One of the biggest talking points for the Phoenix Suns during the offseason was their decision not to offer a max deal for big man Deandre Ayton. Contract talks have stalled between the Suns and the 23-year-old rising star and at this point, more than a few folks are questioning why Phoenix has been acting the way they have been with Ayton.
In a piece published by Sam Amick of The Athletic, it is being reported that the most significant factor behind the Suns not putting a five-year max extension on the table for Ayton has a lot to do with a potential trade deal. To be clear, it does not look like Phoenix has any intention of trading Ayton anytime soon (why would they?). However, they are still keeping their options open.
If they had given Ayton the designated rookie max extension like they did Devin Booker in the summer of 2018, that move would have limited their ability to pursue stars on other teams who have already been given designated rookie max deals. Per the rules of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, teams can’t have more than two players on designated rookie max extensions. If they have hopes of adding even more star power here — and it seems clear they do — that factor does make some sense.
The report also states that Ayton's camp claims that the Suns front office never made them aware of this rationale during contract negotiations. Would it have mattered, though? Ayton has established himself as a key player for Phoenix and he believes that he's done more than enough to earn that bag. The Suns, on the other hand, seem to hold the 6-foot-11 big man in very high regard — just not as high as a five-year max deal.
Ayton is set to pocket $12.6 million this season. Interestingly enough, this also happens to be the final year of his current deal. Unless the Suns are able to secure him to a new contract in the near future, Ayton could very well walk away from the team next summer for nothing at all.
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