James Jones gets it.
Any time a prominent player doesn’t come to terms on an extension by the deadline, there’s going to be a public discourse about the how and why the two sides couldn’t meet in the middle. And any time said player suits up for the Phoenix Suns, who are owned by the oft-criticized Robert Sarver, the decibel level on that discussion is going to rival a Suns home game in — oh, let’s just say — the Finals. You know, like the ones that happened there just a few months ago when everything felt so much, well, sunnier in the Valley of the Sun.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the acrimonious Deandre Ayton situation with the Suns general manager who spoke with The Athletic at length on Monday night, detailing the hows and whys of the choice to not give Ayton the max deal he so desired, let’s take a moment to acknowledge that unexpected part of what took place just a few months ago. The Suns, who didn’t even make the playoffs in the 2019-20 season that ended in the Orlando bubble, were up 2-0 on Milwaukee on the NBA’s grandest stage before falling short at the end. And Ayton, the 23-year-old big man who was taken first overall out of Arizona in 2018 and who took a massive step forward last season, had everything to do with it.
Contract complications aside, that part is indisputable.
But when it comes to the criticism that came the Suns’ way in the wake of the decision, Jones refuted the widespread claim that this was a case of Sarver being cheap. Above all else, he claims the Suns were open to discussing the possibility of a three- or four-year max deal, and that it was only the designated rookie five-year max that was completely off the table in the talks that clearly didn’t go well.
“We didn’t have real negotiations,” Jones said.
But Ayton’s agents, Bill Duffy and Nima Namakian, strongly disagree and were adamant in multiple conversations with The Athletic on Tuesday that a max deal of any kind was never offered even informally. From beginning to end, they said, the organization’s unmistakable message from Sarver on down was that Ayton wasn’t viewed as worthy of a max deal. In response, Jones said, “They know that a three- or four-year max was not an (acceptable) option for them.”
Ayton, who will now be a restricted free agent next summer when the Suns will have the right to match an offer that comes his way, has been vocal about his displeasure as well. Needless to say, this is not the most ideal way for a defending Western Conference champion to start its season.
There’s one element here which hasn’t been discussed publicly, but that Jones highlighted as part of the Suns’ thinking: If they had given Ayton the designated rookie max extension like they did Devin Booker in the summer of 2018, that move would have limited their ability to pursue stars on other teams who have already been given designated rookie max deals. Per the rules of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, teams can’t have more than two players on designated rookie max extensions. If they have hopes of adding even more star power here — and it seems clear they do — that factor does make some sense.
Yet Ayton’s representatives say they were never told of this rationale during the process, so one can understand why it would fall on deaf ears now and be seen, in essence, as part of a public effort to quell the criticism. What’s more, the prospect of landing a player of that caliber without giving up Booker or Ayton in return is likely far-fetched.
Either way, Jones — who is just four months removed from being named the NBA’s executive of the year and now finds himself in the middle of this uncomfortable mess — chose to share his side of the story in our conversation below.
James, you’re the guy who’s making these calls and taking a fair amount of heat right now, so tell me: What led to the decision to not max out Deandre and let this go to restricted free agency next summer? What are people missing here about what you guys decided to do?
I mean, obviously, we’re disappointed that we couldn’t reach an extension agreement this offseason. Deandre is important for us. He means a lot to us and was vital in what we did and what we’ve done this past season. A lot of what we’ve done since the playoffs — bringing back CP (Chris Paul on a four-year, $120 million deal that includes $75 million in guaranteed money), Mikal (Bridges on a four-year, $90 million deal), Cam Payne (on a three-year, $19 million deal), Landry (Shamet on a four-year, $43 million deal that sources say includes $20 million in guaranteed money in the first two seasons, a non-guaranteed third season and a team option in the fourth season), JaVale (McGee on a one-year, $5 million deal), adding those guys — was intended to make this group even stronger. All of those moves were to help (Ayton) grow, help the team grow, because we want a championship.
We know it’s important to us; it’s important to him that we continue to progress and we continue to develop and we win (a title). So when we talked about a focus this offseason, it was to continue to build this team. So for us, unfortunately, we are where we are (with Ayton). No agreement. We didn’t have real negotiations. You talk about conversations (with Ayton’s representatives, Bill Duffy and Nima ) — it was five-year, max extension like the other peers, the other former No. 1 picks, and that’s where the conversation started and ended. Anything less than a five-year max wasn’t something to be considered — not something to talk about. It’s evident. They talk about us having discussions on a three-year, four-year max (deals). Those are real.
So people are trying to figure out what motivated the move, and the question of the tax implications certainly comes up. Your team hasn’t paid the tax since 2010, I believe, so it’s probably a fair question. What message are you getting from Robert regarding the tax and the prospect of him eventually paying it if you guys feel like you’re still championship contenders?
We’re gonna pay it. I can tell you, if you look at our roster now, all of the moves we’ve made — from Chris, Mikal, Cam Payne, Landry. All those moves that we’ve made have been to continue to build a team — a deep team. So we’re gonna pay the tax (and) continue to build a deep team.
What about the locker room component here? You know locker rooms and chemistry and team dynamics, and Deandre has been pretty outspoken about his frustration. Does it concern you in terms of his interest level being in Phoenix long-term? He’s a very important piece to what you guys are doing. What’s the impact on that front?
I mean, ultimately we want the same thing, and we’ll find a way to get there. He wants to be here. We want him here. We’re dedicated to his growth, to his development. It’s the same as Day One. That hasn’t changed. The contract issue will have to be resolved another day, but our commitment to him and to winning, and his commitment to us and to winning, hasn’t changed. And so yeah, today we didn’t get a deal done. But we want to bring a championship to this city. We talk about winning. He’s about winning, and I still go back to — it’s just disappointing and unfortunate we couldn’t reach a deal or have substantive conversations around what that long-term future looks like. But we will again in the future.
What has the communication been like with Deandre?
He’s here, and I’ve spoken to him a couple times. But this has been a process with him and his representatives and us. … DA has just been working with the team. He’s been a part of it, part of the team. And look, like I said, I think it’s way more complicated than (most believe). All these things do become way more complicated, because they are personal. It’s the part of the job that’s tough. It’s the part of the job that puts stress on everything, but that’s what it is.
What about the general idea that Robert is being cheap here? That’s a reputational thing that has certainly been part of the discussion. How have you seen that perspective?
It’s inaccurate. If you just look at the moves we’ve made, it’s inaccurate. It’s just not (true). If you look at all the moves we’ve made, and the things we’ve done, from the practice facility to the roster itself to acquiring Chris Paul, going and acquiring Jae Crowder, extending the guys that we have, that’s not accurate.
When you boil this thing down, it’s disappointing that we didn’t get a deal done. It’s disappointing that it was a five-year-rookie-max-or-bust, or nothing to talk about, and we just didn’t have real substantial conversations. And that (idea that a) lack of a deal is a signal that we aren’t committed to Deandre or interested in continuing, that we don’t believe in him, that becomes the narrative. But it’s the furthest from the truth.
What would say to the idea that most teams expect him to find max money next summer, and it might be a messier deal in terms of the structure, so why not do it now?
I don’t know what the market will be next year. I’m not projecting what the market will be next year. But it’s an issue about the five-year max — the five-year, designated rooke max, you know? That’s the issue. So if it’s a four-year max deal, it could be done, right? It could be done if you entertain it or consider it. But if you don’t, then the only thing you’re talking about is a five-year max deal. So we’re not talking about whether he’s getting paid. It’s whether or not he’s getting a five-year max.
