open to future assets (draft picks) in a trade. A Trae / SGA / Hunter backcourt / wing would be awesome. In this senario I would move JC for either a more streach or a more defensive 4. I would really love to add a post option inside even though it appears to be a disappearing thing in today's NBA