Phoenix Suns

Having established himself as one of the best centers in the NBA, Deandre Ayton has signed a four-year, $133 million maximum offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

RFA center Deandre Ayton has agreed to a four-year, $133M maximum offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers, his agents Nima Namakian (Innovate Sports) and Bill Duffy (BDA Sports + WME Sports) tell ESPN. The Phoenix Suns have 48 hours to match the largest offer sheet in NBA history.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 14, 2022

The Phoenix Suns will have two days to decide if they want to match the offer or allow Ayton to join the Pacers.

In order to make room for Ayton, Wojnarowski noted Indiana will be making some roster moves:

The Pacers are waiving guard Duane Washington and waiving and stretching the three players who arrived in the Boston trade for Malcolm Brogdon: Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan and Nik Stauskas, sources tell ESPN. That'll create the cap space to sign Ayton to the max offer sheet.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 14, 2022

Last offseason was the first time that Ayton was eligible for a rookie extension. The 23-year-old did have a $16.4 million qualifying offer remaining on his deal for the 2022-23 season if he wanted to play out the string with Phoenix and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

No deal materialized before the Oct. 18 deadline because of differences between the two sides about Ayton's value.

Per Wojnarowski and ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Ayton wanted a five-year max that would have guaranteed him $172.5 million plus escalators.

Wojnarowski and Windhorst noted the Suns "raised the concept" of a shorter max deal in the three-to-four-year range but never formally presented an offer.

The stalemate between Ayton and the Suns came amid a series of deals for several other top players in the 2018 draft, including No. 3 pick Luka Doncic and No. 5 pick Trae Young.

Extensions so far:

3: L. Doncic: 5/$207.1 million
5: T. Young: 5/$172.5 million
7: W.Carter Jr.: 4/$50 million
10: Mk.Bridges: 4/$90 million
11: S. Gilgeous-Alexander: 5/$172.5 million
14: M. Porter Jr.: 5/$172.5 million
27: R.Williams: 4/$48 million

Total of $913M

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) October 17, 2021

The Suns aren't known for being a high-spending organization, but team governor Robert Sarver stepped out of his comfort zone after a trip to the NBA Finals in 2021. Phoenix re-signed Chris Paul to a four-year deal worth up to $120 million in August.

Devin Booker previously signed a rookie max extension in 2018. The five-year, $158.2 million deal keeps him under contract to the Suns through the 2023-24 season. Mikal Bridges, who was selected in the same draft as Ayton, received a four-year, $90 million extension.

Ayton has come a long way since his rookie campaign in 2018-19. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft looked like a disappointment out of the gate despite posting a solid stat line with 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

Some of the criticism in that first season was aimed at his porous defense. Selecting him at No. 1 also looked bad after Doncic and Young emerged as star players.

After some evolution in his style of play during the 2019-20 season, Ayton became a star for the Suns during their run to the NBA Finals. His scoring average was a career-low 14.4 points per game, but he was more efficient with a career-high 62.6 field-goal percentage and 65.3 true shooting percentage.

Taking on the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs, Ayton's defense was instrumental in the Suns' six-game series victory. The Lakers offense averaged 42.6 points in the paint with the 23-year-old on the court compared to 58.5 when he was on the bench.

Things didn't end well for Ayton or the Suns in 2022. They lost in the Western Conference semifinals to the Dallas Mavericks, including a 123-90 defeat in Game 7.

Ayton only played 17 minutes in the final game, and head coach Monty Williams was vague on why it happened.

Monty Williams on Deandre Ayton only playing 17 minutes tonight: "It's internal."

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) May 16, 2022

The evolution of Ayton's game was instrumental in the Suns' becoming one of the best teams in the Western Conference. His age and all-around skill set suggest he has only scratched the surface of his full potential.

The Pacers' moves have been all over the place of late, and it's hard to tell what the organization's plan is.

