Suns unload former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton in 3-way trade
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DeAndre Ayton’s days with the Phoenix Suns are over.
The University of Arizona standout and 2018 No. 1 overall pick was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-way blockbuster NBA trade on Wednesday.
The big man coming to Phoenix to replace Ayton is 7-foot center Jusuf Nurkić, who averaged 13.3 points and 9.1 rebounds with Portland last season.
The deal also involved the Milwaukee Bucks, who got star guard Damion Lillard from Portland in the deal. Lillard was asked on Twitter in May 2022 to pick one current player he’d want to help him reach the playoffs. His answer: Bucks big man Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Trading Ayton means that guard Devin Booker is now the lone player from the Phoenix team that played Milwaukee in the 2021 NBA Finals that is still on the roster.
Phoenix also acquired guard Grayson Allen, forward Nassir Little and guard Keon Johnson in the deal.
The Suns open training camp next week.
