One way or another, it looks like Phoenix Suns star Deandre Ayton is going to get a massive payday as the restricted free agent has agreed to an absolutely massive offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers.
Ayton has agreed to a four-year, $133 million maximum offer sheet with the Pacers, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, marking the largest offer sheet in NBA history.
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 ramifications for this deal are massive as the Suns now have 48 hours to either match or allow Ayton to go to the Pacers for nothing in return. Now that Ayton signed the offer sheet, Ayton can no longer signed-and-traded and he has veto rights on any trade in the next calendar year. If the Suns do match the deal, Ayton cannot be traded to the Pacers for the next year.
More than that, this move effectively keeps the Suns from being able to trade for NBA megastar Kevin Durant, as they will be unable to use Ayton as a trade piece.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Ayton’s agents have been confident that they could find a maximum contract offer for Ayton in the marketplace. Up to this point, the Suns had not made Ayton an offer. Now, if they aren’t prepared to pay him a max contract, they will lose him without any compensation.
No matter what happens, Ayton is now guaranteed an absolutely massive payday and the NBA world had plenty to say about it.
DeAndre Ayton got the BAG https://t.co/OiJ1bWB2w0 pic.twitter.com/U0Af0vRPMS
— Caesars Sportsbook & Casino (@CaesarsSports) July 14, 2022
Deandre Ayton just put all the pressure on the Suns. https://t.co/89nrn6hzoU
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 14, 2022
Wow. Didn't think it would get to this point but here we are.
Suns have to match now. No choice. https://t.co/H2urHlbrtn
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) July 14, 2022
https://twitter.com/haralabob/status/1547656888585637890?s=20&t=Rzz3_iJuNuUjkX9lvB1a3w
Suns 2-year run is over.
Losing #1 pick in the Doncic draft for nothing?
And now can’t trade for Durant?
Brutal. https://t.co/Lqvqw0AV7h— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) July 14, 2022
This essentially takes Deandre Ayton off board as a trade chip for the Suns in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes. Now going to be tough for Phoenix to put together an offer that meets the Nets’ demands. https://t.co/7Kbzl8uXjL
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) July 14, 2022
Given the history of the Pacers franchise in free agency, this is a significant moment. Will be fascinating to see A) how the Pacers get to the cap space needed to actually offer this or B) if this is a verbal agreement that turns into a sign-and-trade or something else. https://t.co/QzKgGUeTXt
— Tony East (@TonyREast) July 14, 2022
We now await Phoenix’s decision on whether to match the deal and keep Ayton or allow him to leave for Indiana.
[Woj]
