The Suns and center Deandre Ayton have ended their contract extension negotiations, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
As Wojnarowski explains, Ayton expected a maximum-salary deal and team owner Robert Sarver has remained unwilling to offer one, so the two sides won’t reach an agreement by today’s rookie scale extension deadline. While Phoenix was able to work out an extension with Mikal Bridges, the team’s former No. 1 pick is now on track to become a restricted free agent in 2022.
Wojnarowski first reported nearly two weeks ago that discussions between the two sides had reached an impasse due to their difference in opinion on Ayton’s value. The 23-year-old’s representatives felt their client deserved a commitment like the ones Luka Doncic, Trae Young, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received from their respective teams this offseason, while the Suns’ ownership group felt Ayton wasn’t at the level of those young stars.
Ayton’s 14.4 PPG in 2020/21 was the lowest mark of his career, but he averaged double-digit rebounds (10.5 RPG) for a third straight season, made a career-best 62.6% of his shots from the field, improved as a defender, and played a key role in the Suns’ NBA Finals run. His modest scoring numbers were primarily a result of his willingness to accept a reduced role on offense following the arrival of Chris Paul to Phoenix. Ayton had averaged 18.2 PPG in ’19/20.
Since Ayton will be a restricted free agent in a year, Phoenix won’t be at any risk of losing him next summer. However, if these unsuccessful negotiations leave a bad taste in his mouth, Ayton could consider alternative options in free agency besides just reentering long-term contract talks with the Suns.
Accepting his qualifying offer would be one option for Ayton, though that’s not a path many high-level RFAs seriously consider. Signing the qualifying offer would be the equivalent of accepting a one-year contract and would put Ayton on track for unrestricted free agency in 2023. While it’s an unlikely scenario, it’s worth noting that Ayton’s qualifying offer will be worth $16.4MM, which I believe makes it the largest QO in NBA history to date.
Ayton would also have the option of going out and seeking an offer sheet from another team. The Suns would have the ability to match any offer sheet Ayton signs, but he could negotiate unfriendly terms, including perhaps an early opt-out and a 15% trade kicker.
Of course, it’s possible that when the Suns and Ayton return to the negotiating table next offseason, things go more smoothly and the two sides are able to work something out, like the Hawks did with John Collins this summer. For now though, it looks like we can safely pencil in Ayton as one of the top free agents in next year’s class.
This is probably a mistake on Phoenix’s part. If he’s not their future then they should trade him and move on but the limbo thing is not good.
It is a huge risk for them to spend as much as they did to keep Chris Paul around for a few more years at the possible expense of losing Ayton.
Not really. Ayton’s on the team for this year for sure, and they can match any offer for next year and onward (likely to be a max if he plays well). And because Ayton is still on his rookie deal, the Suns don’t have the Simmons problem, where the incentive is for the player to play poorly. So Ayton will play well this year, or as well as he can, and then sign an offer sheet and he’s good either way. I imagine he’s a bit miffed but I doubt it turns into him being a problem. But I also see zero reason for the Suns to do this. They’ll have to match an offer next year, and they could sign him now and trade him next off-season too, and get a return. They should sign him.
Why would the Suns suddenly become willing to match an offer next summer for a maximum contract if they’re refusing to do so now?
They’re already spending $108M on six players for the 2022-23 season, that’s only $37M below the luxury tax line. If they give Ayton a max deal next summer they will go deep into luxury tax territory which they may not be able to afford, like Golden State can.
Another teams max and the bird rights max would save the suns quite a bit of money esp tax wise and that matters for sarver unfortunately! He is the role model for you teams owner when it comes to being scared of huge tax payments
Trade for KAT – cheaper AND better.
Which … is why Minny would never do that?
Phoenix has not been a well managed team imo. Owner Robert Sarver is a known as a very greedy and cheap guy. Yes, Jones has done a good job getting Chris Paul and signing Crowder, but the trades and drafting has been really questionable this past decade. I mean the Suns were 87-241 over a four year stretch!
They drafted Booker, Ayton, Johnson, yes.
But they also drafted Jalen Smith (10), Josh Jackson (4), Dragan Bender (4), Alex Len (5), Kendall Marshall (13), Earl Clark (14), etc.
