This proposed trade sends Deandre Ayton to the Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors are a team that could end up making some changes this offseason, as they fell short of winning the championship with Stephen Curry in the 2023 playoffs. They already traded Jordan Poole in a trade that lands them Chris Paul, and there could be more moves on the horizon.
One of the areas that the Golden State Warriors need to improve upon is adding size and rebounding, to match up with Western Conference big men such as Nikola Jokic and Anthony Davis. A suitable trade target would be Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns, as he is a quality center that excels at interior scoring and rim protection. Here is a potential framework that sends Ayton to the Bay.
Golden State Warriors Receive: Deandre Ayton
Phoenix Suns Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney, Moses Moody
This deal could potentially have benefits for both teams, based on both teams’ current roster construction. Here is why both the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors should consider making this deal.
The Golden State Warriors Add An Athletic Center
Even though Deandre Ayton has not become a star with the Phoenix Suns, it is fair to say that he is still among the best centers in the league right now. Last season, Ayton averaged 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists for the Suns, while shooting a solid 58.9% from the field. He would make the Warriors more dynamic on both ends o the floor.
Offensively, Deandre Ayton is a solid lob threat and rim roller, and he shoots an astounding 78.2% in the restricted area. He will also be reunited with Chris Pall, who is a pick-and-roll maestro, and the two have some chemistry from their time together on the Phoenix Suns. Playing with Stephen Curry means that he’ll get some easy looks at the rim due to the superstar’s gravity as well. Overall, we can expect a quality offensive year from Deandre Ayton if he gets traded to the Golden State Warriors.
Defensively, we have seen Deandre Ayton use his size effectively to rebound the ball, and despite his low block numbers, he is a decent rim protector due to his athleticism. Pairing him with a player like Draymond Green would do wonders for him on that end of the floor, as having a defensive leader who helps direct him will allow him to consistently be in the right positions on the court to make a huge impact on defense. His rebounding will definitely help the Golden State Warriors: they were already a good rebounding team (44.6 rebounds per game in 2022-23, 8th in the league), and adding another rebounder with size will give them an even bigger advantage in that area.
Giving up Andrew Wiggins will definitely hurt the Golden State Warriors, as he was a key part of the championship-winning team in 2022 and is an elite perimeter defender. However, getting a big man of Deandre Ayton’s caliber is worth it, as it could get the Warriors back to their championship-winning ways.
The Phoenix Suns Land An Elite Wing Defender And Add Depth
Andrew Wiggins made the All-Star team in 2022, and while he isn’t necessarily an All-Star-level player offensively, his two-way prowess is what makes him a unique player. He has the capability to provide elite perimeter defense and solid complementary offense. In a lot of ways, Wiggins is perfect next to the Suns’ trio of stars: he can play off their gravity and hit wide-open 3PT looks. He will also give them a true perimeter stopper, taking a lot of the defensive pressure off of the key offensive players. This past season, Andrew Wiggins averaged 17.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, while shooting 39.6% from 3PT range.
The two other players that the Phoenix Suns would get in this deal are Kevon Looney and Moses Moody. Kevon Looney would slot in as the starting center, and he will be valuable for the Phoenix Suns due to his championship experience and defense: Looney has been a key cog in the Warriors’ defense for years, and adding him to the fold will give the team a decent replacement for Deandre Ayton. Moses Moody profiles as a 3 and D player, and would likely be coming off the bench and providing shooting.
Overall, this trade gives the Phoenix Suns three quality players to round out their roster and add depth. Though DeAndre Ayton is a good player, splitting him into multiple players to create a more balanced roster is more conducive to winning a championship than staying top-heavy. The Suns are an older roster, and depth is key to being able to withstand injuries to key players. This trade could be the move that vaults the Phoenix Suns over the opposition in the West, and though moving Ayton is a risk, in this case, it is absolutely warranted.
The Warriors And The Suns Both Address Their Roster Flaws With This Trade
This trade helps both the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns address their current weaknesses. By adding Deandre Ayton, the Golden State Warriors tackle the lack of size on their roster, and they will certainly improve on both ends of the floor with him in the fold. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns will be able to reduce their reliance on key players throughout the regular season, keeping them fresh in the playoffs and reducing the risk of injury. Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney both have championship experience as well, and it is clear that they can help the team in that regard.
It remains to be seen if the Warriors and Suns will try to make the move that is described in this article. Though the teams have not had recent trade talks, this is a trade that makes sense for both sides, and we’ll see what happens in the future.
