The Phoenix Suns could be on the verge of losing Deandre Ayton for nothing.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Suns’ big man is signing a four-year, $133 million maximum contract offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers — the largest offer sheet in NBA history.
Because Ayton is a restricted free agent, the Suns have 48 hours to match the offer or risk losing the former No. 1 pick in the draft with no compensation in return.
The offer sheet from the Pacers would have significant ramification.
Once Ayton signs the offer sheet from the Pacers, sign-and-trades are no longer allowed. If the offer sheet is not matched, the Suns — the No. 1 seed in the West — lose an integral piece of their core for nothing in return and are weakened barring another big move.
If the Suns do match the offer sheet, they retain Ayton but would not be able to trade him anywhere until at least Jan. 15 — and Indiana cannot be a team he is traded to for a year.
The Suns, who have been in the mix in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, would essentially be losing their biggest trade asset in a potential deal for the Nets All-Star.
The previous highest offer sheet to a restricted free agent came in 2017 when the Brooklyn Nets signed Otto Porter Jr. to a four-year, $107 million deal, which was matched by the Washington Wizards.
The highest offer sheet that was not ultimately matched was when Harrison Barnes signed a four-year, $94.4 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks in 2016. The Golden State Warriors turned out just fine not matching, signing free agent Kevin Durant.
Ayton, who turns 24 next week, was the No. 1 pick in 2018 ahead of Luka Doncic (third) and Trae Young (fifth). He has averaged 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds in four seasons with Phoenix.
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