Given that the key players they have acquired dating back to the Feb. 10 trade deadline are Tyrese Haliburton and Ayton, who are both under age 24, it's safe to assume general manager Kevin Pritchard is trying to toe the line between rebuilding and being a playoff contender.

The Pacers have finished under .500 in each of the previous two seasons. Their 25-57 mark in 2021-22 was their worst since 1984-85 (22-60).

Defense was the primary issue in Indiana last season. The unit ranked 26th in points allowed per game (114.9) and 28th in rating (118.1).

Ayton has transformed himself into a good defensive center who should make for an immediate upgrade in Indiana.

He isn't a dynamic scoring option, but his ability in the pick-and-roll makes him a valuable addition for a Pacers roster in flux.

As long as Ayton's Game 7 against the Mavs was a blip on the radar rather than indicative of some larger problem, the Pacers could emerge as a borderline playoff contender with the young center as a key piece of their starting lineup.

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker has been named the cover athlete for NBA 2K23, which will release worldwide on Sept. 9.

AHHHHHHHHH @NBA2K @2K pic.twitter.com/Hxg9gDGiFx

— Book (@DevinBook) July 7, 2022

2KSports made the announcement on Thursday, with Booker calling it "a dream come true."

"I’ve been a huge NBA 2K fan since I was a kid, and it’s surreal to finally join the exclusive club of basketball greats who’ve been cover athletes," Booker said.

Booker is the first Suns player to be featured on the cover of an NBA 2K game since the series launched in 1999. The 25-year-old is a three-time All-Star and was named to the All-NBA first team for the first time in his career after the 2021-22 season.

Booker will be featured on the standard edition and the cross-gen digital deluxe edition of the game.

In addition to those releases, 2K is also dropping a Michael Jordan Edition and Championship Edition. Both versions will feature the Chicago Bulls icon on the cover.

There is also a limited version of the WNBA Edition that will be made available only in the United States and Canada as a GameStop exclusive. WNBA legends Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird will be on the cover.

On his cover co-stars, Booker said, "I’m also honored to share this year’s covers with the iconic Michael Jordan, who changed the game for all players who came after him, as well as two of the all-time WNBA GOAT’s, Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, who continue to make a huge impact on the game."

This marks the second consecutive year that 2K has featured a WNBA star on the cover of a version of the game. Two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker was selected to grace the cover of NBA 2K22 that celebrated the 25th anniversary of the league.

2K is also partnering with Every Kid Sports to make a $100,000 donation to support greater representation for women in basketball.

The standard edition will retail for $59.99 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC and $69.99 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S. The Michael Jordan Edition will retail for $99.99 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC.

The Championship Edition will be available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S and PC for $149.99. It also comes with a 12-month subscription to NBA League Pass for new and existing customers.

While Deandre Ayton has been viewed as a potential trade chip in Kevin Durant talks, the restricted free-agent center has reportedly been exploring his options elsewhere.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on the Hoop Collective podcast (44:50 mark) that Ayton has taken meetings with teams that "are not involved in potential Durant negotiations." It's unclear whether any of those teams have made formal contract offers.

The Indiana Pacers were mentioned as a potential suitor that could theoretically carve out a max or near-max contract without having to involve the Suns. The Pacers' level of interest in using their cap space to sign Ayton was not established, but Windhorst mentioned a potential sign-and-trade with Myles Turner going to Phoenix.

Ayton's future is currently stuck in limbo given the lack of cap space available around the league and his status as a restricted free agent.

If the ultimate goal is to force the Suns' hand, Ayton could sign a below-market offer sheet and essentially force his way back into the fold. Phoenix would not be able to use Ayton in a sign-and-trade if he inks an offer sheet.

However, that would be a move made more out of pettiness than long-term financial planning. Ayton stands to receive a maximum or near-max contract once the dust settles, either in a deal to return to Phoenix or as part of a sign-and-trade for a star.

