According to MassLive’s Brian Robb, the Boston Celtics are uninterested in trading for former No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Deandre Ayton. Robb also reported that a Malcolm Brogdon trade to the Suns is dead following the completion of a trade that sends Bradley Beal to Phoenix for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, future pick swaps, and future second-round draft picks.
“According to a league source, the Celtics have no interest in an Ayton deal due to his high contract, so any scenario that involves Brogdon going to Phoenix now is dead without a third team getting involved,” Robb said before adding, “Phoenix could involve moving Ayton elsewhere, but don’t look for Boston to get involved unless Ayton’s going to a different team.”
Behind Al Horford and Robert Williams III, Boston needs a third big man who could consistently contribute in the postseason, but taking on Ayton’s remaining $102 million salary with a pending $295 million Jaylen Brown supermax isn’t logical or feasible.
Even if Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck agreed to trade for Ayton and pay the associated taxes, the culture in the C’s locker room would be unsuitable for the Arizona product. While Ayton stuffs the stat sheet, his influence in the postseason is frequently lackluster, despite the fact that his simple offense in the paint should be opening up the team’s shooting around the perimeter.
Adding another top choice who wants the ball would take touches away from players like Brown and Jayson Tatum, who will be making hundreds of millions of dollars and using the team’s contract space for years to come. Complementary players on lower contracts are excellent for the Jays, but a similar player like Kristaps Porzingis makes more sense than Aytn given the Latvian’s expiring contract. Long-term funding for Ayton should not be considered right now.
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