Deandre Ayton Signs Max Offer Sheet With The Indiana Pacers
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, restricted free agent Deandre Ayton has signed a four-year $133 million maximum offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers. This is the largest offer sheet in NBA history. The Phoenix Suns have 48 hours to match the offer sheet. If they do not match the offer Ayton will join the Pacers.
Since Ayton is a restricted free agent, he is not officially a Pacer. At this point, the Suns will have the ability to retain Ayton as long as they match the offer sheet that Ayton signed with Indiana. Now, it is unclear if the Suns match the offer or let Ayton walk. In the past, there were reports that the Suns were unwilling to give Ayton a max contract. At the same, it is unlikely they want to see walk Ayton without receiving any compensation.
Another important note is that Devin Booker recently signed a supermax extension in Phoenix. The deal is worth $214 million and will add another four years to his deal. Per Spotrac, Chris Paul is also set to make around $58 million over the next two seasons with an additional year worth $30 million, but that is not guaranteed. With that in mind, the Suns would have a lot of money on the books over the next two years if they sign Ayton. Even after Paul’s contract is off the books they would have over $60 million committed to Booker and Paul each season.
For the Pacers, Ayton would add him to their young core that includes Tyrese Haliburton and Benedict Mathurin. Indiana also has veterans Myles Turner and Buddy Hield that would help round out the roster. Ayton’s addition would certainly be noteworthy for the Pacers as he averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in 2021. At 23, he would be able grow with the rest of the Pacers’ young roster.
Update: The Phoneix Suns have matched the Pacers offer sheet.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Phoenix Suns have matched the Indiana Pacers’ offer sheet for Deandre Ayton. As a result, Ayton will remain a Sun. In addition, the Suns are now unable to trade Ayton without his consent for one year.