The relationship between Ayton and the Suns has strained over their lack of urgency to lock him up long term, but it behooves both sides to work together. Phoenix is not going to lose a key piece of its rotation without replacing him with at least equal value, and Ayton's path to financial rewards is best paved through patience.

Don't expect the situation to be resolved until Durant's next team is decided.

The Phoenix Suns have emerged as a strong contender in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, but it appears the Brooklyn Nets will have to lower their asking price to get a deal done.

"From what I'm hearing from the Nets' side, they want at least two All-Stars, which means they would want Devin Booker," Stephen A. Smith said Thursday on SportsCenter. "From what I'm being told on Phoenix's side, there's no way in hell they're giving up Devin Booker. He's not going anywhere."

The Suns and Booker agreed to a four-year, $214 million supermax contract extension at the 6 p.m. ET opening of free agency, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. The deal will tie Booker to Phoenix through the 2027-28 season.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Suns and Miami Heat were among the list of destinations Durant has on his "wish list" as he seeks to leave Brooklyn. Durant requested a trade earlier in the day Thursday in a phone call with Nets owner Joe Tsai, a straining of the relationship that transpired over the course of the last several months.

After signing a four-year extension with the Nets last August, Durant appeared committed to Brooklyn for the duration of his prime. However, the near-constant misery that was the team's 2021-22 season—highlighted by the fiasco surrounding Kyrie Irving's vaccination status—clearly impacted how Durant saw his future. Wojnarowski reported that Durant had not spoken to the Nets front office in several weeks before requesting the trade.

The Suns have a strong package they could offer built around Mikal Bridges, Deandre Ayton (via sign-and-trade), Cam Johnson and several draft picks. That said, it's unclear if Bridges or Ayton will ever develop into All-Stars, and the Suns' draft picks will be projected in the 20s for the foreseeable future. It's possible the Nets could target a young talent that has already made at least one All-Star team.

That said, it would make little sense for Phoenix to include Booker in any trade talks. The entire point of a trade for Durant would be to pair him with Chris Paul and Booker to form the NBA's most formidable Big Three.

Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns have agreed to terms on a four-year, $214 million supermax contract extension, according to The Athletic and Stadium's Shams Charania.

The Phoenix Suns and All-NBA guard Devin Booker are finalizing a four-year, $214 million supermax contract extension that he’s set to sign as soon as next week, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

Booker will also be the cover athlete for NBA 2K23, per sources.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Phoenix selected Booker with the 13th overall pick in the 2015 draft, and he has been a staple in the lineup ever since. During his 2015-16 rookie season, he averaged 13.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

The Kentucky product elevated his game over the next three seasons and finally broke through with his first All-Star selection in 2019-20 when he averaged 26.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game.

Since then, Booker has been an All-Star in each of the last two seasons and had a career year during the 2021-22 campaign, averaging a career-high 26.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game in addition to 4.8 assists.

That resulted in him being selected to the All-NBA First Team alongside Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic.

With Booker locked up, the Suns can shift their focus to putting some pieces around him and point guard Chris Paul to make the franchise a title contender, with Kevin Durant assuredly at the top of the franchise's wishlist following Thursday's trade demand.

The Brooklyn Nets reportedly have interest in Phoenix Suns restricted free-agent center Deandre Ayton via a potential sign-and-trade deal.

According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, the Nets "could" consider putting a sign-and-trade package together for Ayton, which would include guard Joe Harris.

Mannix noted that while it is possible Ayton remains in Phoenix, the Suns don't want to give him the max contract he desires, which has led to the talented center weighing other options.

Although it was assumed there would be plenty of interest in Ayton in free agency, Mannix reported that one of his top potential suitors, the Detroit Pistons, have seen their interest cool after they landed center Jalen Duren in the draft and took on salary dumps from the New York Knicks.

