<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-free-agency-nets-acquire-ex-pacers-duo-t-j-warren-and-edmond-sumner-2038-20220706-SPD-2038.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indiana Pacers</a> and <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-karl-anthony-towns-commits-to-new-four-year-224-million-supermax-deal-with-timberwolves-1935-20220701-SPD-1935.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deandre Ayton</a> have signed a four-year, $133 million max offer sheet, Ayton’s representative confirmed to ESPN. There will be a 48-hour window in which the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-free-agency-jalen-brunson-agrees-four-year-104-million-deal-with-knicks-1947-20220702-SPD-1947.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Phoenix Suns</a>, Ayton’s initial franchise, may decide whether or not to match the offer. 



A few hours remain until the clock strikes midnight, so the Suns and Pacers may attempt to hammer out a sign-and-trade deal before he does so. Before, the Phoenix side had been reluctant to offer the 23-year-old a deal with the team’s highest salary cap.



It was claimed that he sought one after helping lead the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals, but Phoenix did not think he was worth such an expensive deal. It was rumored that he sought one after helping lead the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals, but Phoenix did not feel he was worth such an expensive deal, according to reports. 



<h2>Suns-Ayton: Is it over?</h2>



To keep Ayton at this price point, they must either match the offer sheet or risk losing him for free. Once he signed the contract, he was left with no other choices. If they start the clock, they can no longer negotiate a sign-and-trade deal with Indiana or use Ayton as a signed-and-traded asset in discussions for Kevin Durant.



It will take until January 15, 2023, if Monty Williams’ roster want to trade Ayton rather than losing him for nothing, and even then, there are certain issues they will have to deal with. RFAs have the option of rejecting any trade for one year after their offer sheets are accepted, and they can’t be dealt to the club that signed them until that time has elapsed.

NBA Rumors: Deandre Ayton and Pacers agree four-year contract; Suns have 48 hours to match - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA Rumors: Deandre Ayton and Pacers agree four-year contract; Suns have 48 hours to match

Restricted free agent <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/which-is-the-most-valuable-nba-team-176-20220503-SPD-176.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deandre Ayton</a>‘s future with the <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-history-who-is-the-nbas-all-time-leading-scorer-165-20220502-SPD-165.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Phoenix Suns</a> is up in the air heading into the summer. 



Prior to the start of the season, the Suns passed on signing rookie guard Deandre Ayton to a contract extension. 



After more than a decade out of the luxury tax, Phoenix can match whatever deal Ayton signs in free agency, but doing so at the maximum amount he demands would put Phoenix into the tax for the first time in more than a decade.



<h2>Why Deandre Ayton and Suns couldn’t agree on contract extension</h2>



With Ayton entering the last year of his rookie contract, he’ll be a restricted free agency this summer after the Suns failed to sign him to either a rookie max extension or any other kind of extension at all.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“We’re disappointed. We wanted a max contract. He went out and was a soldier the whole year, played well, improved his statistics. So, we’re proud of him. A lot of guys handle things differently, but he was very mature about it.&nbsp;Things will work out for Deandre. He’s a valuable player. There’s other teams in the league as well. He’s a restricted free agent, so we’ll see how this process unfolds.“”””<cite>Deandre Ayton’s agent to SiriusXM NBA Radio</cite></blockquote>

Deandre Ayton

NBA Rumors: Deandre Ayton and Pacers agree four-year contract; Suns have 48 hours to match

NBA News: Deandre Ayton requested maximum deal from Suns

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