
It could be akin to running backs in the NFL, who are largely interchangeable outside of the top few superstars.īox-score production isn't a complete encapsulation of a center's impact, though. With established centers such as Andre Drummond, Enes Kanter and Hassan Whiteside signing minimum deals this offseason, the Suns may view that position as somewhat fungible. Capela isn't as much of a scoring threat as Ayton, but he's a more prolific rebounder and shot-blocker.
Deandre ayton stts free#
The Houston Rockets made a similar bet against extending Clint Capela in 2017, and they wound up signing him to a five-year, $90 million contract in restricted free agency the following summer. He averaged only 14.4 points and 10.5 rebounds in 30.7 minutes per game last season, which does not scream "max-contract player." To be fair to the Suns, they aren't completely wrong in their stance about Ayton. Ayton willingly took a back seat in the offense to Devin Booker and Chris Paul last season, but will he do the same in a contract year? Especially after his own team sent a loud-and-clear message about his perceived market value? The Suns should have taken on-court considerations into account in these negotiations, too.

He could also sign his $16.4 million qualifying offer, which would make him an unrestricted free agent in 2023, although the 3+1 deal makes far more sense for him financially. If he takes a 3+1 deal and declines that fourth-year player option, he'll become an unrestricted free agent two years earlier than he would have under a five-year max deal. Instead, the Suns have now increased their likelihood of losing Ayton earlier than they otherwise would have. That's a worthwhile gamble for a team that got within two wins of winning the championship this past season. He still might be able to land a deal worth around $40 million annually, which beats what he could receive now.Įven if the Suns think they'd be overpaying Ayton for the next few seasons, they'd potentially have a discount on the back end of his five-year max deal. However, he'll be smack dab in the middle of his prime at that point, heading into his age-27 season.

Granted, there's no guarantee that a team will be willing to sign him to a max deal in 2025-26, particularly if the contract figures soar that high. If he signs a five-year max contract with the Suns next summer, his salary in 2025-26 would be $36.9 million (under a $119 million cap). His starting salary in the first year of that deal would be $51.3 million. If the cap does jump to $171 million, he'd able to sign a five-year, $297.4 million (!) max deal with his current team or a four-year, $220.6 million max with any other team in free agency. Even if they do, the cap will likely come in well above the current projection of $137.8 million for that season.Īyton will have seven years of NBA experience under his belt by that point, which will make him eligible to receive a higher percentage of the salary cap, too. That would cause the salary cap to soar beginning in 2025-26, which is right when Ayton would be able to opt out of a 3+1 deal.Īs contributor Morten Jensen reported last month, the salary cap in 2025-26 could jump north of $170 million if the league and the players' union don't agree to a cap-smoothing proposal. The league is hoping to triple the value of its rights package, going from its current nine-year, $24 billion deal to $75 billion, according to CNBC's Jabari Young. But if Ayton does sign a four-year contract with a fourth-player option, he could opt out and cash in right as the NBA renews its national television contracts.
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If the salary cap lands at $119 million next offseason ( as projected), the Suns could sign him to a five-year, $172.6 million max contract, while other teams can offer him no more than a four-year, $127.9 million deal. If the Suns don’t offer Ayton a five-year max next summer, it would behoove him financially to follow in Hayward's footsteps by taking a 3+1 deal.
