The Phoenix Suns have been focused on attempting to acquire NBA superstar Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets following his request for a trade. However, their attention will be shifted for the next 48 hours as they now have to decide what to do with starting center Deandre Ayton.
Ayton agreed to an offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers on a four-year, $133 million deal. It is the max deal that Ayton’s representation told Suns’ ownership they could find, as this is the largest offer sheet in the history of the NBA.
The previous largest came in 2017 when the Brooklyn Nets signed Otto Porter Jr. Ultimately, Porter returned to his team, the Washington Wizards, as they opted to match.
The largest contract signed by a player that was not matched was the four-year, $94.4 million deal the Dallas Mavericks signed Harrison Barnes to in 2016 when the Warriors signed Durant to a deal.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton, Indiana Pacers Agree To Max Offer Sheet
What will the Suns do now that the clock is ticking for them to match? They had until 11:59 PM Saturday to decide but didn’t need nearly that long. A
The Phoenix Suns matched the Indiana Pacers’ four-year, $133 million offer sheet for restricted free agent center Deandre Ayton, clearing the way for him to return to the franchise, his agents, Bill Duffy and Nima Namakian, told ESPN on Thursday night.
The Suns had until 11:59 p.m. ET on Saturday to match the largest offer sheet in the history of the NBA, but matched it immediately and ended the Pacers’ pursuit of Ayton.
Throughout negotiations, the Phoenix Suns never presented Deandre Ayton with a max contract offer. So, if they opt to match as Wojnarowski is reporting, they would be going above the price that they had set originally when discussing an extension with Ayton and his representation.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton, Indiana Pacers Agree To Max Offer Sheet
The goal for the Suns seemingly was to not have to sign Ayton to a five-year extension, but remain willing to match an offer sheet from another team since they would be limited to offering a four-year deal. The outcome played out precisely in that way.