Deandre Ayton "VERY UNHAPPY" As 2018 Draft Class Set All-Time Records Without Him

The 2018 draft class set an all-time record this offseason: 11 rookie extensions totalling $1.1 billion. But the absence from the list of signees of the No. 1 pick in that draft, Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, is what's raising eyebrows. Ayton is said to be "very unhappy" with the slight. 

According to @wojespn, DeAndre Ayton is ‘very unhappy’ with Phoenix pic.twitter.com/9fiUpVwbIS

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) October 18, 2021

The Suns, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, had no interest in giving Ayton a five-year contract. 

Ayton was apparently looking for an extension like the one that Trae Young got from the Atlanta Hawks (5-yrs, $172 million). The Suns were reportedly thinking about something less than the "4-year max", of $133 million, or even a "3 year max" of about $100 mill. Ayton, however, stubbornly held fast: 5-years, $172 max, or nothing. As Windhorst says, "at the end of the day, I don’t feel like the Suns felt he was a max player.”

Suns GM James Jones has always valued players who can put the ball on the floor and create their own offense, something that Ayton is not prone to do.

James Jones has simply refused to acquire players who are afraid to put the ball on the floor. Even JaVale is doing it. Shamet not just a shooter either.

Only 1 guy on the entire roster who doesn't fit the bill 🤐

— Sam Cooper (@scooperhoops) October 13, 2021

Ayton can now become a restricted free agent after this season. The Suns, however, could match any team's offer in that circumstance. Ayton's other option next offseason is to accept a qualifying offer from Phoenix to play out the 2022-23 season, and then become an unrestricted free agent, so that the Suns would be at risk of losing him for nothing. 

The Suns were spending this week, handing out $133 million for Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet, leaving Ayton's slight even harder for the center for take. 

 Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports