The Phoenix Suns and Deandre Ayton have reportedly failed to come to come to an agreement on an extension on his rookie contract.
Deandre Ayton’s future in Phoenix may be uncertain.
The Phoenix Suns and their young center Deandre Ayton have reportedly failed to reach an agreement on a rookie contract extension before Monday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Ayton was expecting a full, five-year max contract extension worth up to $172.5 million but Suns owner Robert Sarver didn’t offer it.
ESPN Sources: Suns talks with Deandre Ayton on rookie extension have ended — without a deal. Ayton expected max contract and owner Robert Sarver hasn’t offered it. More coming on consequences for failing to reach deal with 2018 No. 1 overall pick. NBA Today debut, ESPN2. Now.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 18, 2021
Ayton was a key factor to the Suns’ success last season and big-time contributor during their 2021 Finals run. The 6-foot-11 center averaged 14.7 points, 12 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in six Finals games.
His clutch tip-in basket as the clock expired in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against the Clippers lifted the Suns 104-103, and eventually win the series 4-2 to advance to the Finals.
DEANDRE AYTON GAME-WINNING OOP
SUNS UP 2-0 pic.twitter.com/QJGhUUhxAF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 23, 2021
The 23-year-old Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 Draft that also brought Mikal Bridges to Phoenix. However, Bridges and the Suns have reportedly already reached a new four-year deal, worth $90 million.
