Restricted free agent Deandre Ayton has signed a four-year offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers worth $133 million. The maximum deal is the largest offer sheet offered in the history of the NBA and the Phoenix Suns will have 48 hours to match the deal if they choose to do that. Phoenix has been attempting to trade for All-Star forward Kevin Durant this offseason after he requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. This signing could impact that deal in a negative or positive way depending on how the teams involved react to the situation.
RFA center Deandre Ayton has agreed to a four-year, $133M maximum offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers, his agents Nima Namakian (Innovate Sports) and Bill Duffy (BDA Sports + WME Sports) tell ESPN. The Phoenix Suns have 48 hours to match the largest offer sheet in NBA history.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 14, 2022
This past season with the Phoenix Suns, Deandre Ayton averaged 17.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. He paired those numbers with a field goal percentage of 63.4 percent and a three-point percentage of 36.8 percent. The Indiana Pacers are attempting to grab a high-ranked free agent and possibly the best one they will sign while they attempt to rebuild the team.
Deandre Ayton without Booker or CP3 in the last 2 seasons:
19.0 PPG
10.6 RPG
63.9 FG%Legit star when he gets touches. pic.twitter.com/64aGo4G5pQ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 14, 2022
The Suns will need to make a decision in the next 48 hours and it could impact their spot as an NBA Championship contender. Indiana will begin their rebuild in earnest around Deandre Ayton and Tyrese Haliburton. The future plans for the team regarding center Myles Turner are unknown, but he could be on the move to another team soon after the team completes this move.
