The Phoenix Suns have matched the four-year, $133M max offer sheet the Indiana Pacers presented on DeAndre Ayton.
This is what Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN and Shams Charania of The Athletic tweeted, confirming prior reports.
The Suns made clear throughout free agency that the franchise intended to bring Ayton back – and were committed to spend in order to continue competing for a title around All-NBA star Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Ayton. Phoenix now goes approximately $15M into the tax. https://t.co/PCVHYtk6OH
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 15, 2022
DeAndre Ayton can’t be traded without his consent for a full year, while he will be ineligible for a trade until January 15, 2023.
The Suns now aim to run it back next season and fight for the championship with Ayton, Chris Paul and Devin Booker as their Big-3.
The 24-year-old big man averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds this past season, shooting 63.4% from the field and 74.6% from the foul line.
As soon as the Suns received the four-year, $133M offer sheet, the franchise matched it. Deandre Ayton returns to Phoenix and can't be traded without his consent for a full year. https://t.co/dBXGN3qbCK
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 15, 2022
