Suns restricted free agent Deandre Ayton is expected to command a maximum-salary contract this offseason, but there’s skepticism around the NBA that Phoenix will be eager to match that sort of deal, says Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
As Fischer explains, there are multiple reasons why the Suns may not be enthusiastic about making a substantial financial commitment to Ayton.
For one, league figures believe the team’s front office is reluctant to pay any center a salary of $30MM+ annually, according to Fischer. It’s probably unwise to draw any conclusions based on small samples in the regular season, but Fischer notes that the team didn’t miss a beat in January when Ayton was unavailable and modestly-paid centers like JaVale McGee and Bismack Biyombo filled his role.
The Suns have already invested heavily in Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Mikal Bridges, and would push their team salary well beyond the luxury tax line if they were to sign Ayton to a lucrative new deal. Robert Sarver has said the right things publicly about his willingness to become a taxpayer, but it’s unclear what sort of appetite he’d have for a significant tax bill, especially if it spans multiple seasons. It also remains unclear how the NBA’s investigation into Sarver’s conduct may affect the ownership situation.
Additionally, league sources with knowledge of the situation have suggested to Fischer that Ayton may not be one of head coach Monty Williams‘ favorite players. Fischer has heard that Williams has “griped about Ayton’s waning focus.” The big man memorably played just 17 minutes in the final game of Phoenix’s season earlier this month, with Williams brusquely referring to the decision as “internal” in his post-game comments.
The Hawks, Pistons, and Trail Blazers have been the teams most frequently linked to Ayton by league personnel, according to Fischer, who says multiple team executives have also mentioned the Hornets and Spurs as potential suitors.
Some of those clubs would have the cap room necessary to make a serious bid for Ayton, but the Suns would control the process as a result of their ability to match any offer sheet. If a rival suitor is unsure whether or not Phoenix would match its offer for the 23-year-old, attempting to negotiate a sign-and-trade to acquire him outright might be the safe move. There’s a belief that the Suns would be open to that idea, Fischer writes.
Let him walk. Unless you can get Embiid, Jokic, or Karl Anthony Towns, you settle for the Kevon Looney types.
Nurkic and Jonas Valanciunas or Vucevic type guys only get you a big contract and decent or okay production. They won’t get you over the top like a wing or a guard.
Yes DeAndre Ayton is better than these three but he’s not Embiid, so no Embiid money.
He may be better than Embiid. Dude’s incredibly young still.
True but if they let him walk they can’t replace his salary with any players – even if they think they can skate by with low cost centers they’d still be better off trying to do a sign and trade to at least get something back
Or if not a S/T, then match an offer sheet and flip him in Feb
Suns owner won’t pay more than $30 million luxury tax next season or any season
Keep both McGee and Ayton = $77 million tax
SNT
The best offers would be from Warriors and Hawks
Warriors ???????
Okay Sillivan you crossed the line now. I rely on you for all the best information, scoops, contracts, salaries and player news…
What do you mean offer of DeAndre Ayton to the Warriors???? I can’t see that happening at all at anytime ever.
Honestly I could see the Warriors. At the minimum you’re going to get a very good player as we’ve already seen but I still believe he’s capable of more, possibly All-NBA level. I Don’t know what they’d give up though as he wants a max contract. I don’t see the Suns having much interest in Wiggins (nor should the Warriors trade him) as they’ve got Bridges in place and Green and Thompson for better or worse are near untouchable.
Yes well said. I just think for the center position the Warriors don’t want to spend all that money. They need the money for guards and wings. DeAndre ayton is a good basketball player there’s no doubting that. The Warriors would definitely improve with him in the lineup. Can you imagine all that shooting and cutting and defense and then also have a big man in the middle who can score? That would be insane. But like you said what salary goes out to match up with Ayton coming in?
Think outside of box
Kings get Wiggins and Payne (Kings help Suns to save tax)
Suns get Wiseman, Harrison Barnes and a Kings First
Warriors get Ayton and a piece of peanut (Warriors save tax)
That’s fair. I still just don’t see giving up a well above average two way wing that fits your system to a t. Unless it’s a situation like Barnes to make cap room for Durant.