The Atlanta Hawks were also once thought to be in the running for Ayton, but that may no longer be the case after they made a blockbuster trade for guard Dejounte Murray with the San Antonio Spurs.

Mannix noted that while there is a "growing sense" it may be time for the Suns and Ayton to part ways, there is also some belief that Phoenix would match an offer sheet for Ayton even if it is for the max since the Suns do not want to lose him for nothing.

A sign-and-trade with a team such as the Nets would allow the Suns to move on from Ayton while also acquiring assets in return, such as Harris and draft compensation.

The Nets find themselves in a unique situation since it was thought they were in line to lose guard Kyrie Irving in free agency and potentially trade superstar forward Kevin Durant, but that changed when Irving somewhat surprisingly opted into the final year of his deal this week.

If the Nets keep Irving instead of attempting a sign-and-trade, it would make sense for them to go after another big fish to go with Irving, KD and Ben Simmons in an effort to make a run at a championship.

Additionally, the Nets may lose Andre Drummond in free agency, leaving a huge hole at center that Ayton could fill.

The Suns selected Ayton with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, and while he has never been named an All-Star, the 6'11" big man has been a productive player.

In 236 career regular-season games, the former University of Arizona standout has averaged 16.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 block while shooting 59.9 percent from the field.

Ayton was right around those averages last season, putting up 17.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.7 blocks per game. He also shot a career-best 63.4 percent from the floor.

During the Suns' run to the NBA Finals in 2021, Ayton played a sizable role, averaging 15.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 22 postseason games. He was a strong playoff performer last season as well with 17.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.

Ayton would add another dimension to Brooklyn's lineup and further cement the Nets as legitimate contenders.

Meanwhile, Ayton's departure would leave the Suns with a major hole in the frontcourt, but Harris would perhaps be a good fit alongside Devin Booker and Chris Paul, as he has made 2.1 three-pointers per game and shot 43.9 percent from beyond the arc during his eight-year NBA career.

Harris is coming off a lost season, as an ankle injury limited him to just 14 games.

Although the Toronto Raptors have been linked to restricted free agent Deandre Ayton, there have reportedly been "no talks" with the Phoenix Suns about a potential sign-and-trade deal.

Sportsnet's Michael Grange reported Thursday an agreement between the teams would be "difficult," in large part because of the financial hurdles related to Ayton's compensation.

Phoenix extended a qualifying offer to the 23-year-old center, which includes a $16.4 million base salary and $31.6 million salary-cap hold, and he could receive a max offer sheet in free agency. The Suns can match any proposal or work out a sign-and-trade pact.

Toronto makes sense as a destination for Ayton on paper as it could use a traditional center to pair with Pascal Siakam in the frontcourt.

It would require a costly trade along with a lucrative long-term extension, however, so the Raptors will likely go in a different direction to fill that void.

Grange noted San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl, a Toronto first-round pick in 2016 whom the team has tried to reacquire in the past, is a potential target. The Spurs are likely heading toward a rebuild after reportedly sending Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks for a haul of draft picks and Danilo Gallinari.

Meanwhile, the Ayton situation has the potential to shift the balance of power in the West depending on either what the Suns get in return or how they use the financial flexibility created by his potential exit.

The University of Arizona product been a key cog for Phoenix since the organization selected him with the first overall pick in 2018. He's averaged 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 59.9 percent from the field across 236 career games.

He makes a limited impact in other areas, though. He's not a proven distributor (career average of 1.6 assists) or high-end shot blocker (1.0 blocks), and the 6'11" center has yet to expand his offensive game to match the evolving NBA, attempting just 19 threes in 2021-22.

As the league continues to shift away from old-school 5s, it's fair to wonder how much value Ayton carries, which is likely why the Suns have been hesitant to offer a max contract.

That said, for a team that expects to remain in the championship conversation after finishing an NBA-leading 64-18 in the regular season, moving him without having a plan in place to acquire another key contributor would be a massive risk.

