PHOENIX — For the past year or so, as the Phoenix Suns’ pursuit of a championship intensified, this always felt like the inevitable conclusion. That Deandre Ayton’s days in the desert were numbered.

Asked about this after an early postseason exit last season, the idea that he might have played his last game with the Suns, Ayton said he loves Phoenix and that he does not pay attention to outside noise. On Wednesday, six days before the start of training camp, noise turned into reality. Ayton is gone.

Instant reaction: The Suns improved their depth, got more athletic on the perimeter and added a big man in Nurkić who better suits their roster. With Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, the Suns can match firepower with just about every NBA team. Role identification, defensive ability and physical presence were their biggest questions.

This helps.

But at the heart of this trade, at least here, is the end of Ayton’s run in the desert and what to make of it. For most of his five years, Ayton seemed locked in an endless chase of expectation, a good player (with career averages of 16.7 points and 10.4 rebounds) who everyone always thought should be better. It made for a difficult environment in which to thrive.

When he was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, two spots ahead of European star Luka Dončić, then-general manager Ryan McDonough called it a “historic” day for the franchise. Although a Dončić-Booker backcourt would’ve been fascinating, McDonough wasn’t completely wrong.

In addition to Ayton, the Suns traded for the rights to the draft’s No. 10 pick, Villanova forward Mikal Bridges. Three years later, both became pillars during a surprising Phoenix run to the NBA Finals, where the Suns lost to Milwaukee in six games.

Ayton was a rising star that postseason. In addition to averaging 15.8 points, he grabbed 11.8 rebounds, third best among playoff performers. His last-second alley-oop to beat the LA Clippers in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals ranks among the franchise’s greatest moments. Four days later, after beating the Clippers to take a 3-1 series lead, then-point guard Chris Paul pointed at Ayton during a postgame interview with ESPN.

“That man over there, Deandre Ayton, he’s going to get him a bag this summer,” Paul said, referring to a contract extension. “And he’s showing everybody right now during the playoffs why.”

Ayton over the next two seasons had spurts of inspired play and spurts of inconsistency. One week he appeared on the springboard of stardom; the next, he appeared not distracted but content. Booker had a higher gear. Paul had a higher gear. Ayton too often played on cruise control.

The offseason brought change. Coach Monty Williams, who did not have the best relationship with Ayton, was out. Frank Vogel was in. The Suns traded Paul for Beal, giving them one of the NBA’s best cores. But the talk of Ayton’s future never went away.

Vogel spoke highly of the center, telling reporters he hoped to “restore” Ayton to an All-Star level, but a trade always seemed to be the most likely outcome. A matter of when and not if. With Booker, Durant and Beal, the Suns didn’t need a fourth option set to make $32.4 million this season.

This is where Nurkić makes sense. At 29, he is four years older than Ayton and not nearly as athletic. Since fracturing his leg in 2019, he also has not played more than 56 games in any of the past four seasons. But at 6 feet 11, 290 pounds, Nurkić is a physical presence. He might not defend the pick-and-roll as well as Ayton, but he’ll add toughness where it’s needed. And the other trade pieces should make for a stronger Phoenix rotation.

In Portland, Ayton will have extra motivation. He’ll probably put up big numbers. He has the talent to make Phoenix regret this trade. It’s the fire many have wanted to see for most of the past two seasons.