One of the biggest rumors surrounding the Detroit Pistons this offseason is that they will pursue Suns’ restricted free-agent center Deandre Ayton. The Pistons would have the option of signing him outright if the Suns aren’t interested in retaining him or
completing a sign-and-trade with Phoenix
, which would cost Detroit assets as well as money. The Suns will likely have the most say of where Ayton goes (other than Ayton himself) as they can offer him more years and money in free agency or match any offer sheet he gets from another team. If Phoenix wants to offer Ayton the full max, which is what he is reportedly seeking, then it makes sense for him to stay put on a team that is coming off a Finals appearance and the best record in the NBA in consecutive years. The Detroit Pistons will be one of the teams with cap space this summer and have a need a center, so it makes sense that they would
But the Detroit Pistons won’t be the only team interested in the 23-year-old center if he does in fact hit the market. Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report recently listed a few other teams who might be in on the Ayton bonanza on an episode of the
In addition to Detroit, Fischer mentioned Portland, Toronto and San Antonio as possible suitors for Ayton. Which one is the biggest competition for the Detroit Pistons?
Detroit Pistons: Competition for Deandre Ayton
The Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs all have enough projected cap space to go after Ayton, while Toronto might offer the best fit. So who is most likely to get Ayton if he leaves the Suns?
Toronto Raptors
Projected cap space: None Ayton’s fit: Perfect Of all of these teams, the Raptors are probably the closest to being contenders, as they made the playoffs this season and have a strong roster with guys like Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet. They are also in need of a center, as Chris Boucher is set to be a free agent and they don’t really have a backup plan. Ayton would slide into that starting five quite nicely and instantly make the Raptors a team to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference. But how are they going to afford him? The Raptors would likely have to make a series of moves to clear space for Ayton, though there is a chance that they could offer up OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr. or one of their other young talents in a sign-and-trade. Though Ayton is a good fit there, it’s hard to see how the Raptors fit him in without breaking up their core. However, Brooks may have made Anunoby somewhat redundant and OG would be nice get for the Suns if they know they are going to lose Ayton anyway.
Detroit Pistons: Competition for Deandre Ayton
Portland Trail Blazers
Projected cap space: $21 million Ayton’s fit: Solid present, unclear future The Portland Trail Blazers have been involved in just about all of at the rumors, including for Jerami Grant of the Detroit Pistons. They have the cap space to pursue Ayton, and can create even more depending on what they do with Josh Hart and Eric Bledsoe’s partially guaranteed deals. With Jusuf Nurkic going into unrestricted free agency, the Trail Blazers could look to upgrade their center spot and try to build a contender around Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons and Ayton.
While this is a solid fit and “Big 3” that could make the playoffs, there isn’t a ton of future in a trio built around a guy who is 31-years-old and coming off an injury. This doesn’t seem much different or better than the situation Ayton has in Phoenix. Ayton may love the idea of playing with Lillard and Portland has enough money and assets to potentially add another impact player, which would suddenly make them very interesting in the Western Conference.
San Antonio Spurs
Projected cap space: $22 million Ayton’s fit: Meh The Spurs made the play-in this season and have some exciting young talent to build around in Dejounte Murray and Joshua Primo. However, they also have a couple of bigs already under contract for next season and it seems unlikely that they would add Ayton to make him their highest paid player. We know the Spurs like their skilled bigs, but Ayton is not a clear fit, especially when the Spurs have needs at other positions. Ayton does seem like a Spurs’ type, and he would certainly be a nice pairing with Dejounte Murray, but it would be a very un-Spurslike move to outbid other teams for a free agent.
Detroit Pistons: Competition for Deandre Ayton
Detroit Pistons
Projected cap space: $27 million Ayton’s fit: Strong but not perfect The Detroit Pistons could potentially have the most cap space of any team in the NBA this offseason. They also need to upgrade the center position, so Ayton makes a lot of sense. Some have questions Ayton’s fit with the Pistons, mostly because he is used to winning and may value that more than the possibility of a bigger role on a rebuilding team that won fewer games in the last three seasons combined than the Suns won this year alone. I have no insight into Ayton’s though process when it comes to that, but on paper, he is nice fit for the Pistons, who have a solid young core and a need at center.
Ayton has thrived with a smart point guard, and the Pistons have one of the best up-and-coming guys in the league in
, who would benefit from Ayton in the pick and roll and help him by creating open opportunities for the big man. The Detroit Pistons also have needs at shooting guard, but if they were to draft a guy like Jaden Ivey, adding Ayton suddenly makes a whole lot of sense and could potentially be enough to push the Pistons into playoff contention:
- Cade Cunningham
- Jaden Ivey
- Saddiq Bey
- Jerami Grant
- Deandre Ayton
There are a ton of potential moving parts here, as the Pistons could still trade Grant, and draft someone like Keegan Murray instead, which would still leave a hole in the starting five. Ayton’s fit really comes down to who the Pistons draft, and whether they want to invest big money into a center or just go with a center by committee, which teams like Boston are doing successfully right now. The Detroit Pistons have a lot to consider when it comes to Ayton, and they won’t be the only team in the mix for his services.