The bottom line is there will probably be several clubs willing to pay Ayton the max if the Suns won't, but it sounds like the Raptors won't be one of them.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on the most recent The Hoop Collective podcast that he would "keep an eye on Indiana" in regards to restricted free agent Deandre Ayton and that the Pacers were interested in a potential Ayton trade before last season's February trade deadline (38:20 mark), though the Suns didn't want to break up their core at the time.

He added that the Minnesota Timberwolves are "another team to watch" in the Ayton sweepstakes (39:20 mark).

A few things could stand in that potential pursuit for both teams, however.

For one, the Suns can match any offer Ayton receives as a restricted free agent. While it's a bit questionable if the Suns would want to match a max offer to Ayton—seeing as they could have extended him for max money and didn't go that route—it's hard to imagine the Suns letting him walk without getting anything in return, either.

The other impediment to an outright signing for either team is cap space. The Timberwolves have an active roster cap currently of $127 million, per Spotrac, so they would need to clear large contracts off their books before having the room to offer him a max deal in the range of four years and $140 million or anything near that type of number.

The Pacers, on the other hand, are at an active roster cap of $95 million, so clearing the space needed would be less of an exercise for them.

The other option, of course, is a sign-and-trade. Minnesota won't give up Karl Anthony-Towns or Anthony Edwards, likely leaving them with D'Angelo Russell to offer the Suns.

Given that the Suns have an All-Star backcourt of Chris Paul and Devin Booker already, such a prospective deal would likely have to involve a third team. It's hard to see Russell moving the needle much for the Suns unless they believe they can flip him down the line.

The Pacers, on the other hand, could build a package around center Myles Turner, giving the Suns an instant replacement for Ayton. Turner would be a downgrade, but if the alternative is losing Ayton for nothing or signing him to an offer sheet well above their valuation, it might be a worthwhile option for the Suns to consider.

Of course, the Suns and Ayton could also simply come to an agreement on a new deal and make all of the speculation moot. But if that doesn't happen, the Pacers and Timberwolves are reportedly two teams who could enter the mix.

The Phoenix Suns and center Deandre Ayton, an impending restricted free agent, have reportedly found "no traction" in discussions about a potential contract extension.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday on SportsCenter the Suns front office has been hesitant about making a lucrative long-term commitment to the 2018 first overall pick.

"Phoenix has simply decided they don't value Deandre Ayton on a max contract," Woj said. "The good news for Deandre Ayton is a number of teams around the league do, and I think as a restricted free agent most teams are expecting right now as they jockey to get involved with Deandre Ayton is a sign-and-trade scenario."

The NBA insider added it's become "more increasingly likely" Ayton starts next season with another team as free agency's negotiating period is set to begin Thursday.

Ayton's contract situation has been boiling under the surface for a while. The sides could have agreed to an extension last offseason, and the 23-year-old University of Arizona product expressed frustration in October when he arrived to training camp.

"I love Phoenix, but I'm really disappointed we haven't really gotten a deal done yet," Ayton said. "We were two wins away from winning a championship and I just really want to be respected, to be honest. To be respected like my peers are being respected by their teams."

After reaching the 2021 NBA Finals, the Suns posted the league's best record during the 2021-22 regular season at 64-18. They were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks, though.

Ayton averaged 17.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 63.4 percent from the field across 58 games during the regular season. He ranked 88th in FiveThirtyEight's WAR (4.0).

The Suns extended a qualifying offer to the 6'11'' post player, which gives them the right to match any offer he receives in free agency. Woj noted there are "several" teams that may offer a max contract, which could lay the groundwork for trade talks.

Teams linked to Ayton earlier in the offseason included the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors.

While there's no doubting the center's efficient offensive contributions and ability to clean up the glass, it's fair to debate exactly how much value he carries in the modern game.

