Pacers sign Deandre Ayton to record max offer sheet

Deandre Ayton is about to get paid. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Pacers sign Deandre Ayton to record four-year, $133M max offer sheet

By Adam Stites | Last updated 7/14/22

The Indiana Pacers made a splash Thursday by signing restricted free agent Deandre Ayton to the largest offer sheet in NBA history.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski , Ayton agreed to a four-year, $133 million offer from the Pacers. Because Ayton is a restricted free agent, the Phoenix Suns have 48 hours to match the offer to retain the center.

Ayton, who turns 24 next week, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and averaged 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds over his first four NBA seasons. His relationship with the Suns soured, though, after the team rebuffed his efforts to sign a maximum extension last offseason. During the team's quick exit in the 2022 NBA playoffs, the discord between Ayton and the Suns came to a head with the seven-footer spending significant minutes on the bench.

Pretty sure this was Ayton saying "I can't pass myself the ball" to Monty Williams right after getting benched 3 minutes into the second half last night. #HeGone pic.twitter.com/bZjhFXWFhy
— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) May 16, 2022

While Phoenix doesn't appear to see Ayton as a part of its long-term future, the team may not want the former top draft pick to walk for nothing. If the Suns match the offer, the team won't be allowed to trade him until Jan. 15 and can't send him to Indiana for at least a year.

The Pacers finished the 2021-22 season with a 25-57 record, fifth worst in the NBA. Myles Turner has been the team's starting center for several years and averaged 12.9 points and 7.1 rebounds last season.

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