Deandre Ayton
Last week I proposed the idea of pairing Rudy Gobert with Devin Booker, only this time it happens in Phoenix. The Jazz would get to keep Mitchell and pair him with Deandre Ayton, the former number one overall pick of the 2018 NBA draft.
Ayton got suspended for 25 games this season, and while he was out the Suns had a really great start to the season with Aron Baynes playing center. It wasn’t sustainable, and it only made sense for them to play minutes with Ayton at the center as he is their future.
In 30 games this season, Ayton averaged 19 points and 12 boards per game. He is only 21 years old, and has a bright future ahead of him if he keeps working hard. If develops into his full potential, the Jazz will have another great dynamic duo, possibly even better than what the Mitchell/Gobert duo was/is.
Coming out of the University of Arizona, Ayton was drawing comparisons to Karl-Anthony Towns and DeMarcus Cousins for how skilled he was with the potential to extend his shooting range past the 3-point line.
The Phoenix Suns have been out of the playoffs for a full decade now, only ever getting close just a couple times with a geriatric Steve Nash and a one hit wonder year with Goran Dragic. You’d have to think they are getting antsy for a postseason by now.
Gobert would make them an instant playoff contender while the Jazz would be able to bet on a dynamic duo of Mitchell and Ayton peaking in the next five to 10 years.