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The Phoenix Suns entered this offseason in deflating fashion. They were embarrassed on their home floor in Game 7 of the second round of the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks. As the game got out of hand, Deandre Ayton was seen on the bench with what appeared to be an obvious division between himself and coach Monty Williams. That led many to believe that the restricted free agent would likely be moved this offseason.
When news surfaced that Kevin Durant requested a trade out of Brooklyn, listing Phoenix as one of his preferred destinations, it was believed that a sign-and-trade package including Ayton, along with possibly Mikal Bridges, another player or two and some draft capital might come to fruition. However, the Nets asking price was reportedly ridiculously high and nothing came of it.
That left Ayton sitting there as free agency opened. Well, on Thursday, the Suns big man agreed to sign an offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers for four years, worth $133 million. That leaves the Suns until midnight on Saturday night to match the offer sheet of the Pacers. Here are the three reasons the Suns must match the offer sheet.
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3 Reasons the Suns Must Match the Pacers' $133 Million Offer Sheet
1. You Can't Get Nothing
The glaring obvious reason as to why the Suns have to match the offer sheet is just that, obvious. You cannot let a player of Ayton's stature just walk away for nothing. This is exactly why he is a restricted free agent and not unrestricted.
It's been reported that the Suns do not believe Ayton is a max-level player. But he is certainly closer to a max player than a player worth nothing. If they don't match the offer sheet, nothing is exactly what Phoenix will get.
Ayton was the former number one overall pick of the Suns back in the 2018 NBA Draft. He has averaged a double-double every year of his career, last year dropping 17 points and 10 rebounds per game. Ayton shot a career-high 63 percent from the floor last season. If Phoenix matches the Pacers offer, at the very least they get productivity on the court.
2. Still an Outside Chance at Landing Kevin Durant
As long as Kevin Durant remains in Brooklyn, there is always a chance. If the Suns match the offer sheet, a sign-and-trade is no longer possible. Phoenix would not be able to trade Ayton until at least January 15th. It's very likely that Durant has been traded already. But there is growing sentiment that the Nets might not move him.
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It's been reported that the Nets asking price has been exorbitant. They want a king's ransom for KD, and teams thus far have been unwilling. He is 34 years old, and has been dealing with injuries the last few years. It makes sense that his value is not where Brooklyn thought it would be.
The Miami Heat, the other team that Durant listed as his preferred destination, has a number of obstacles keeping them from closing a deal with Brooklyn. So, it is not entirely far fetched that Durant is still with the Nets in January.
If that is the case, Phoenix could find themselves in solid standing in the west and a chance of then trading for the future Hall of Fame forward.
3. Championship Aspirations
At the end of the day, this Suns team is ready to win a championship. They were just two wins away from the title two seasons ago. They actually won the first two games of that NBA Finals series, only to watch Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks dominate the rest of the series.
Even though last season did not go they way the Suns wanted to in the postseason, Phoenix was still a true title contender. They had the best record in the NBA last season, and that's with Ayton starting. He was an integral part of the team's success. It feels as though people have lost the notion of just how good Ayton has been in his brief pro career.
The Suns may not feel like he is a max player, but his role and production speaks a different story. Not only is an efficient scorer who is a very good rebounder, he took huge leaps forward last season as a three-point shooter. In today's NBA, it's borderline critical to have a big that can stretch the floor. Ayton shot just under 37 percent from beyond the arc last season.
Beyond that, he also is very versatile defensively. That is arguably even more important as the NBA has changed. The Suns would be wise not to forget just how good this team has been the last two years with Ayton a key player.
