POLL: Ayton/Nurkic trade
Re: POLL: Ayton/Nurkic trade
That’s still a lot of shots and I just don’t think he’ll get them. He’s still mostly a dependent player and the thing with dependent players is their shot numbers are very unpredictable. How they are defended impacts it…so does the ball handlers they play with.
It’s like being a RB in an option offense. They get the ball when the defense commits to the QB. If Ayton is playing well the defense will adjust. He’s also got an inexperienced QB who’s gonna call his own number now because he’s a score first guy.
Ayton will have to develop some counters that he never consistently showed here. If they come out on his middie, will he drive to the basket? Will be invite contact? Will he step out and shoot 3s? I do think it’s more likely he does that stuff in Portland, but it’s gonna be a learning curve…kinda like Mikal for that month when he got it thrust upon him. I am very curious to see it.
It’s like being a RB in an option offense. They get the ball when the defense commits to the QB. If Ayton is playing well the defense will adjust. He’s also got an inexperienced QB who’s gonna call his own number now because he’s a score first guy.
Ayton will have to develop some counters that he never consistently showed here. If they come out on his middie, will he drive to the basket? Will be invite contact? Will he step out and shoot 3s? I do think it’s more likely he does that stuff in Portland, but it’s gonna be a learning curve…kinda like Mikal for that month when he got it thrust upon him. I am very curious to see it.
- specialsauce
- Posts: 8675
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Re: POLL: Ayton/Nurkic trade
That’s a lot of calculations to end up with a wrong answerJeremyG wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 11:03 pmThis is my more realistic scenario:Split T wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 10:35 pmVucevic could run some offense…he also averaged 3.8 assists that year…was on an Orlando team without good guards.
I don’t see that for Ayton. Scoot is the focus of that team. He’s going to have the ball. I don’t think he’s going to be advanced enough as a playmaker to get Ayton the shots to get to 20. 15ish shots is what I expect.
Vucevic does seem like a decent player type for Ayton to mold his game after though if he’s not going to become an aggressive player around the rim. Extend the range…develop some high post playmaking. If he does that I could see a 23/12/3 season at some point in his future like Vuc had.
Edit: I did miss Embiid…not sure how..I see him now at the top of my search. Still, Embiid barely got to 20 and he was the MVP. I just don’t see it for Ayton, but maybe Portland will surprise me
.330 * 1.8 3PA = 0.594 * 3 = 1.78 points
+
.770 * 3.9 FTA = 3.00 points
+
.587 * 16.4 (18.3 FGA - 1.9 3PA) 2PA = 9.627 * 2 = 19.25 points
= 24.0 ppg (another 0.8 2PA would get him to 25)
Re: POLL: Ayton/Nurkic trade
Looks like somebody has too much free time. Trying to "prove" a point about a player that doesn't even play for the Suns anymore using hypotheticals.specialsauce wrote: ↑Mon Oct 02, 2023 1:09 amThat’s a lot of calculations to end up with a wrong answerJeremyG wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 11:03 pmThis is my more realistic scenario:Split T wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 10:35 pmVucevic could run some offense…he also averaged 3.8 assists that year…was on an Orlando team without good guards.
I don’t see that for Ayton. Scoot is the focus of that team. He’s going to have the ball. I don’t think he’s going to be advanced enough as a playmaker to get Ayton the shots to get to 20. 15ish shots is what I expect.
Vucevic does seem like a decent player type for Ayton to mold his game after though if he’s not going to become an aggressive player around the rim. Extend the range…develop some high post playmaking. If he does that I could see a 23/12/3 season at some point in his future like Vuc had.
Edit: I did miss Embiid…not sure how..I see him now at the top of my search. Still, Embiid barely got to 20 and he was the MVP. I just don’t see it for Ayton, but maybe Portland will surprise me
.330 * 1.8 3PA = 0.594 * 3 = 1.78 points
+
.770 * 3.9 FTA = 3.00 points
+
.587 * 16.4 (18.3 FGA - 1.9 3PA) 2PA = 9.627 * 2 = 19.25 points
= 24.0 ppg (another 0.8 2PA would get him to 25)
Re: POLL: Ayton/Nurkic trade
Wait a minute, I know you. You’re Deandre Ayton. I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense. And he says that lots of times, you don't even run down court. And that you don't really try... except during the playoffs.
Did I just meme compare D to Kareem? Shoot me now.
Did I just meme compare D to Kareem? Shoot me now.
“Are you crazy?! You think I’m going to go for seven years and try to get there? You enjoy the 2030 draft picks that we have holding? I want to try to see the game today.” — Ish 3/13/25
Re: POLL: Ayton/Nurkic trade
Roger, rogerCap wrote: ↑Mon Oct 02, 2023 9:58 amWait a minute, I know you. You’re Deandre Ayton. I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense. And he says that lots of times, you don't even run down court. And that you don't really try... except during the playoffs.
Did I just meme compare D to Kareem? Shoot me now.

