Betting site has the Indiana Pacers as “second” favorites to land Deandre Ayton

It seems like the looming NBA Draft has not prevented the rumor mill from gaining steam in the recent days, with the Indiana Pacers now considered as a considerable threat to land restricted free agent center Deandre Ayton in the offseason.

In fact, Betting site DraftKings has the Blue and Gold as the “second” favorites to pry Ayton away, with them positioned even above his current team, the Phoenix Suns.

After the Suns were embarrassingly eliminated in the postseason, the former first overall pick’s fate in free agency has been widely discussed, with many pointing to him as a legitimate flight risk despite Phoenix looking poised to remain as a contender despite their playoff fumble.

Are the Indiana Pacers a legitimate threat to land Deandre Ayton?

Odds can vary from time to time, but the very fact that the Indiana Pacers are considered to be this much of a threat to snag Deandre Ayton is reflective of the team’s flexibility in this crucial offseason.

One of the handful of teams with ample cap space, the Pacers can sign Ayton outright if they make a salary-clearing move or two. However, competitors could outbid them, as cap-rich teams like the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs could also make a move for the big man.

Perhaps the more attractive and viable route for Indiana that will give them the best chance to land Ayton is to engage with Phoenix regarding a possible sign-and-trade, one avenue that makes the most sense as the Suns would hate to not match the big man’s camp’s lofty salary demands and in turn, lose him for nothing.

An idea commonly floated around is a sign-and-trade sending Ayton to the Pacers and Myles Turner to the Suns. The longtime Pacer is eligible for a contract extension, but rumors point to the big man being inclined on playing out his current deal instead, which makes him a flight risk for the team in the next offseason.

Nevertheless, that the Indiana Pacers are looking to be more aggressive than before this summer is a good sign. Whether pursuing Deandre Ayton is indeed a part of their plan remains to be seen, but fans can certainly look forward to an eventful offseason for the franchise.