The Suns didn’t work out a rookie-scale extension with Deandre Ayton before Monday’s deadline, but that doesn’t mean the center is on the trading block, writes Sean Deveney of Heavy. Phoenix wasn’t willing to offer Ayton a maximum deal over five years, but the team isn’t looking to make major changes after reaching the NBA Finals last season.
“That is definitely not the case yet,” a rival general manager told Deveney. “The Suns still have a lot of the leverage in this. But if they really don’t think the situation is going to change, then yeah, they’d have to consider maybe making a move sooner than later.”
The Suns can make Ayton a restricted free agent next summer by submitting a qualifying offer, which would give them the opportunity to match any offer he receives. However, no team will be able to give him the contract he wanted from Phoenix, which would have covered five years at an estimated $172MM+.
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Rookie forward Jonathan Kuminga is making “good progress” with a strained right patellar tendon and will be re-evaluated on Friday, the Warriors announced (via Twitter). Kuminga suffered the injury in an October 6 preseason game.
- Jeff Dowtin modeled his game by watching Stephen Curry, so he’s thrilled to be on the same team as his favorite player, per Connor Letourneau of The San Francisco Chronicle. The Warriors claimed Dowtin off waivers Monday and put him into one of their two-way slots. “Honestly, I haven’t wrapped my mind around the fact that we’re teammates,” Dowtin said. “Right now, I’m just kind of focused on playing basketball.” Dowtin has already talked to Damion Lee and Juan Toscano-Anderson, who both earned regular roster spots after starting as two-way players, to get advice on how to follow that same path.
- After sitting out the season opener, Kings forward Marvin Bagley III saw 10 minutes of action Friday night, notes Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. Bagley, whose agent criticized the team this week for keeping Bagley out of its rotation, was pressed into service because Maurice Harkless missed the game with soreness in his left hip. “We’re here to win games,” coach Luke Walton said. “So, Moe goes down, next man up, and Marvin, I thought, he’s had a good week of practice. He stayed ready and I thought he went in there and did some nice things for us tonight.”
Phoenix no longer looks like the team with the second best record in the NBA that they were last season. Even though they beat the Lakers, a team that looks even worse than them right now, the Suns will have to compete with at least a half dozen other good teams in the West in their attempt to finish with one of the top 4 seeds.
If PHO doesn’t offer Ayton the 5 year max, only a 3-4 year max, he must sign with another team for the same 4 years, I mean his hometown loyalty must be rewarded by a 5 year offer, if PHO don’t believe in him, he mustn’t believe in PHO either, just the way it is!
Just hope he gets traded or gets out of there asap!
Restricted Free Agent, if he gets offered the max elsewhere Suns will have a catch to match it and then he won’t have a choice where to go unfortunately.
NBA is a players league but when your young it’s hard to leave the team that drafted you
I would bet if Ayton has the same season as last this year, the Phoenix will give him the 5 year max, if I were him I would only sign with Phoenix til 2025 or when the new tv deal kicks in and go get a wild chandler parsons joakim Noah contract like that 1 offseason where everyone got paid if players who were completely done like Noah
ha. tyler johnson bag.
Ayton can turn down the restricted offer and leave. He should have taken what was offered. He is not a full max guy. Phx was generous with the other two who signed.
Nice try, Sarver! Still short-changing your players like in the good ol’ bottom feeder and tanking days, I see.
If you just look at his PER and The Who’s who of that range tell me what you see… MPJ, John Collins, Sabonis, Richard Holmes, Jarrett Allen. The first 3 guys are outside threats and got paid max. The latter have a one dimensional game and got paid accordingly. First 3 are better scorers too. 5 years 20M per is what I thought was fair value.
Ayton has no leverage here. He can pout if he wants, but if they start going deep and he doesn’t play 100% it’s a real bad look and he still needs the contract. Not sure he can pull the same crap as Ben Simmons with CP3 on the team.
Why would he do that. The guy is 23 yrs old. He will get paid next year. If not by Suns then by another team. Nothing like Ben, way off dude.
Suns owner has his own troubles. He’s not thinking about paying Ayton now. He needs to cover his Arr. So it’s all hands on deck. To help him survive. This could ruin Suns run this yr. Ayton too talented not to get his. Just might be with another team.
Hope Kuminga is ok. Really want to see him play.
Always liked Bagley. I still like Bagley. Just turned 22 yrs old. He hasn’t handled it well. Neither has the Kings. He needs to get out.
Morey save your job. Haliburton, Buddy, Bagley, #1 pick >>for>> Ben, Maxey, and their agent. Do it already. Save your career and season.