The Phoenix Suns Suns have matched an offer from the Indiana Pacers for DeAndre Ayton, worth $133 million, for the centre to stay with the team for four more years, US media reported Thursday.
Ayton, who averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds last season, ended his contract with the Suns, but his status as a restricted free agent.
In this way, Phoenix had the possibility of keeping him in their ranks if he matched the highest offer he received from other NBA teams.
Although they chose him with the number one pick in the 2018 Draft, ahead of stars like Luka Doncic (Mavericks) or Trae Young (Hawks), the Suns resisted for a year to offer Ayton the maximum contract he aspired to.
This situation allowed the Pacers to present the centre with an offer of 133 million dollars for four years on Thursday that the Suns. However, they had a margin until Saturday quickly matched to prevent the player from going free, according to the network. ESPN and the digital media The Athletic.
This renewal means that Ayton, 23, cannot be transferred until at least January 15, and, without his consent, he cannot be sent to another team for a whole year.
This situation, added to Ayton's salary increase, may complicate Phoenix's options to recruit superstar Kevin Durant. At the end of June, he demanded that the Brooklyn Nets transfer him and place the Suns and the Miami Heat at the top of your favourite destinations.
The Suns, runners-up in the NBA in 2021, were the best team in the last regular phase (64 wins and 18 losses) but were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs against the Mavericks (4-2).
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