Suns Expected to Match Deandre Ayton Offer Sheet per Report

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski says the Phoenix Suns are expected to retain Deandre Ayton and his contract.

It's been just over an hour since Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton had reportedly agreed to an offer sheet from the Indiana Pacers, and news has already begun to fly off the streets of Twitter on what the Suns should or shouldn't do. 

According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, the offer sheet has yet to actually be signed, giving Phoenix a tad bit of time to potentially work on a sign-and-trade with Indiana. 

Because the clock to match doesn’t start until midnight, both sides still have time work out a sign-and-trade before the offer sheet is officially signed. https://t.co/fFKwY4FAuG

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 14, 2022

While there have been some reports of Ayton not wanting to appease the Suns in a potential sign-and-trade, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said Phoenix is expected to match Indiana's offer sheet. 

So far, Suns haven't shown an interest in negotiating a sign-and-trade on Ayton with the Pacers, but the expectation remains that Phoenix will match the record-$133M offer sheet once it's signed, sources tell ESPN. Suns could trade Ayton as soon as Jan. 15 once sheet is matched.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 14, 2022

The four-year, $133 million offer sheet surpasses Otto Porter's four-year deal for $106.5 million from the Washington Wizards in 2017, making it the largest in NBA history.

If the Pacers were able to snag Ayton, this would also be Indiana's first max contract awarded since Paul George in 2013, according to Evan Sidery. 

However, early reports from Wojnarowski suggest the Suns are willing to bite the bullet and put aside their past differences rather than let Ayton walk for nothing. 

Phoenix has until Saturday at midnight (eastern time) to fully make a decision. 

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