Deandre Ayton - Defensive player of the year?

[sasquatchBob]

Does he have a case? One of the top rated defenses in the whole league. If it wasn't for him we wouldn't be even close to that. He is the defensive anchor.

I was one of the haters but not anymore. Since last years playoffs he has taken a considerably big step. I feel like he has actually turned himself into high motor guy. He does what he's asked to do. He learned defense from basically 0. As a rookie he sucked at it.

Now it looks like he's slowly becoming bigger of an offensive threat too. He might be the most coachable player I've seen (Also props to Monty).

How many of you would take Gobert over Ayton based on their defense? I wouldn't. Ayton can defend 3 point line. He is capable of staying with and blocking Curry on the 3 point line! And he's getting only better.

Ultimate team player Ayton is.

DA, I was wrong. You're the man. I hope you get paid!

[bwgood77]

I don't know enough about other players to know. I still think Bridges is a better defender, though Ayton is more important or unique at his position.

Even if he doesn't get it, it would be great to get two players on all defensive teams,..two on first team would be great but at least one on first and one on second would be great too.

[suns12345]

Does he have a case? One of the top rated defenses in the whole league. If it wasn't for him we wouldn't be even close to that. He is the defensive anchor.

I was one of the haters but not anymore. Since last years playoffs he has taken a considerably big step. I feel like he has actually turned himself into high motor guy. He does what he's asked to do. He learned defense from basically 0. As a rookie he sucked at it.

Now it looks like he's slowly becoming bigger of an offensive threat too. He might be the most coachable player I've seen (Also props to Monty).

How many of you would take Gobert over Ayton based on their defense? I wouldn't. Ayton can defend 3 point line. He is capable of staying with and blocking Curry on the 3 point line! And he's getting only better.

Ultimate team player Ayton is.

DA, I was wrong. You're the man. I hope you get paid!

I agree about ayton over gobert, maybe not specifically on defence, but as a whole package certainly.

[Saberestar]

I think he is very good but not THAT good. Hopefully in the next few years he gets there.

[SunsRback4Good]

Giannis, Dort, Thybulle, Caruso, Draymond few others are better defenders than Ayton.

[garrick]

Bridges and Ayton both deserve to be on the all defensive team but I think Ayton doesn't get too much recognition from the media due to his low shot blocking numbers.

[TheLoon]

Does he have a case? One of the top rated defenses in the whole league. If it wasn't for him we wouldn't be even close to that. He is the defensive anchor.

I was one of the haters but not anymore. Since last years playoffs he has taken a considerably big step. I feel like he has actually turned himself into high motor guy. He does what he's asked to do. He learned defense from basically 0. As a rookie he sucked at it.

Now it looks like he's slowly becoming bigger of an offensive threat too. He might be the most coachable player I've seen (Also props to Monty).

How many of you would take Gobert over Ayton based on their defense? I wouldn't. Ayton can defend 3 point line. He is capable of staying with and blocking Curry on the 3 point line! And he's getting only better.

Ultimate team player Ayton is.

DA, I was wrong. You're the man. I hope you get paid!

DA and Bridges both

[Ghost of Kleine]

Xin Varlock (@XinNBA) Tweeted:
Hmm. https://t.co/xEmkoQAVqC

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Impact = Max player?

[Ghost of Kleine]

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/10021955-suns-monty-williams-on-deandre-aytons-contract-talks-i-feel-like-i-failed-him.amp.html

Suns' Monty Williams on Deandre Ayton's Contract Talks: 'I Feel Like I Failed Him'
ERIN WALSH
DECEMBER 24, 2021


Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams feels “somewhat responsible” for Deandre Ayton failing to agree on a contract extension during the offseason. 

“From a personal perspective, I feel like I failed him,” Williams said, per Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports. “Because when we asked you to do all that we ask you to do and you go out there and do it and you still don't get what you want, that falls on my plate."

Williams added: 
“Let’s be real. Coaches survive in this league by winning. That’s a fact. And so when those guys did what they did for the team, they elevated me, which is what I didn't deserve. So I wanted him to get everything he wanted. And I think he still will.

“How do players survive? Stats. Yet we’re asking people to sacrifice their stats, touches and all that.”

Suns general manager James Jones told The Athletic's Sam Amick in October that contract talks with Ayton never advanced into "real negotiations." 

"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," Jones said at the time. "So for us, unfortunately, we are where we are [with Ayton]. No agreement. We didn't have real negotiations."

Jones continued by saying the 2018 No. 1 pick wanted a five-year max extension, similar to the deals Luka Doncic, Trae Young and Michael Porter Jr. agreed to over the last year. Such a deal would have been worth a guaranteed $172.6 million.

Ayton's agents told The Athletic the Suns never offered Ayton a max deal and wanted to instead discuss shorter deals over three or four years. However, those talks never progressed, and an offer was reportedly never made. 

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported in October that the Suns didn't think Ayton belongs in the same group as Doncic, Young and Porter. However, the Arizona product has played an enormous role in Phoenix's success over the last several years, and the franchise might regret not locking him up when it had the chance. 

