Suns re-sign Deandre Ayton to multi-year deal

The Phoenix Suns announced on July 18 that center Deandre Ayton had officially re-signed a multi-year contract.

“Deandre is a force at both ends of the court, who has raised his game every year and will continue to do so,” general manager James Jones said in a press release. “DA is so important to what we do and without him we could not have reached our recent levels of success. We are delighted to keep Deandre at his home in the valley where he belongs.”

Deandre Ayton finally has his new contract with the Phoenix Sunswho just weren’t willing to let him go for nothing.

A person with knowledge of the situation said the Suns quickly decided to match a four-year, $133 million offer Ayton accepted with the Indiana Pacers.

Athletic first reported that Phoenix matched the offer. ESPN reported for the first time that Ayton agreed with the Pacers.

The move means the Suns will keep their core Ayton and the All-Star backcourt of Devin Booker and Chris Paul. The trio pushed Phoenix to the 2021 NBA Finals and a franchise-record 64 wins last regular season.

The first pick in the 2018 draft, Ayton was eligible for an extension from Phoenix last summer.

That didn’t happen and he became a restricted free agent that summer, which meant Phoenix had a chance to match all the offers. Once Indiana made its move, the Suns quickly responded.

Phoenix has been linked with interest in acquiring Brooklyn star Kevin Durant this offseason, but Ayton cannot be used as trade bait due to the new deal.

AFTER: Kevin Durant asks for a trade from the Brooklyn Nets: source AP

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MARCH 04: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the final moments of the NBA game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Talking Stick Resort Arena on March 04, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns beat the Bucks 114-105. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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