PHOENIX — It looks like Deandre Ayton is leaving the Valley.
The Suns confirmed the center is headed to the Portland Trailblazers in a blockbuster three-team deal.
Among the biggest parts of the deal, superstar Damian Lillard is headed to the Milwaukee Bucks. Phoenix is expected to land Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson.
With Ayton gone, Nurkic is expected to take over the starting center position. The 6'11'' center has been a plus rebounder during his career, averaging almost nine rebounds per game.
Allen, Little and Kohnson add much-needed depth to the Suns bench, with the new additions hoping to produce quality minutes.
Ayton was selected as the number-one overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. The Suns previously signed Ayton to a four-year, $133 million deal in 2022. Now the 25-year-old center moves on to the Trailblazers.
The news of Wednesday's trade is another addition in a crazy offseason for Phoenix. Earlier this summer, Phoenix saw the departure of perennial All-Star Chris Paul and the arrival of Bradley Beal.
What does this move mean for the Suns?
Cam Cox sat down with Suns beat writer Kellan Olson to discuss their initial reactions to the trade.
We will have more on the trade later on 12News tonight at 5, 6 and 10.
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Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made the State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers also play at the Footprint. Phoenix has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Cactus Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the Waste Management Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall; and Cactus League Spring Training.
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