Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns ended their 2021-22 NBA season on a sour note. During a blowout loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 7 of their Western Conference semifinal series, the former first overall draft pick played only 17 minutes and was visibly frustrated on the bench as well as in his limited appearances on the court.
After the game, Suns head coach Monty Williams seemed irritated by questions from reporters about Ayton’s lack of court time in the biggest game of their season.
Frustration has been building on both sides for quite some time following an offseason in which the Suns declined to extend Ayton’s contract past the 2021-22 season, marking the first time since notable NBA bust Anthony Bennett in 2013 that a No. 1 overall pick was not given an extension before their rookie contract was up. Ayton and his representatives made it clear at the time that the young star was displeased with the situation and the idea of Ayton holding out for the 2022 season was on the table.
Obviously Ayton did wind up playing for the Suns this year, averaging 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game to help the Suns post the league’s best regular-season record. But even with his borderline all-star numbers, the Suns and Ayton seem to bump heads in regard to his value in the NBA.
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After Williams’ comments and the drama of the 2021 offseason, rumors have begun to swirl about where the premier big man could end up playing next season and online sportsbook Sportsbook has released Deandre Ayton next team odds.
Ayton is a restricted free agent, meaning the Suns can match any contract offered to him during the free agency period, but the question remains whether they will do that if given the opportunity. The Suns could possibly work out a sign-and-trade with another team that would give Ayton the best possible contract while they’d gain pieces to help them contend for a title once again in 2022-23.
Deandre Ayton Next Team Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Detroit Pistons | +225 |
| Indiana Pacers | +275 |
| Phoenix Suns | +275 |
| San Antonio Spurs | +650 |
| Charlotte Hornets | +800 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +1000 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +1600 |
| Houston Rockets | +1800 |
| Orlando Magic | +1800 |
| Utah Jazz | +2000 |
| Chicago Bulls | +3300 |
| Golden State Warriors | +5000 |
| New York Knicks | +6600 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +8000 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +8000 |
Odds as of June 17 at Sportsbook
Why Is Detroit The Favorite To Land Ayton?
After selecting Cade Cunningham first overall in the 2021 NBA Draft and acquiring Marvin Bagley – the No. 2 pick behind Ayton in the 2018 NBA Draft – from the Sacramento Kings, the Detroit Pistons seem to be moving upward in the NBA world.
Currently sitting with the most cap space available in the NBA, Detroit could easily offer Ayton a massive contract and he would be a perfect addition to their roster. While the Pistons do have several frontcourt players currently under contract, including Jerami Grant, Isaiah Stewart and Bagley, Ayton would not have any real competition for the starting center spot.
He would be given plenty of touches on a nightly basis and would form a dynamic duo alongside Cunningham in what could be a nightmare pick-and-roll combination for opposing teams to deal with.
Signing Ayton would give the Pistons a much-needed boost to escape the bottom of the standings in the East while also speeding up their rebuild process. The Pistons would provide Ayton a place to grow his game and prove himself as a genuine star to the rest of the league, while building up a young and hungry Detroit team.
Deandre Ayton Next Team Odds: Value Picks
While the Pistons currently lead the way in Deandre Ayton next team odds, look for one of these under-the-radar squads to make a push to acquire the 23-year-old’s services.
San Antonio Spurs +650
After the retirement of Tim Duncan and the end of LaMarcus Aldridge’s tenure with the Spurs, San Antonio has been desperate for the return of a dominant big man. Enter Deandre Ayton.
As one of the most gifted offensive big men in the NBA, Ayton would fill the weakest point on the Spurs roster. While center Jakob Poeltl provided great minutes and defensive value for the Spurs this season, his lack of offensive production hurt his team’s chances to win close games.
Ayton would be the focal point of the San Antonio game plan, surrounded by athletic shooters such as all-star point guard Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell. It also doesn’t hurt that the Spurs sit just behind the Pistons in total cap space available heading into the 2022 offseason.
The Spurs came incredibly close to making a playoff appearance this season, losing to the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA play-in tournament. With the addition of Ayton, San Antonio would likely continue to rise up the Western Conference standings and make its first playoff appearance since 2019.
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Charlotte Hornets +800
Charlotte has been in the market for a center over the past decade and with Deandre Ayton possibly becoming available, the Hornets have a golden opportunity to end their big-man woes.
With the emergence of young stars LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, acquiring Ayton could give the Hornets an electric three-headed monster in the East. Ball and Bridges led Charlotte into the play-in tournament this season before they were knocked out by the Atlanta Hawks.
The Hornets have a decent salary cap situation and could afford to add Ayton’s services if the interest was mutual on his side. By making this move, the Hornets would instantly become potential playoff threats with a new big three.
Oklahoma City Thunder +1600
An option that could provide NBA bettors a massive payday sprinkled into their bank accounts, the Oklahoma City Thunder are in a position to begin pushing forward in their rebuild.
With a smorgasbord of first-round picks accumulated, the Thunder are poised to become a force within the NBA in the upcoming seasons. With stud guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed long term, adding a proven force in the paint like Ayton would fast-forward their lengthy rebuild process.
The Thunder also own the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and a top prospect coupled with SGA and Ayton could propel the Thunder back into playoff contention faster than anyone could’ve predicted.
OKC has one of the best salary cap situations in the NBA, easily able to offer Ayton a humongous deal if the interest is there from him. He would be a prominent feature in the Thunder game plan and would be a key player in creating a winning culture for the young ball club.
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