Deandre Ayton is having another strong season for the Suns, and Evan Sidery of BasketballNews.com wonders if the center will finally get his bag from Phoenix.
Ayton will be a restricted free agent this summer in a weak class, and Sidery thinks it’s inevitable that one of the rebuilding teams with cap space will offer Ayton a four-year, maximum-salary contract. Sidery points to the Thunder, Spurs and Pistons as possibilities.
The question is, will the Suns match that offer? They can offer Ayton more years (five) and more money than other teams, but were reluctant to give him the max prior to the season.
Through 45 games (29.6 minutes) this season, Ayton is averaging 16.8 points, 10 rebounds and 1.4 assists on .642/.385/.718 shooting. The 38.5% from deep is deceptive, as he’s only attempted 13 threes all season, but he’s still a highly efficient scorer with great footwork.
Ayton has also continued his impressive defense from last season’s run to the Finals, Sidery writes. Ayton, Rudy Gobert, Anthony Davis, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are the only centers in the league allowing less than 45% of the shots they defend to end in points (min. 15 shots per game).
Here are a few more notes from Phoenix:
- Chris Paul won a team shooting contest Friday morning for the Suns, according to Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. “He kicked our ass. He beat us today. It was cool to see him out there. I was actually surprised. I didn’t think he was going to be out here shooting, but that’s a good sign,” Cameron Payne said. Paul is currently sidelined with a fractured thumb that he suffered last month and is scheduled to be reevaluated in early-to-mid April.
- Suns coach Monty Williams tempered expectations of a potential early return for Paul, per Rankin. “It’s awesome, but I wouldn’t get too excited about it,” Williams said before Friday’s game. “It’s just part of a normal progression for that type of injury. We’re happy about it, but we have to temper it until he’s able to get to 1-on-1, 3-on-3, 5-on-5.”
- Forward Cameron Johnson scored a career-high 38 points last Friday against the Knicks, including a three at the buzzer to win the game, but he’s missed four straight games since then. As Rankin writes in a separate article for the Arizona Republic, Johnson suffered a right quad contusion in the game after getting kneed by Mitchell Robinson as the Knicks center was contesting a shot. Williams said Johnson likely won’t practice Saturday, so his status for Sunday’s game against the Lakers sounds doubtful. Johnson is averaging career-highs of 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 26.3 minutes this season. He sports a stellar shooting line of .475/.448/.873. As a third-year former first-round pick, Johnson is eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer.
I wonder what a Johnson extension looks like. Could he get 4/80?
He definitely is going to get somewhere around that.
Throw a first round pick to dump Shamet
They don’t need to pay tax next season
“Grandmama Larry Johnson… “Grandpa” Ayton? Perhaps the Knicks make an offer.
I mean PHO throwing a lot of money to Bridges & they won’t pay Ayton?!? SMH!!!
That is what I call a dysfunctional franchise, right?
Make no mistake about it, Ayton will be paid the max, either by PHO or someone else!
Stats are like bikinis – they show a lot, but they don’t show everything. Ayton is a physical specimen, but doesn’t have the passion, desire, or leadership to warrant that kind of money.
Stats are like bikinis, they show a lot, but they don’t show everything.
Yes
So dysfunctional they were in the finals last year and leading the NBA this year. Who would you rather have your GM the current Suns regime or BRON BRON running your team? Maybe the Knicks group? How about Boston and all those picks they wasted? Hmmmm maybe Orlando? The Kings?
Off topic but nowhere else to put this statement…Coach Pop’s accomplishment tonight is simply vindication of his status as the best there’s ever been, not a revelatory accomplishment. No opposing arguments need to be heard, no dissenting voices have a leg to stand on. Pop has been the best ever for a long time and thankfully will now be recognized as such.
If Pop is the best ever coach, how about his protege Udoka for Coach of the Year this year?
Bridges was an absolute must!
Ayton would be crazy to leave Phoenix, but I can see them refusing to match a max offer. He would be an upgrade for the Bulls over Vooch, but the only way it could happen would be a sign n trade, and that seems unlikely.
Ayton’s comp list includes Tom Burleson but also Willis Reed. It includes Tom Owens but also Joel Embiid. At 23, you would think he has not peaked yet in his skill set.
Mitch Robinson is forever looking like he’s about to clobber someone accidentally.
Good to hear about CPaul. He has 0 titles, like Jae Crowder, who also has 0 ASGs.
Suns are wearing black unis, but at least they’re colorful black unis.