All Things Ayton

[Split T]

Can’t say I’ve watched a lot of Hawks basketball, but fans opinions aren’t always very reliable. His offensive numbers look fine…he’s a pretty average player efficiency wise. His shooting numbers are decent across all ranges. 3pt% could be better. My biggest concern is he had a significant drop in shots at the rim. His efficiency would be pretty good if he was still getting to the rim for nearly 25% of his shots.

The defense is harder to verify. Defensive stats are very unreliable. I’ll admit I’m assuming based on his reputation as a defender. I did check the tracking numbers and it looks like he did hold offensive players to slightly lower fg% than expected. But overall looks fairly average. He was 69th percentile for defensive epm for what that’s worth.

[Kryptonic]

Cool now go find one where Suns fans shit all over Ayton. Gimme a break.

One? Lol….

[SunsSince92]

It’s a Flex vs Gambo battle about what’s happening with Ayton and unfortunately(or fortunately depending on who you are) Gambo has been way more accurate this offseason.

[BKinSJC]

It’s a Flex vs Gambo battle about what’s happening with Ayton and unfortunately(or fortunately depending on who you are) Gambo has been way more accurate this offseason.

A bidding war? For Ayton? Hah! That's something I'd like to see.

In all seriousness, though, I would like to see that.

[Split T]

My theory is that Flex(if he does have sources) is exaggerating because he needs the engagement to stay relevant. He has to be positive and keep people invested or they’ll stop listening. So even if the suns have a conversation with someone(which probably happens all the time without amounting to anything), he plays it up like things are close. So we probably are having discussions but the offers don’t meet what we want or what we think they’ll be.

I’d also expect that Gambo has better sources and Flex has to rely on lesser sources who are further down the chain. Flex sources know we’re talking, but don’t know how close we are. Gambo knows we aren’t that close.

Or it’s all just made up and no one knows anything.

[SunsSince92]

It’s a Flex vs Gambo battle about what’s happening with Ayton and unfortunately(or fortunately depending on who you are) Gambo has been way more accurate this offseason.

A bidding war? For Ayton? Hah! That's something I'd like to see.

In all seriousness, though, I would like to see that.

I don't know if you got to see the rest of the response, but the implication was that teams are now pivoting to their second or third options now Porzingis is off the table and the draft has concluded. Ayton might be the best of the rest!

[Split T]

It’s a Flex vs Gambo battle about what’s happening with Ayton and unfortunately(or fortunately depending on who you are) Gambo has been way more accurate this offseason.

A bidding war? For Ayton? Hah! That's something I'd like to see.

In all seriousness, though, I would like to see that.

Dallas offered THJ and Javale McGee…then Blazers topped it by adding Nurkic and Little

[SunsSince92]

My theory is that Flex(if he does have sources) is exaggerating because he needs the engagement to stay relevant. He has to be positive and keep people invested or they’ll stop listening. So even if the suns have a conversation with someone(which probably happens all the time without amounting to anything), he plays it up like things are close. So we probably are having discussions but the offers don’t meet what we want or what we think they’ll be.

I’d also expect that Gambo has better sources and Flex has to rely on lesser sources who are further down the chain. Flex sources know we’re talking, but don’t know how close we are. Gambo knows we aren’t that close.

Or it’s all just made up and no one knows anything.

I think you're right. Assuming it isn't made up, the positive to take away from it is that discussions are happening so there's at least some interest in Ayton out there. Given the earlier reports of interest being 'lean', it's encouraging to hear there's still some ongoing dialogue.

[Split T]

To expound on the theory and to address Vogel wanting Ayton…I’m sure Vogel is fine with moving Ayton…just for the right package. Perhaps we have been close to making a deal but Vogel has made it known that he prefers Ayton over whatever the best offer currently is. So we are waiting to see if the offers get better.

[SunsSince92]

To expound on the theory and to address Vogel wanting Ayton…I’m sure Vogel is fine with moving Ayton…just for the right package. Perhaps we have been close to making a deal but Vogel has made it known that he prefers Ayton over whatever the best offer currently is. So we are waiting to see if the offers get better.

Agreed. I think Vogel would be happy to move Ayton if the right offer came along. He also made his initial comments about wanting to retain Ayton prior to the Beal trade. That gives him an ideal off ramp, as he can make the point that the org needed to look at the roster differently once they'd traded for Beal.

[JeremyG]

Gambo just now:

“It is highly unlikely the Suns will trade Deandre Ayton.”

“I would even say it is highly unlikely or very unlikely they are going to trade him.”

He would even "bet a car payment" they won't trade him.

"A lot of people think I'm on an island by myself with this."

[In2ition]

Why do fans have strong feelings about Flex from Jersey, either one way or the other?

[In2ition]

Gambo just now:

“It is highly unlikely the Suns will trade Deandre Ayton.”

“I would even say it is highly unlikely or very unlikely they are going to trade him.”

He would even "bet a car payment" they won't trade him.

"A lot of people think I'm on an island by myself with this."

Does Gambo even have a car payment?

It's going to be difficult to find a replacement for Ayton that is clearly better than him in all facets, imo. If they are clearly better, than they most likely aren't avalaible in a trade for Ayton.

[SunsSince92]

Gambo just now:

“It is highly unlikely the Suns will trade Deandre Ayton.”

“I would even say it is highly unlikely or very unlikely they are going to trade him.”

He would even "bet a car payment" they won't trade him.

"A lot of people think I'm on an island by myself with this."

I suspect that's because they haven't received an offer that's piqued their interest yet. Highly unlikely or very unlikely doesn't mean it won't happen.

If there is one thing we've learnt about the Ishbia led Suns, it's that they are unpredictable when it comes to making moves. The Beal trade came out of nowhere and I'd therefore vouch that it's highly likely that any trade involving Ayton will be equally unpredictable.

[JeremyG]

Here's the full segment with Gambo and Tim Ring talking about Ayton just now.

[JeremyG]

Gambo just now:

“It is highly unlikely the Suns will trade Deandre Ayton.”

“I would even say it is highly unlikely or very unlikely they are going to trade him.”

He would even "bet a car payment" they won't trade him.

"A lot of people think I'm on an island by myself with this."

I suspect that's because they haven't received an offer that's piqued their interest yet. Highly unlikely or very unlikely doesn't mean it won't happen.

If there is one thing we've learnt about the Ishbia led Suns, it's that they are unpredictable when it comes to making moves. The Beal trade came out of nowhere and I'd therefore vouch that it's highly likely that any trade involving Ayton will be equally unpredictable.

I think what increased his confidence is when he learned that Vogel is pushing hard to keep Ayton.

[In2ition]

Gambo just now:

“It is highly unlikely the Suns will trade Deandre Ayton.”

“I would even say it is highly unlikely or very unlikely they are going to trade him.”

He would even "bet a car payment" they won't trade him.

"A lot of people think I'm on an island by myself with this."

I suspect that's because they haven't received an offer that's piqued their interest yet. Highly unlikely or very unlikely doesn't mean it won't happen.

If there is one thing we've learnt about the Ishbia led Suns, it's that they are unpredictable when it comes to making moves. The Beal trade came out of nowhere and I'd therefore vouch that it's highly likely that any trade involving Ayton will be equally unpredictable.

I think what increased his confidence is when he learned that Vogel is pushing hard to keep Ayton.

It's also possible that a faction with just as much pull and leverage as Vogel tries to push the Suns in the direction of trading him before the season too.

[Vladimir_Taltos]

Ok, gotta ask...does DA have a little bro named Jeremy?

[JeremyG]

And now it went national...

[JeremyG]