7 disgruntled stars that could be traded this summer

Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns

The relationship between Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns is one of the stranger ones in the NBA. It’s anyone’s guess if Ayton is unhappy, but he’d probably take a trade should one happen.

Ayton nearly found himself in a different spot last summer. The Indiana Pacers signed him to a four-year, $133 million offer sheet. But the Suns quickly matched, choosing to retain their restricted free agent.

Since then, there have been many weird moments suggesting tension between Phoenix and the big man. Take his media availability in September, when Ayton said he was “happy” but looked about as happy as a person whose dog just ran away.

There’s also all sorts of reports about Ayton’s relationship with coach Monty Williams. There have been reports of them not talking during the offseason or getting into significant spats. The supposed friction between the two could derail a team morphing into a perennial title contender.

Ayton is still just 24 years old and could be a pillar for almost any franchise in the NBA. Phoenix already has its biggest pillar in Devin Booker, though. If that has anything to do with potential discontent from the Ayton camp, it’s not getting better anytime soon.

Maybe he just needs a change of pace. Ayton is still playing in the same state where he became a college star, though he was also a controversial figure for the Arizona Wildcats due to allegations of how then-coach Sean Miller brought him to Tucson. Perhaps a change of scenery may be beneficial.