Few stories in the NBA offseason have been as interesting and complex as the one revolving around the Phoenix Suns and Deandre Ayton.
When free agency began, most people assumed the Suns would be comfortable saying goodbye to Ayton.
At first, it wasn’t clear which team would take a run at Ayton but then the Indiana Pacers become the most likely destination.
On Thursday, the Pacers offered Ayton a four-year, $133 deal but since he is a restricted free agent the Suns had a chance to match the package or pass on it entirely.
In the end, they decided to match Indiana’s contract and retain Ayton.
It was a wild and winding route to get to a destination that apparently was inevitable.
obsessed with the pacers gaslighting the suns into giving deandre ayton the max
— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) July 15, 2022
Molly Morrison gave a humorous take on the whole thing, tweeting, “obsessed with the pacers gaslighting the suns into giving deandre ayton the max.”
It’s not clear if this was gaslighting or just the Suns taking the long road to something they were going to do all along.
Ayton On Board
The Pacers definitely pushed the Suns into a tough spot.
Were they willing to cough up an awful lot of money for Ayton or would they lose their best big man as they attempt to make another run at the Finals?
The team knew that if they re-signed Ayton they were limiting their chances of acquiring another big star in the offseason, namely Kevin Durant.
But they also knew that without Ayton, their frontcourt would suffer greatly.
In the end, they decided that they needed Ayton and would pony up.
Yes, they’re now strapped for cash but they still have one of the best rosters in the league.
NEXT: Suns Head Into The Tax To Retain Their Former Top Pick