3 moves Suns need to make after Bradley Beal trade to win a title

No. 1 move Suns need to make after trading for Bradley Beal: Trade Deandre Ayton

There’s no denying the raw athletic talent of Deandre Ayton, a former No. 1 pick. He’s an absolute monster when he wants to be, but his relationship with Phoenix has been strained for almost two years now. New head coach Frank Vogel could ease some of the tension, but Ayton’s apathy in the postseason was glaring.

The Suns can’t sustainably build around four max contract players under the new CBA. It would be not-unwise to swap Ayton for multiple contributors A) to preserve financial flexibility, B) to flesh out the depth chart, and C) to simply give Ayton a fresh start in a situation better suited to unlocking his unique talent.

Any Ayton trade should be made with two goals in mind: receive multiple postseason-level players  and get another center in return, preferably a strong rim protector for Vogel to build his patented defensive system around.

Something like…

Phoenix gets Mitchell Robinson, who is only one year older than Ayton and who is far more prolific in the shot-blocking department. Obi Toppin has earned more minutes, even if the Knicks haven’t been able to oblige. The Suns need depth in the frontcourt. For good measure, Isaiah Hartenstein can immediately step into backup center duties while giving the Suns a viable alternative in matchups that don’t favor Robinson.

Ayton’s trade value should still be relatively high despite last season’s many quandaries. There’s too much obvious upside bubbling up below the surface. Another team, like the desperate-to-contend Knicks, should be willing to roll the dice. Meanwhile, the Suns would be wise to prioritize depth over a fourth “star.”