Former No. 1 pick was almost traded on NBA Draft night

According to insider Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks offered Phoenix Tim Hardaway Jr. and centers Richaun Holmes and JaVale McGee for Suns center Deandre Ayton, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018. The Suns reportedly balked at taking back McGee, who played for Phoenix in 2021-22 before signing with Dallas. McGee is owed $5.7 million next year with a $6M player option for 2024-25, and Phoenix wasn't interested in paying that salary for a bench center who turns 37 in the final year.

Because Dallas acquired Holmes from the Sacramento Kings on draft night, the trade would have had to be a three-team deal, but the components would be roughly the same.

The deal makes sense for both teams. Phoenix and Ayton seemed to become disenchanted with each other last season, but the big man has three years and over $100 million left on his contract. Exchanging Ayton's big deal for Hardaway and Holmes' smaller, two-year deals would give Phoenix's top-heavy roster (Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal earn over $130 million combined) some added depth, plus more trade flexibility.

Just like Beal, Hardaway's agent is Mark Bartelstein, whose son Josh is the Suns' CEO. That alone suggests that Phoenix could easily revisit this trade if they can agree on a McGee replacement.

For Dallas, taking on Ayton is a calculated risk, but lets them pair Ayton with Luka Doncic, the No. 3 pick in that 2018 draft. Ayton's deal would line up with the remaining three years on Doncic's contract (he has a player option for 2026-27 that he'll likely reject), as well as the rumored contract length free agent Kyrie Irving is seeking in Dallas.

The other question is how Ayton will react, knowing Phoenix was shopping him. Whether it's to Dallas or not, the Suns' openness to a trade suggests that Ayton may be playing elsewhere this fall.