Suns Match Deandre Ayton Pacers Offer Sheet

Well, that didn't take long. The Phoenix Suns have already matched the Indiana Pacers' four-year, $133 million offer sheet for center Deandre Ayton, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The Phoenix Suns have matched the Indiana Pacers’ four-year, $133 million maximum offer sheet on Deandre Ayton, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Ayton stays in Phoenix.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 15, 2022

Phoenix had 48 hours to match the offer sheet by Indiana. Ayton just signed on the dotted line and within a matter of minutes, the Suns already chose to retain their 2018 no. 1 overall pick.

The Suns had been reluctant to offer Ayton the maximum contract all season long up until free agency.

Both sides failed to come to terms on an extension last summer and it dragged all the way to restricted free agency, which still allowed the Suns to do what they just did — and that is to match whatever offer sheet Ayton signed.

With this move, the Suns will not be able to trade Ayton until January 25. Ayton will also have the power to veto any trade within the next year.

Nonetheless, this seems to be a no-brainer move on the part of the Suns. Phoenix could not afford to lose Ayton for nothing, especially if they want to stay in the championship hunt.

Phoenix may not see the 23-year-old as a max guy, but Ayton still provides them a solid interior presence on both sides of the floor.

In the 2021-22 season, Ayton averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds while shooting 63.4 percent from the field.