Suns And Deandre Ayton In Weird Spot As Season Begins

Based on the projected salary cap for the 2022-23 season, Ayton can earn $173 million on a five-year extension.

The Suns cannot offer anything less than that value if they re-sign him for half a decade.

On the other hand, the maximum four-year deal will be worth at most $133 million.

This time, the Suns can adjust the value if they’re offering a four-year term.

The discrepancy between the two max contracts is vast, which can help them re-sign other players.

There are several angles on this matter, knowing that it’s the Suns.

There’s the possibility that the team is trying to avoid the luxury tax, which they haven’t paid since the 2009-10 season.

Delaying Ayton’s max contract will help them stay under the threshold, and there’s no reason for the team to maintain this practice other than being cheap.

But it also makes sense that perhaps the Suns think that he’s not yet worth the maximum extension.

The Case For Ayton Against The Max

Eight of the last ten number one draft picks got a maximum extension the moment they became eligible.

However, perhaps the Suns don’t want to follow that trend because the jury is still out whether Ayton deserves such a contract.

As of writing, six NBA big men earn the maximum: Rudy Gobert, Bam Adebayo, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, and Nikola Jokic.

These players are either league MVP, elite defensive players, stellar scorers, or all of those.

Compare Ayton alongside these stars, and his glow isn’t as bright.

Yes, he did show some improvements to his game, particularly on defense.

But is his skill level in that department at par with Gobert or Adebayo?

Likewise, most of his baskets came off assists, which leaves you to ponder how good he will be without Booker or Chris Paul.

He even failed to dominate against the Los Angeles Clippers, putting up just 13 shots per game.

Therefore, it’s tough to see him at the same level as those centers mentioned earlier.

Suns Hope To See More

Ayton must use this season to make the significant jump from a talented big man to a bona fide superstar.

Unfortunately, those eight-point performances against the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers won’t help his case.

However, he bounced back with a 21-point, 21-rebound masterpiece versus the Sacramento Kings.

That’s the type of production they’d like to make him worthy of the max.

If he keeps up those numbers, the Suns will match whatever amount other teams are willing to give Ayton.