![]() In Phoenix, Johnson would really need to prove himself defensively to be what the Suns need as the wing playing between Booker and Durant, but he’s also exactly what they require as an offensive piece providing more firepower. At times seen as the lead guy and a future All-Star, Johnson projects as more of a complementary piece to the Spurs’ top dogs, especially with Wembanyama’s arrival, plus the emergence of 2020 first-round selection Devin Vassell and 2022 first-round pick Jeremy Sochan. The vision for what he appears to be in San Antonio’s long-term outlook is mixed. Across Johnson’s first four seasons, he has averaged 16.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 46.8% from the field and 36.3% at 3-point range. Johnson was on Team USA’s gold medal squad in the most recent Olympics two years ago, an endorsement of the potential in his game and where he was a teammate of Booker and Durant. But what about someone else? And Ayton specifically?Īny framework of an Ayton deal for players in return has to come with a sizable contract, and the only way the Spurs could really get there is by including 23-year-old wing Keldon Johnson. The 19-year-old Wembanyama getting battered by the likes of Steven Adams, Joel Embiid, Domantas Sabonis, Jonas Valanciunas and other brutes would certainly wear him down in some ways.įischer does also mention San Antonio are high on the starting potential of its own center, Zach Collins. There’s a growing belief among league personnel that San Antonio will target starting centers this offseason, whether by trade or on the open market in free agency, to save Victor Wembanyama from the brunt of battling against frontcourt behemoths in his first season. We did not get to the San Antonio Spurs, and here’s an interesting tidbit from Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer. ![]() In Empire of the Suns’ mock offseasons, we covered the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards. Is there a team out there that believes in Ayton enough to take on three more years of salary at a total of $102 million? That they are the right organization to permanently unlock his potential and develop him into a top 3-5 center that we have already seen he is capable of playing as at times? More importantly, that franchise has to be able to give Phoenix the right pieces back to meet that aforementioned goal at the top. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on the Ryen Russillo Podcastthat Ayton’s trade market is currently “lean” and noted the Suns have “gone through the marketplace and I don’t think there is an obvious deal for Deandre Ayton out there.”
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