They also traded away TH Warren for just cash, Bledsoe for Monroe and a pick they didn’t even keep, PJ Tucker for Sullinger and second round pick that is out of the league, Markieff Morris for DeJuan Blair and Humphries and another pick they didn’t even get, and the icing on top, Granger, Marcus Morris, and Reggie Bullock for a Detroit second rounder so they could sign LaMarcus Aldridge….
Yes they are winning now, but only because OKC wanted Paul off their books so they could rebuild, because they lucked out on a very talented scorer with Booker (who no one expects to reach his current level), and because of their first pick because of how bad they were, Ayton! Now they aren’t going to offer him money and it will be brutal for the franchise if he goes elsewhere.
Greedy and cheap but signed bridges 20 million per season, traded and extended Paul for 20 million, extended booker for max, and added crowder for 10+ million. Doesn’t seem cheap at all
When you get a chance, google Robert Sarver and you will see how bad of an owner he is.
Unless the Suns are willing to pay millions in luxury taxes like the Warriors, Nets, Clippers, Lakers, Bucks & Jazz it’s likely Ayton goes elsewhere in 2022.
Paul can be considered the reason the Suns made it to the championship. But why throw away the future for a 36 y/o? Ayton is 23 and has a lot of potential, especially since big men take a long time to reach their full potential. But I doubt they will go into the luxury and I am sure you are right they won’t resign him.
PHX is playing this right, as JJ always seems to. Having extended Bridges at a reasonable number, they’re in a position to let the market determine Ayton’s salary and would be foolish not to take advantage of it. JJ has a very good relationship with Ayton, as well as Bridges, and was instrumental in their drafting. But this is an instance where any good FO would stay their hand in giving a max extension Particularly with the RFA market broke, and one position bigs lacking pricing power at all salary levels.
Mouth breathing Lakers fans probably think he’s gonna sign there for cheap. Lol
Aside from future luxury tax implications, maybe Suns want Ayton to remain motivated this season. Whatever it is, they did a terrible job of setting expectations with Ayton.
Ayton coming to New York would be a dream. Getting to watch a Bahamian play
I said weeks ago that surrendering shots for the good of the team would come back to haunt him & cost him the max contract… that shows you how young guys have to go out there to get their own, not bother about winning & that way they get paid, you do your bit to win, sacrifice yourself for a geriatric CP3 & that’ll cost you millions & all to get to the NBA finals… not worthy!
If he improves his pick and roll defense and passing, that will help him get paid more than scoring does. The narrative that you’re suggesting is childlike. Teams arent that dumb
Not worth the rookie max. Just isn’t.
As historically cheap as Sarver is, the SUNS are right not to give Ayton the max.
Let the market decide his value, next offseason.
He should just take the $16-18 million they’re probably offering him, or try to use some leverage with them being mostly capped out anyway, and try to push it close to $22 million, but there is no reason for them to offer anything more than that. They are in a situation where they may have to katch a wonky deal in RFA, or they can try to trade him this year, but I dont think him walking would be the end of the world for them, even with their cap situation, just b/c you can always get bigs in today’s NBA
I’ve been saying it for a really long time now. Good job by the Suns not giving in, if he really was asking for max.
I dont even think Suns will have money left to match his signing with another team next offseason which means trade might be pending during the season.
Come to San Antonio. We have experience with big men from the Islands.
Also, we’d love to (continue to) stick it to Sarver.
Sarver has stayed out of things; James Jones is the key. He does not hang on to prospects because they’re the same height as MJ or whatever.
Ayton is moody… see how he carries the weight feeling put off… then let the market decide. I wonder if he will take being hollered at personally now, or if the guards will stop, or turn to newly raised Mikal instead. Mikal could be more aggressive.
If Ayton gets unmotivated, the Suns could put him in rotation with Cam Johnson, and play Kaminsky with Crowder, see what works best. Maybe Jalen Smith is taking a slow path like Obi Toppin.
Anyone who watched the Suns playoff run like I did, should know they wouldn’t have done it without Ayton. Not even close.
B/c the matchups worked in his favor. Once Milwaukee realized to stop using brook lopez much after game 2 in the finals, and phoenix didnt have Saric and didnt go to Kaminsky, that’s when they lost. Ayton couldnt guard Portis or Giannis on the perimeter