Having somewhat disappeared from the scene, Deandre Ayton could find his resurgence on the Warriors. Now, with the Trail Blazers, the 7-footer appears to have lost his groove. This wasn’t the case when playing alongside Chris Paul and Devin Booker on the Suns.
Part of a multi-team trade, Ayton was shipped to Portland in 2023. Finding himself amid a rebuilding phase, the former Suns center is yet to find his footing besides names like Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant. Nonetheless, the Bahamian big man’s numbers continue to be impressive.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Warriors and Blazers could mutually benefit from an Ayton deal. The Dubs have long lacked a traditional center, forcing them to go small. On the other hand, Portland, who finds itself in the bottom of the West, could better their chances to land Duke sensation Cooper Flagg in the 2025 draft.
Former No. 1 Pick Deandre Ayton Would Thrive in the Warriors System
Steve Kerr’s System and Veteran Leadership
It is no secret that Ayton found most of his success on the Suns after the arrival of Chris Paul in 2020. In his three seasons with CP3, Ayton averaged 16.5 PPG and 10.2 RPG on 61.4% efficiency from the field. This also included a Finals run in 2021 and posting the franchise’s best record (64-18) in the 2021-22 season. With the Blazers this season, Ayton is averaging 14.3 points, and 10 rebounds on 56.9% shooting from the field.
Joining Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in the Bay Area would give Ayton a similar setup to that he enjoyed in Phoenix. Being mentored under coach Kerr would be another positive takeaway for the former Suns center. Golden State’s unselfish system and fast-paced offense have been a case study for many teams in the league.
Players like Andre Iguodala, Jordan Poole, and Andrew Wiggins are prime examples to benefit from the Warriors system. Onboarding Ayton could potentially form a Big 3 next to Steph and Draymond, even giving the latter some respite, who is undersized for his position. Adding a rim-running center like Ayton would be ideal for the Warriors. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen what the Blazers would want in return.
What is on the Plate?
Though he may not be the most valuable piece to Portland, Ayton is a walking double-double. The big man’s high productivity in the field only adds to his stock values. Over the weeks, there have been a lot of discussions around the Warriors wanting to make a trade.
Names such as Wiggins, Gary Payton II, and Mosses Moody have been thrown in the mix along with second-round draft picks. It remains to be seen if the Blazers eye Jonathan Kuminga, someone who the front office has been shielding for the longest time.
In the second-last season of his contract, Ayton is set to make $70 million over the next two years. Nonetheless, doubt looms over Kuminga’s future with Golden State. Turning a restricted free agent in the 2025-26 season, the young star deserves to be paid. Kuminga’s complex relationship with Kerr and Co. has also been the talk of the town lately.
No doubt, Ayton would put the Dubs in a better position than what they are, but at what cost? Though they cannot afford to waste Curry’s championship window, the management cannot ignore future scenarios as well.
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