If you get Barnes then Crowder becomes redundant. I like the idea
I was about to say that the Suns were getting hosed in this deal, but a 1st from the Kings is pretty valuable. Not sure it fits the Suns timeline, however, considering Paul’s age. I think the Suns would want something that makes them better now, and I don’t see Wiseman and Barnes making them a better team next year.
Suns can trade Kings future First and Barnes for another good player (plus tax saving)
Go on and on. (trade, trade, trade)
Why would the Warriors trade Wiseman and Wiggins for Ayton?
Yeah I think it makes the least sense for GSW – barring a historic collapse they’ll be in the Finals this year, so I think the likelihood of them flipping Wiggins is significantly lower
And flipping him for a high cost center? Doesn’t seem very Warriors like
Good return for PHX tho
Wiseman has zero value. Deal would be an exceptionally bad one for Kings. Other than that, great idea.
5 teams are likely to defeat Suns in the first round playoffs next season
Clippers Kawhi
Nuggets Murray and Porter
Grizzlies
Mavs
Warriors
Warriors will be far better than Suns, it won’t be close
Uncle Paul can’t even play 13 playoffs games in 28 days
Seems awfully familiar to what I’ve been saying for years in general, but also just these last couple of years about this Ayton situation. No revelations here
Orlando could let Bamba go, sign Ayton and draft Jabari Smith. Ayton is from the Bahamas.
I’d keep Bamba 9 to 14 per and draft Chet. People are saying Smith is the pick Orlando wants though. It makes sense I just prefer Chet.
Agree, Bamba is a keeper, draft Chet, both can shoot outside 3. Both would be a defensive nightmare. Miami beat Auburn in March Madness, Jabari didn’t take over, Miami was playing with 4 guards & a stretch 4. Orlando should trade Carter…
Or the Suns could swoop in, pay Bamba, then do a S&T with another club (or 2) for a PG and/or some added depth.
I can’t see Chet do what he has done down the road. He’s going to gain weight and bulk up which will slow him down. I like Smith. If you sign and trade Bamba, trade Wendell Carter, sign Ayton, draft Smith and you have more moves you can make. Carter Jr. for Ayton could work both ways.
If you’re not willing to pay a max contract to any center, why tf did you draft one first overall?
Good Point and The Suns have how
Many championships? But he maybe they thought he would be more dominant. He is not worth the max IMO.
Agreed, especially when Young and Doncic we’re in the same draft.
That wasnt James Jones that did that
Anyone know:
1 – What was the last offer sheet with a large salary (over 20 mm a year) a team actually signed with a RFA-?
2 – What was the last such offer sheet that wasn’t matched-?
3 – What was the last time a RFA moved via a S&T with that 20 mm plus salary to a team that had no ability to open up the cap space to sign him to an offer sheet with that salary-?
I think, to know any of these (especially 2) would require a good memory.
I doubt there are many, if any. RFAs are players coming off rookie contracts, which going back maxed out between 23-27/year. So I doubt a lot of teams were offering 20/per. Thing to remember with these signings is that the money stays on the signing teams books until the decision is made to match or not. They have 7 days. So if someone matches, you probably miss out on plans b and c in free agency by waiting 7 days and having your cap space locked up.
I remember Jeremy Lin got a wicked deal from Houston when he was an rfa with the Knicks…pretty sure that was only like 15/per tho
I just used the 20 mm as a proxy for a big contract (say 75% of max, whatever it might be at the time).
The matching period is now 2 days (not 7). Since that change, from 7, to 3 to 2, designed to increase the number of offer sheets, fewer offer sheets have been signed (not more). Not saying the matching period isn’t an issue for RFAs (it is and always has been), but it’s less so today, and thus not the main reason offer sheets are disappearing. It’s more basic, and really the same reason the cap space FA market is (at the high end, above MLE) morphing into a S&T market. The dearth of cap space in the hands of teams looking to add high priced FAs.
Idk, but Bogdon and Lauri were close in upper teens per year.
Lonzo Ball was moved last year to Chicago via SnT.
It’s like this. Teams think a center doesn’t have the value it once did. Well it matters what kind of center you have. How you use him in your offense. What kind of offense you have. And who are the focus of that offense.