Ayton doesn't stretch the floor (19 three-point attempts in 2021-22), isn't much of a distributor from the post (1.4 assists per game) and saw his number of blocked shots reach a career low last season (0.7 per game).

So, while it may seem weird for the Suns to potentially move away from a core player who's helped the team enjoy high-end success the past two years, there's an argument Ayton has a ceiling for the type of impact he can make and the max-contract money could be better spent elsewhere.

It sounds like Phoenix may be willing to make that bet if a big offer comes along during free agency.

With the conclusion of the NBA draft on Thursday, the offseason now turns to free agency and the start of the new league year on July 1.

And two of the most intriguing names to follow are Phoenix Suns center and restricted free agent Deandre Ayton and Dallas Mavericks point guard and unrestricted free agent Jalen Brunson.

For both players, the most logical team for each to sign with is their current one. The Suns are a true contender, and Ayton's rim-rolling skills and ability to defend on the perimeter fit well with the team's star duo of Chris Paul and Devin Booker.

And the Mavericks are a burgeoning power in the West, fresh off a berth in the Conference Finals. Brunson thrived in Jason Kidd's first year on the job, averaging career highs in points (16.3 PPG) and assists (4.8 APG), proving to be an excellent complement to superstar Luka Doncic.

But what if they don't return?

A whole slew of teams have been rumored to have interest in Ayton this summer, including the Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers.

If Ayton's main goals are to sign a max contract and have a bigger offensive role—two things the Suns may be unable to offer him or uninterested in offering him—the Pistons could sign him outright to a max deal after clearing cap space in the Jerami Grant trade. He would instantly be one of the centerpieces of the franchise alongside Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, and Detroit's future prospects would look very, very bright.

The downside for Ayton would be going from a title contender to a young team thick in the middle of a rebuild. And even if he's comfortable with that change, the Suns will have the option to simply match a max offer and retain Ayton.

So while the Pistons feel like the front-runner, it's hardly a foregone conclusion.

The Thunder probably fell out of the running after drafting Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren at No. 2 overall on Thursday.

The Raptors would be an interesting fit, though they have plenty of mouths to feed in Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Scottie Barnes and OG Anunoby. Ditto for the Hawks, which already have Clint Capela anyway. There would probably be too much overlap between Ayton and Julius Randle in New York, making that a wonky fit, though that hasn't stopped the Knicks from making head-scratching moves in free agency in the past.

But the Hornets are an intriguing option. LaMelo Ball and Ayton would make for a thrilling pick-and-roll pair, while the Hornets have a young core that came close to the playoffs this year and play an exciting brand of basketball.

The issue for the Hornets will be trying to retain restricted free agent Miles Bridges while also finding a sign-and-trade with the Suns to land Ayton that Phoenix will agree to this summer. It's hard to imagine the Suns being too excited about getting Gordon Hayward back in such a deal, so Charlotte will have to get creative, but Ayton and the Hornets are a natural fit.

The Trail Blazers could also rebuild on the fly by adding Ayton to pair with Damian Lillard in the pick-and-roll, building a core around that pair, Grant and Anfernee Simons, though taking on Grant's salary likely has taken the Blazers out of contention.

Then there's Brunson, with consistent rumors that the Knicks covet him. It makes sense—the Knicks desperately need a true point guard, and he would be a huge upgrade in that regard. The 25-year-old wouldn't turn a New York roster devoid of a true superstar into a title contender, but he might help them return to the playoffs.

The Knicks also cleared Kemba Walker's expiring $9.2 million salary in a draft-night trade, adding even more cap space to their coffers. And they added a number of future conditional first-round picks, which could be ammunition if players like Kyrie Irving or Donovan Mitchell become available in trade talks (sign-and-trade talks in Irving's instance).

Brunson will likely have other suitors, but this feels like it will come down to the Mavericks or Knicks. Staying put in Dallas is his best option from a contending standpoint—at least for now, depending on what other moves the Knicks might be envisioning—but anything can happen come free agency.