Fansided

1 deal for each of the biggest stars in NBA trade rumors

By Jonathan Lurensky

Mar 11, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George (13) warms up before the game against the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George (13) warms up before the game against the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
Deandre Ayton, Suns
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports) /

Some of the biggest stars in the league keep cropping up in NBA trade rumors, so we found one deal that works for each of them.

Although at least one NBA insider has said not to expect Fourth of July fireworks in the NBA trade market, some of the biggest names have been relentlessly mentioned in NBA trade rumors. From Damian Lillard to Paul George and Karl-Anthony Towns we found one fun deal for each of them, even if they never actually happen.

A trade that finally brings Deandre Ayton to the Trail Blazers

Deandre Ayton may not have a lot of trade suitors going forward. The offers have been so bad that the Suns are pulling out and seem open to keeping him going forward. If the Suns make a trade they will be looking for depth, turning Ayton into two or three high-quality role players. But it’s really hard to find a deal that would work for both teams. But there is one possibility.

If the Trail Blazers were looking to make a deal for a talent increase while getting someone young, Ayton might be the right candidate for the team. The Trail Blazers are looking to trade Jusuf Nurkic. Nurkic is a very solid player who could help the team as a backup center. They could also look to include Anfernee Simons and another small contract and get a win-now center to appease Lillard and someone with growth potential.

For the Suns, they get a defensive-minded starter at center and another young, fringe rotation player in Watford for giving up Wainwright (to make salaries match). Simons probably doesn’t have a role to play on this team with Booker and Beal already in place but he could be repackaged to a team like the Knicks for something like Obi Toppin, Evan Fournier and a protected pick, giving them more value in the Ayton return and a few more players to plug into the rotation.

Home/NBA