Re: POLL: Ayton/Nurkic trade
ZAZ shoulda sued Lucas for stealing that.Kryptonic wrote: ↑Mon Oct 02, 2023 10:13 amRoger, rogerCap wrote: ↑Mon Oct 02, 2023 9:58 amWait a minute, I know you. You’re Deandre Ayton. I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense. And he says that lots of times, you don't even run down court. And that you don't really try... except during the playoffs.
Did I just meme compare D to Kareem? Shoot me now.![]()
“Are you crazy?! You think I’m going to go for seven years and try to get there? You enjoy the 2030 draft picks that we have holding? I want to try to see the game today.” — Ish 3/13/25
Re: POLL: Ayton/Nurkic trade
Funny... Never thought of that but he probably gave him a pass once he watched the prequelsCap wrote: ↑Mon Oct 02, 2023 11:45 amZAZ shoulda sued Lucas for stealing that.Kryptonic wrote: ↑Mon Oct 02, 2023 10:13 amRoger, rogerCap wrote: ↑Mon Oct 02, 2023 9:58 amWait a minute, I know you. You’re Deandre Ayton. I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense. And he says that lots of times, you don't even run down court. And that you don't really try... except during the playoffs.
Did I just meme compare D to Kareem? Shoot me now.![]()

- Charlie Smithy!
- Posts: 1666
- Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:01 pm
Re: POLL: Ayton/Nurkic trade
Potter!!
Lol, your last name has stuck in my head ever since you revealed it when you posted about playing Hogwarts Legacy, which I still feel I need to get around to playing!!
Also, a long time ago, and in our own galaxy, I had assumed that the sequels were going to be better than the prequels.

Lol, your last name has stuck in my head ever since you revealed it when you posted about playing Hogwarts Legacy, which I still feel I need to get around to playing!!
Also, a long time ago, and in our own galaxy, I had assumed that the sequels were going to be better than the prequels.
Re: POLL: Ayton/Nurkic trade
Had to fix the quote a bit to make it really fit.Cap wrote: ↑Mon Oct 02, 2023 9:58 amWait a minute, I know you. You’re Deandre Ayton. I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense. And he says that lots of times, you don't even run down court. And that you don't really try... except during theyour first playoffs.
“Are you crazy?! You think I’m going to go for seven years and try to get there? You enjoy the 2030 draft picks that we have holding? I want to try to see the game today.” — Ish 3/13/25
Re: POLL: Ayton/Nurkic trade
Solid memoryCharlie Smithy! wrote: ↑Mon Oct 02, 2023 11:54 amPotter!!
Lol, your last name has stuck in my head ever since you revealed it when you posted about playing Hogwarts Legacy, which I still feel I need to get around to playing!!
Also, a long time ago, and in our own galaxy, I had assumed that the sequels were going to be better than the prequels.
![]()

Oh man.. We all thought the sequel trilogy would be better. What they did to Luke and Han was a travesty.
Re: POLL: Ayton/Nurkic trade
18 is not that many shots. He averaged nearly 16 FGA (18 per 36) for the 22-game stretch where Booker was out, when he was basically the co-leading scorer with Mikal, and that was under Monty who refused to adjust his system for Ayton when Booker/Paul were out.Split T wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 11:14 pmThat’s still a lot of shots and I just don’t think he’ll get them. He’s still mostly a dependent player and the thing with dependent players is their shot numbers are very unpredictable. How they are defended impacts it…so does the ball handlers they play with.
It’s like being a RB in an option offense. They get the ball when the defense commits to the QB. If Ayton is playing well the defense will adjust. He’s also got an inexperienced QB who’s gonna call his own number now because he’s a score first guy.
Ayton will have to develop some counters that he never consistently showed here. If they come out on his middie, will he drive to the basket? Will be invite contact? Will he step out and shoot 3s? I do think it’s more likely he does that stuff in Portland, but it’s gonna be a learning curve…kinda like Mikal for that month when he got it thrust upon him. I am very curious to see it.
"I'm a Deandre Ayton guy."--Al McCoy, September 21, 2022.