Addressing reporters in his end-of-season press conference on Wednesday, Suns general manager James Jones didn’t make any guarantees about whether center Deandre Ayton will remain with the team long-term, but suggested that the club wants to bring back its top restricted free agent.
“As far as free agency and those things, we’ll address them at the proper time,” Jones said, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “That happens in July, end of June, but we want to continue to keep our consistency and continuity and keep the guys that we have and continue to help those guys improve upon the things that we did this year.”
Asked during an appearance on the Burns & Gambo show on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM about the Ayton situation, Jones conveyed a similar sentiment, stressing that the 23-year-old has been an important part of Phoenix’s recent success, as Jake Anderson of ArizonaSports.com relays.
“Deandre had an amazing season and he’s progressed every year and improved every year he’s been here, and so he’s a big part of what we do,” Jones said. “His future with us is something we’ll address at the proper time, which is in the future. He’s a free agent and I’ve said all along, he’s about the same things we’re about, which is winning. We’ll address it at the proper time.”
Here’s more from Jones on the Suns:
- Although the season didn’t end the way the team wanted it to, Jones said it “was not a disappointment” on the whole and that the early playoff exit won’t change the way the front office operates or result in any major overhauls. “I’m not going to change my approach to team building, which is to create and construct a team that has a ton of depth, a ton of skill and great chemistry,” Jones said, according to Rankin. “We just need to be better and I think after a summer where our guys improve, we will be.”
- Asked about potentially lucrative new contract extensions for Devin Booker and Cameron Johnson, Jones acknowledged that payroll increases are part of the territory for a team that has as much talent as the Suns do. “We’re focused on improving the team and those guys, they deserve the credit. They deserve the accolades and the financial rewards that come with being good players and productive players,” Jones said. “It doesn’t preclude us from doing anything. We’re not talking about a luxury tax issues or avoiding those things. That’s not something that’s going to prevent us from continuing to build this team and keep this team together.”
- The Suns don’t have any 2022 draft picks, but Jones said, “If there’s an opportunity to get back into the draft, we will,” according to Rankin. Acquiring a late draft pick could be appealing to the Suns since rookie second-rounders have the lowest possible luxury-tax hit — they’re penalized at a lower rate than an undrafted rookie with the same salary.
- The investigation into Suns owner Robert Sarver seems likely to be completed before next season, but Jones isn’t focused on that outcome, as Rankin relays. “It doesn’t change what we’re doing on the basketball operations,” the GM said. “Our job as execs and coaches and players is to assemble, build and lead a team to accomplish a goal of winning basketball games. That part of the job doesn’t change.”
S&T Ayton and they’ll have an even deeper team.
Ayton to the Hornets and they could net Rozier or Hayward + a couple young players. They could just keep him and pay him. They aren’t in a Ben Simmons situation where he wants out he just wants coin. He doesn’t care who pays him, that’s clear he just wants to get paid.
Knicks could move Randle + x?
Pacers could be interested if they are moving Turner. Detroit could be interested bc they are missing out on Chet.
Why would the suns want Hayward at all? That is a bad contract that you don’t want trading a good young player for. Rozier a couple draft picks and a good young player. Problem is how much Ayton gets in a sign and trade.
Trade Ayton for Vucevic and a future 1st round pick.
Bulls need a real center and not a guy who takes like 7 3PT Field goals per game. Ayton is a better defender and rebounder. He doesn’t need to be Joel Embiid out there.
Bulls can roll out Lonzo/Lavine/DDR/Williams/Ayton next year.
I’m really over Williams though, he will be nothing but a role player. It was a bad draft pick when you had other needs mainly at PG and at the 3.
Vu gives Phoenix another veteran who can space the floor and is a good passer. Also, it gives them cap flexbility since he’s a FA at the end of next year.
I hope Phoenix is dumb enough to do this but I think it’s not likely.
At least 10 teams will make offers for Ayton
Young playoffs teams like Grizzlies, Hawks, Warriors
Suns had no chance for title the moment they didnt extend Ayton. Everyone has opinion on his value, but his value is the mkt value and several teams will offer him max. Thus, Ayton was right and Suns were wrong. Suns were utilizing him as #3, #4 option and Ayton wasnt going to sacrifice his body to risk his free agency. TERRIBLE costly decision by Suns last offseason! It was a weak move on their part.
It’s terrible if he gets offered max, but there’s no guarantee of that, so hold off on the caps lol. It was risky both ways.
I like that he goes FA so everyone will find out.
Agree on his value being what another will pay, and it only takes one other.
No doubt that his nonextension affected Suns postseason run. So was it a good financial decision for the Suns?
Good point, but I think CPaul hurt them in the playoffs; and Ayton was not unhappy except in not getting fed the ball more when the backcourt did not dominate.
His personal team went for it and the results are not in yet. I bet he likes having taken the gamble.
I might see differently probably if I thought he was worth a 5-yr max.
CP3 just really needs to be the facilitator and floor general. He should be the 3rd scorer on the floor. Booker is 1 and Ayton is 2. They are not feeding Ayton enough. Dude can play. Deserves to be paid. Keep the young 4 together. Booker, Ayton, Bridges & Cam Johnson. Just continue to build around them. Might need a better PG to groom behind CP3 tho. Can’t wait for FA period to start. Go SUNS!!!
Suns will max Ayton unless they can get a high scoring ball handler and a defensive big. They can always run it back for a year and then trade him (or another big contract) next offseason to duck below the tax line.
Why on earth would they wanna duck below the tax line???
Are they trying to compete or not?
Teams under the tax line don’t compete for rings as a matter of fact!
The Suns have competed the last two years without paying tax. Unlike Balmer and Tsai, there’s no guarantee Suns will pay the tax more than once. The point is there is no risk to giving him a max. They only have to pay the tax and find out if it’s worth it.