Ayton’s return a big boost for Suns’ small ball

The suspension is over.

Finally.

Deandre Ayton returns Tuesday after having to sit out 25 games for violating the NBA and NBPA’s antidrug policy.

It’s time to find out who the Phoenix Suns really are, who they’re going to be and how much Ayton has improved as a player and can help them as they face the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night at Staples Center.

And one more thing.

Ayton messed up. Big time. Weeks after James Jones and Ayton released statements when the suspension began for testing positive for a diuretic, Monty Williams said Ayton “made a mistake.”

That can be read many different ways, but Ayton’s mistake prevented his team from having its second-best player for 25 games.

We got the runaround on whether or not an appeal was ever filed on his behalf in hopes of having the suspension reduced.

Person A said talk to Person B. Person B said Person C knows. Then, Person C pointed back to Person A and/or B.

If an appeal was filed, it got rejected. If it wasn’t, it wasn’t, but both speak to Ayton messing up.

Williams said Ayton has shown “great remorse,” which can be seen as growth and maybe the lesson Ayton needed to learn to gain some maturity.

Now, the Suns adapted, managed an impressive 5-2 start and turned NBA heads early.

But they lost 12 of their next 18 games without him.

This “mistake” can’t get lost in his return to action because it’s part of his NBA narrative. The only way to reduce or rid himself of the stigma is to never get suspended again for failing a test.

If he does get suspended again, then that could further drive Suns fans to wish Phoenix had drafted Luka Doncic first overall. If he doesn’t, all will eventually be forgotten, especially if Ayton dominates.

Forced to suddenly adjust

So as good as Phoenix started, it stood a better chance to continue that impressive opening to the 2019-20 season with Ayton in the lineup.

Yes, Williams found out what he had in his other players, but without Ayton, reserves Aron Baynes and Frank Kaminsky III had to start and play more minutes. Williams had to play small ball more to adjust to Baynes’ injury and Kaminsky’s inconsistent stretches. That led to Dario Saric playing more at the five spot and Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson playing at the four.

The Suns struggled defending the paint and keeping teams off the offensive boards without Ayton, who can get 10 rebounds in his sleep and 20 if he makes a real commitment to owning the glass.

In addition, Phoenix lost another scorer who has an offensive skill set that looked pretty good in the opener when Ayton had 18 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Sacramento — and was just getting started.

Then he got suspended. Now, Phoenix must adjust to his return in games.

He’s practiced with the team, traveled with the team and stayed connected to his teammates, but games are different.

That’s why Williams likes a 10game window to really see who they are.

What Ayton will give right away is an upgrade in athleticism at the five position. Ricky Rubio can now throw lobs to Ayton instead of bounce passes to Kaminsky, Saric and Baynes.

Teams shouldn’t be able to just waltz to the basket without much resistance and just climb all over the glass on the Suns with Ayton in the game, but he’s not in game shape, yet.

On top of that, Devin Booker will be able to play off a post player who can score in a number of ways and will likely get even freer looks.

Mexico City

Ayton has been put through some serious rigors. We saw them up close and personal before the Suns played the San Antonio Spurs in Mexico City.

Those were serious drills that pushed Ayton to points of exhaustion, especially in the higher altitude.

He dropped to the floor heaving for oxygen.

Ayton battled through that and kept pushing himself, though.

Videos of him shooting 3s have gone bonkers on Twitter. Ayton went into the season looking to launch from distance with Williams co-signing on the idea.

What’s happened in his absence is everyone, with the exception of Cheick Diallo, has shown they have the green light to shoot it from 3.