You going to compare McGee and Biyombo to Ayton. Then you should be in another business. Cause you don’t know Ball. That’s craaaaaaAAzeee.
Ayton has given up a lot of his game. To fit in and give Suns what they ask of him. I’ve said it before, he is the next great Center. He should go where he will be the focus or one of on offense. Suns can get good value for him. Ayton will be a 2way big. I see him as a 22 and 10 plus great D. Love to have him on Knicks. Spurs would definitely know how to use him. Go get Your Money Big Fella.
Well said Al.
@Knick
I seldom agree with you but I agree to the extent that not all centers are created equal. Ayton had a .634 FG% last year (4th overall) and for his career .599 top 5 among active players. He’s much more mobile than those in that bunch (DeAndre Jordan, Capella, Gobert, Howard). He has an unstoppable baby hook over his lefty shoulder that allows him to shoot over other bigs. The problem is that despite having an incredible FG% he took less shots than Booker @21 and about the same as CP/11, MB/11 and Cam Payne/11. While his FG% DID rise since CP he was already a .57% shooter prior without him. But his shots (FGA) dropped from a career high 15 FGA to 10 to 12 attempts the last 2 years. A center is dependent on having the guard pass him the ball or offensive rebounding. I think DeAndre should be shooting 20 shots a game. I would bet he’d maintain a good FG% (55-60%) and see an uptick in free throws and totals of 25-30 points a game. His GAME is being minimized while CP distributes the ball amongst himself, Booker, Bridges and Payne. I think he SHOULD be compensated in recognition that he CAN do more, if allowed.
If you watched him at Arizona. You saw an elite offensive force. He shot from the outside and was Money on the blocks. He hasn’t done that In Phoenix. He’s really just done what’s he’s asked. That’s why I like him. I think he’s a team guy. And isn’t selfish.
I’ve seen this argument a few times on this board – that Ayton could be putting up bigger stats on another team, that he somehow isn’t being put in position to succeed in PHX
But he’s playing with the best PG arguably of all-time *right now*. If he went to MIN and played with D Angelo Russell is he going to be getting put in better positions to score?
I don’t buy it. The reason Ayton attempts fewer shots per game is because he’s primarily a post scorer and post-ups – even if you’re good at that them – tend to be less efficient than drives and spot up 3s.
Hence why we have 4 teams playing 5 out in the conference finals and why traditional centers are variable value propositions at max money.
If the Suns aren’t willing to pay him for lux tax reasons, why would they be willing to pay the guys they get in a sign and trade, which have to add up to 80% of his salary by rule?
They wouldn’t necessarily have to take back 80% of his salary. If a team had $25MM in cap room and was signing Ayton to a $29MM salary, sending out a player earning $4MM+ would be enough.
Even 80% is a significant savings
ie if you’re 30m over the tax, you pay 60m
If you’re 20m you pay 40m
So if PHX gets like 2 rotation guys at 80% of Ayton they can fill out their roster and save 20m total
Losing Ayton for nothing would pretty seriously hamper Phoenix’s ability to round out its roster next year IMO
(Also what Luke said)
People give the kings crap all the time about not picking Luka but if the suns don’t match his offer sheet, this should also be labeled as one of the biggest draft blunders as well.
Suns title window officially CLOSED. It closed the moment they prioritized Paul signing over Ayton’s. Paul is fantastic and great for the team marketing, but he is not the future and you simply cant win a title with Paul as #1-2.
He’s gone. Monte doesn’t believe in him.
Trade shamet and Saric. Both make 9 m a year. Resign Ayton, find a better starting of and find a young prospect to takes Paul’s place eventually. How hard is this.
PF*
Trading away depth always helps. /s
Trade Craig’s 5 mil too if it helps with all the above I posted. They can sign some free agents for the minimum. I’m sure people will sign and fill the roster. Resign Javale and BB. Payne,Crowder and Johnson as the main guys off the bench is good.
You would run a franchise like the trail blazers just like it has been the last six years. Sometimes you need to make a move.
Find a better starting power forward* and point guard prospect. Then sign some veterans for the minimum.
Who would love to see D Ayton on the Pistons?
They should offer the max
Or a sign and trade
obviously you make him get an offer and then match it, then trade him. Can lose him for zero.