Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (ankle) is officially listed as probable for Friday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The big man was a full participant during Thursday's practice. This is great news after seeing Ayton sidelined due to a foot issue. The expectation is that he'll have a full workload for Friday's game, assuming he can play. His return would shift Bismack Biyombo to the bench, which would end most of his streaming appeal.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (ankle) is expected to be out for at least one week. The big man injured his foot early during Friday's meeting with the New Orleans Pelicans and didn't return. As a result, Bismack Biyombo entered and finished with a double-double, along with two blocks in 23 minutes. Biyombo is the favorite to start until Ayton returns, giving him some short-term streaming appeal for fantasy managers. Jock Landale may also get more involved, although not enough to warrant fantasy consideration.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton logged just eight minutes in Friday's win over New Orleans because of a left ankle sprain. He got hurt when he came down from a shot attempt and landed on Jonas Valanciunas' foot. Ayton managed four points on 2-for-4 shooting with three rebounds before exiting. Bismack Biyombo covered Ayton on Friday and grabbed himself an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double with two blocks in 23 minutes. He's set for a much bigger role if Ayton is out for a stretch, although head coach Monty Williams could also decide to run smaller lineups.

It's funny that every year at the NBA Draft, once the end of the guaranteed money and live appearances arrives at the end of the first round, everybody tunes out and refers to the 60th pick as "Mr. Irrelevant." That's not very accurate though, is it? Speaking historically, the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" could just as easily be applied to each pick in the draft, as organizations differ greatly in their evaluation of talent and their own needs, particularly in a year without the NCAA tournament. The nickname just doesn't reflect how basketball works anymore. Executives strategically stockpile second-round draft picks for the less burdensome financial obligations, and organizations in rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget.Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace, that fits best with their path to the NBA.Plus, I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games, or specific statistical specialties.We are going to discuss a handful of 2022 second-round picks and undrafted free agent signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2022-23 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence. ... [More]

It's funny that every year at the NBA Draft, once the end of the guaranteed money and live appearances arrives at the end of the first round, everybody tunes out and refers to the 60th pick as "Mr. Irrelevant." That's not very accurate though, is it? Speaking historically, the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" could just as easily be applied to each pick in the draft, as organizations differ greatly in their evaluation of talent and their own needs, particularly in a year without the NCAA tournament. The nickname just doesn't reflect how basketball works anymore. Executives strategically stockpile second-round draft picks for the less burdensome financial obligations, and organizations in rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget.Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace, that fits best with their path to the NBA.Plus, I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games, or specific statistical specialties.We are going to discuss a handful of 2022 second-round picks and undrafted free agent signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2022-23 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence. ... [More]

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton has officially finalized his four-year deal with the organization. The young center said that he's happy to finally put free agency behind him and compete for a championship. There was plenty of uncertainty between the Suns and Ayton this offseason. At first, it didn't sound like the Suns had plans of bringing back Ayton. Now, the stud center has a new $133 million deal, so fantasy managers shouldn't have anything to worry about with Ayton heading into the new season. His fantasy value should remain reliable in Phoenix alongside Chris Paul and Devin Booker.

The Phoenix Suns have matched the Indiana Pacers' offer sheet on power forward/center Deandre Ayton. The 23-year-old is now officially remaining in Phoenix. The Pacers extended him a record max offer sheet worth $133 million over four years on Thursday. The Suns had a 48-hour window to determine whether they would match the offer sheet and it only took the franchise a matter of hours to make the decision to match. Ayton was the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft. He's averaged a double-double in each of his four NBA seasons and he helped the Suns reach the finals in 2020-21. He'll be one of the top contributors on what should be another strong Suns team in 2022-23.

The Phoenix Suns officially have 48 hours to match the Indiana Pacers maximum offer sheet on Deandre Ayton. The stud big man has agreed to a four-year $133 million deal with the organization. The Suns clearly haven't viewed Ayton as a max-level player, so we'll see if this changes their tune. This is the largest offer sheet in NBA history, so it wouldn't be shocking if the Suns decided to let Ayton go. The addition of Ayton would likely mean Myles Turner gets moved at some point this offseason. Possibly, the two of them could be alongside each other, but that might not be the best for their fantasy value. Fantasy managers will have to wait and see what the Suns decide to do over the next day or so.

The Indiana Pacers are reportedly serious about bringing in Deandre Ayton this summer. The superstar big man wants a max deal, but the Phoenix Suns appear unwilling to do that. The Pacers are expected to move on from Myles Turner, so a sign-and-trade between the two teams could be possible. Phoenix will be given the chance to match any offer that Ayton receives this offseason. The Pacers appear serious about signing Ayton, so maybe a sign-and-trade would be a great solution for the two sides.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton will be a restricted free agent this summer. As expected, the Suns have officially tendered a $16.4M qualifying offer to Ayton. Despite this, it seems likely that Ayton will head elsewhere this offseason. He wants a max deal and the Suns don't seem to want to offer that high of a contract. Although, no other organization seems too interested in offering Ayton the max. The Suns will be given the chance to match any offer that Ayton receives over the offseason. A move to another organization could actually give Ayton a bump in fantasy value.

