Deandre Ayton Discussion: This Is A Platform I Can't Run From

Deandre is not a scrub, we don't really run any sets specifically for him either. That being said, it depends on what's going on behind the scenes here.

What I mean by that is, I'm sure Rob has already discussed his opinion, on Ayton viability long-term here with Duffy by now.

I'm sure that Duffy has a feel of who might be willing to pay Deandre a decent contract as their starter too. If that doesn't happen to be us.

So we'll see what's what by next week.

 

Strange indeed that we haven't ever heard more on this snub

We could really use Williams this season

 

why is everyone suddenly assuming that we're going to be able to get ayton to a situation advantageous for him AND us?

why does anyone think that being jettisoned midseason by a team desperate for a starting center is going to make him MORE money in the future? like, do we think indiana's more interested in ayton after watching him fumble a much easier situation than theirs will be? the idea here is that he goes to indy midseason, looks way better than he did here, and they sign him to a long-term deal (also, they're over the cap, and ayton has no bird rights, so MLE is the limit in this case).

but yeah, if duffy's on board, i'm fine moving ayton. it better be for an upgrade at center, though.

again, i know some don't want to give credit, but our gm had to basically get duffy to push for the buyout so he could come here (i don't believe he didn't know exactly where he was signing and what for prior to the buyout, and neither should you). we made lion shirts and s***, then we punted at midseason when he was basically just doing what he's always done.

and again, i'm fine if duffy and ayton are on board. if they're not, the next time we ask someone to help us get something done, they should probably think hard about it. very much like the PG situation in indy, where we got him to demand out, then pulled half our trade assets off the table, leading him to be sent to okc. worked out for everyone in the end (in positively convoluted ways), but PG spurned us in FA later (kind of nonsensically, really).

 

this is fair (didn't see it until after my response to sk). i'm not at all concerned about moving ayton if everyone's ok with it. it's just if he's moved without any consultation, it's bad for business. then again, it may be another grenade to let rob fall on before he's fired, i guess.

 

Reaves should help. My assumption would be that any move would be coordinated with him and his agent, no surprises. I don't think he will be moved, but I'm a lot more open to it now than I was previously.

 

I blame JJ for this malaise

 

we throw in the first we have. cuts into space, but not so much we can't do some things, plus it takes ayton's PO out of our hair. nets are a decent destination for ayton because, like us, they have space to give him a big raise should he suddenly become a consistent difference maker in the latter half of the year.

 

I don’t get the Ayton hate. He’s doing exactly what I expected him to do. Sometimes he looks like an all star, and it times he looks disinterested. It’s not like we were getting a perfect player. I’ll take my chances rolling with him because history has shown that he is capable of hitting another gear come playoff time.

 

yeah, that's my take. i'm just going based off the word that we've supposedly decided he's not the long-term option. if we've already fully ruled that out, maybe it makes sense to move on quickly.

in a vacuum, he's outplayed his contract for sure.

 

Why does it have to be considered “hate” when we point out the obvious?
The dude is not a reliable player and should be moved as soon as we get a fair return.
I don’t “hate” the stoner- he’s just not a serious player.

 

You can't just look at the position in a vacuum, add up the counting stats and say "well we get X points and Y rebounds out of the center spot, so it's fine". Domantas Sabonis could replace the statistical production of both Ayton and Hayes but would be a terrible fit. Same thing with Vucevic. We are building a team around Luka and Austin - the center needs to be someone that can defend the rim, clean up mistakes by our perimeter defenders, and be a good P&R fit with each guy. Ayton is okay defending the rim, can't cover up otherwise lackluster perimeter defense, and is a good P&R partner with Austin but not Luka. He checks like half the boxes we need and Luka has been making it pretty clear lately that he's not enjoying playing with Ayton.

 

This is the best rotation we’ve had at the 5 depth wise since 2021 when we had AD, Trezz, Drummond and Gasol. Our 3 bigs of Ayton, Hayes and Timme ain’t too shabby, especially when you consider JJ will likely faze them out the closer we get to the playoffs and beyond. Center is the least of my worries, unless Ayton is a locker room cancer that we don’t know about. I’m more concerned with finding a guard that can adequately defend 1’s and 2’s because if Smart gets injured we’re screwed.

 

This bum got destroyed on the boards tonight- I can’t stand him now.
Go play in China.

 

for what we are paying him, I suppose we have a fair deal. For what he's making this year in total? It's robbery. But fans still want effort. No better way to get a fan to turn on you than by not giving effort.

 

I have officially turned.
We need a new starting C, and at least one wing to be a viable team.