Deandre Ayton, Jusuf Nurkic, Damian Lillard trade rumors need to stop now
Deandre Ayton is subject to yet another trade rumor, this time in a swap for Portland big man Jusuf Nurkic in a multiple-team deal that would also bring swingman OG Anunoby to the Suns as part of a plan to ship off Damian Lillard to Toronto.
I’m sick of it.
The Suns, under General Manager James Jones, have a policy of silence when it comes to talking about their guys. So we know the rumors aren’t leaking from Phoenix.
But I can’t understand why anyone in this town would even entertain trade talk surrounding Ayton, especially fans.
This has nothing to do with how Nurkic might fit in Frank Vogel’s defensive system. He would do fine, assuming he could stay on the court. Nurkic misses more time than a broken clock.
And it has nothing to do with whether Anunoby would fit next to Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. He’d do great, and might even become the best “how did he just get 25” guy since Shawn Marion.
But Ayton deserves a chance to show that he can become a defensive anchor and rebounding force that the league hasn’t seen in a while.
Ayton can do it all. And he’s a team-first guy. If you ask him to be a snarling, barking attack dog, he’ll show up the next day with a collar around his neck (it’ll probably be studded with diamonds, but whatever) and he’ll be foaming at the mouth.
But more importantly, Ayton is an Arizona guy.
Like a lot of people in this town, Ayton came here looking for opportunity. And unlike a lot of people in this town, he’s made the most of it without complaining.
He went to high school here. He went to college here. And he’s making a name for himself as a pro here.
The Suns let him get shopped around when his rookie contract expired. They paired him with coaches who either didn’t know what to do with him (Igor Kokoskov) or couldn’t connect with him (Monty Williams). And all he’s done is average a double-double for his career in return.
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Nurkic and Anunoby might be fine additions to the Phoenix roster, but kids in this town don’t have Nurkic and Anunoby posters on their walls like they do with Ayton.
Nurkic and Anunoby didn’t lead Arizona to a Pac-12 championship like Ayton did.
And Nurkic and Anunoby don’t have banners hanging in practice gyms where countless Valley kids work on their games with dreams of playing big-time ball like Ayton does.
I’m sick of all the trade rumors.
Fans in this town shouldn’t even entertain them.
Reach Moore at gmoore@azcentral.com or 602-444-2236. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @SayingMoore.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Deandre Ayton, Jusuf Nurkic, Damian Lillard trade rumors aren't cool
