Deandre Ayton staying with the Phoenix Suns: What it means for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook

Deandre Ayton stays in Phoenix, the Suns matched the Indiana Pacers’ offer sheet for the Big Man. The Suns’ decision is likely to have consequences, and the trade market could now regain momentum.

Why did the Suns wait so long?

Two weeks into free agency, Deandre Ayton has finally landed his deal. Ultimately, the Indiana Pacers had to help out with an offer sheet so that the Phoenix Suns paid Ayton after all. 4 years, $133 million – the most Indiana could offer the top pick of 2018.

As weird as it sounds, it’s exactly what the Suns wanted. Last summer there were tough negotiations between the Suns and Ayton that never came to a conclusion. The background was probably that Phoenix did not want to offer the Big Man the full five years and preferred a shorter contract.

That’s exactly what happened with the Pacers’ offer sheet. So it was not surprising that the Suns drew level a few hours after the offer was announced and tied the center until 2026. In principle, there was no alternative, since after JaVale McGee left for Dallas, the Suns only had one center in Bismack Biyombo (the Landale contract is not guaranteed).

Recently there have also been rumors about a possible sign-and-trade with Indiana, which would have sent Myles Turner to the Arizona desert, for example. However, this is no longer possible.