Upcoming restricted free-agent center Deandre Ayton was reportedly on the Detroit Pistons wish list. However, after the team selected Memphis big man Jalen Duren during the 2022 NBA draft, it appears that Detroit has now had a change of heart. The 23-year-old is still likely on his way out of Phoenix, with teams like the Spurs and Hawks emerging as possible suitors. But without Ayton on Detroit's roster, Duren, Isaiah Stewartand Marvin Bagley III, whom the Pistons hope to bring back, just received a bump in fantasy potential.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton might've played his final game with the organization. The young center wants a max deal this offseason, but the Suns appear to be hesitant about giving him that extension. That being said, Ayton could very well be traded this offseason, assuming the two sides can't agree on a deal. He is an unrestricted free agent, which means a sign-and-trade could happen. Ayton would likely be fine with leaving the Suns, assuming he can get paid and play a significant role elsewhere. This issue between the Suns and Ayton is likely to linger well into the summer.

Free-agent center Deandre Ayton is expected to be pursued by multiple teams over the summer, with the Pistons being one of them. Still, because the 23-year-old is a restricted free agent, the Suns have the ability to match any offer heading his way. However, Detroit may make Jerami Grant available in a sign-and-trade scenario, although things may change in the weeks ahead. Ayton averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds during the regular season, but his numbers on the glass dipped during the postseason. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick has the potential to be an even bigger threat in the middle for any club moving ahead. Yet, his inconsistent play won't do fantasy managers any favors. He'll also need to improve defensively.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton was disappointed the team didn't offer him a max contract, according to his agent Bill Duffy. The 23-year-old averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds during the 2021-22 season. He also shot a career-high 63.4% from the field and 36.8% from deep. However, the former No. 1 overall pick hasn't played an entire season since entering the league in 2018. Nonetheless, with Ayton being a restricted free agent heading into the summer, the Suns will have the opportunity to match offers from other teams, which is more than likely considering how impactful he's been. One thing is certain, wherever Ayton ends up, he'll remain a desired fantasy option for managers ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton only saw 17 minutes of action during Sunday's Game 7 matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. Head coach Monty Williams said Ayton's benching is an internal issue. The two of them had an argument in the third quarter, which led to Ayton sitting out the rest of the contest. The Suns were getting destroyed anyway, but this could be an issue heading into the offseason. Ayton is a restricted free agent this summer. That means, the Suns do control his destiny, but this could create further issues for Ayton and the Suns front office.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton is not concerned about his future and where he may end up this offseason. The young center has been a main piece of this Suns roster over the last few seasons. Ayton is reportedly seeking a five-year deal worth $172.5 million, which is something the Suns wouldn't pay. That being said, Ayton will be a restricted free agent this summer. The Suns don't view Ayton as a max player, but we'll see if that changes after the postseason.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton was a force during his team's Game 5 victory over the Mavericks, compiling 20 points on 9-for-13 shooting across his 22 minutes of action. Ayton wasn't needed for a full allotment of his minutes due to the nature of the victory, as he also snatched nine rebounds and added two assists. Bismack Biyombo largely replaced JaVale McGee as the big man off the bench, but Ayton continued his impressive series in which he has now averaged 16.8 points and 8.4 boards while shooting 58.7% overall. The 23-year-old logged double-doubles in both previous contests in Dallas for Games 3 and 4.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton finished with a double-double on Sunday afternoon during the postseason loss to the Mavericks. The big man had 14 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks. Yet, it wasn't enough to stop Dallas from tying the series at two games each. After a miserable Game 2, the 23-year-old has been productive over the last two games. Dallas will likely continue shooting the ball from deep moving ahead, so Ayton has a strong chance of keeping things rolling when the series heads back to Phoenix on Tuesday night.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton continued his strong postseason in Monday's Game 1 against the Dallas Mavericks. He shot 12-for-20 from the field and scored a team-high 25 points while also adding eight rebounds and one block. Through seven games this postseason, Ayton is averaging 21.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while shooting 68% from the field. The 23-year-old will be one of the big difference-makers in the Semifinals as the Mavericks simply don't have many frontcourt options to match up with him. Ayton will look to keep the team rolling in Game 2 on Wednesday.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton had an efficient shooting night in the team's Game 4 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. He shot 11-for-14 from the field on the way to a team-high 23 points. He also compiled eight rebounds, one block and one assist. Ayton has shot 69.3% from the floor this series while averaging 20.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He'll look to stay efficient on the offensive end of the court in Game 5, which will take place on Tuesday.