Through 22 games this season, Ayton is averaging 16.9 points (second on the team), 11.3 rebounds (first on the team) and 1.6 assists while shooting 62.5 percent from the field. This comes after he averaged 15.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists during the 2021 postseason in which the Suns reached the NBA Finals. 

Because Ayton did not sign an extension, he is eligible to sign a $16.4 million qualifying offer to play the 2022-23 season, per ESPN's Bobby Marks, before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

In addition, Ayton could enter restricted free agency after the 2021-22 season and sign an offer sheet, though the Suns would be allowed to match any offer he receives. It's unclear if Phoenix has a contingency plan if Ayton moves on.

[AtheJ415]

Gobert is a paper tiger. He gets exposed in the playoffs. Ayton & Embiid are the most valuable bigs defensively because they can stay on the court against every team's small lineups. That said Mikal should get DPOY imo. I'm tired of this award constantly going to bigs. A wing should be considered and Mikal imo is the best wing defender in the league.

[NapoleonII]

I just don't believe it was worth the penny pinching by not maxing up Ayton.

Ayton seems loyal, but he's young and healthy - what's to stop him from taking the $16.4 million qualifying offer, play out his rookie contract, and book it to wherever he wants on a max deal? Okay - it doesn't seem likely that he says no to a 100+ million, multi-year deal this summer, whether offered by us or matched. But it's possible. Dude doesn't need us as much as we need him. I can imagine this happening, which shows that we failed to secure an important asset that's been vital to us contending for a championship.


I'm glad Monty is putting that on himself, making it public before another story "breaks" or festers inside the locker room. We've got a great culture here. He's even said that part of his job is getting guys paid, securing generational wealth for themselves and their families.

[bwgood77]

I just don't believe it was worth the penny pinching by not maxing up Ayton.

Ayton seems loyal, but he's young and healthy - what's to stop him from taking the $16.4 million qualifying offer, play out his rookie contract, and book it to wherever he wants on a max deal? Okay - it doesn't seem likely that he says no to a 100+ million, multi-year deal this summer, whether offered by us or matched. But it's possible. Dude doesn't need us as much as we need him. I can imagine this happening, which shows that we failed to secure an important asset that's been vital to us contending for a championship.


I'm glad Monty is putting that on himself, making it public before another story "breaks" or festers inside the locker room. We've got a great culture here. He's even said that part of his job is getting guys paid, securing generational wealth for themselves and their families.

Booker took his major step in his 4th year. I think Ayton took a major step in his 3rd, becoming pretty great on defense, and increasing his efficiency on offense, as well as being our key in the playoffs.

He has taken even a bigger step this year. I think he is overall better than Booker was in his 4th year. I think he may make the ASG in his 4th year at a position that is tougher because they only usually take 3 centers..he may still not make it due to Jokic, Gobert and Towns. I think he is better than Gobert but I can see why people would argue Gobert too...by focusing on his elite rim protection, offensive efficiency and screen assists. These are things Ayton is good at too, but the thing is, Ayton creates more offense and can shoot further from the rim, he can switch and guard guys on the perimeter. He may barely miss, but it would be nice to see him there. Towns isn't on as good of a team, but his offensive #s are probably better...especially raw stats and offensive versatility as well as playmaking. It would be nice to see him make it, but still tough. I think he'd probably have an easier time in the east as I think he's better than Bam and only behind Embiid, though Sabonis is close too as are the Cleveland guys.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) Tweeted:
BREAKING: Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton has signed a new multi-year shoe deal contract with Puma.

“It’s pretty lit,” said @DeandreAyton of his new @PumaHoops deal. “It’s truly a blessing as well.” https://t.co/fbOpH9VfYD

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) Tweeted:
Inside @DeandreAyton’s new Puma deal, expected to place the Suns anchor among the NBA’s highest earning sneaker endorsers at the Center position:
https://t.co/yykQ9BLyA4 https://t.co/vBhoqNFyiK

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?s=20

[dremill24]

This Puma deal is the ultimate trump card in Ayton's DPOY case.

[Bogyo]

Haven't seen the product live yet. Does it suck like the former one or have they gotten better?

[Mr Puddles]

This Puma deal is the ultimate trump card in Ayton's DPOY case.

Basically this. I thought him winning DPOY was a long shot, but with the new Puma deal it's basically a done deal.

Pumas are cats. cats are felines. Add the 'De' from ”De“Andre Ayton to word "felines", and at the end add "NSE" (the National Stock Exchange: where Puma is listed) and what do you get? deFEnse LINES!!!! Ayton's responsibility is to guard the deFEnsive LINES. DeAndre owning a pair feline shoes basically means he owns the defensive line. It's basic science.

Also, if A'mare Stoudamire were a cat his name would be A'meowry Stoudamire. Think about it.

[thamadkant]

He should make 2nd Defensive Team and push for 1st team as he enters his prime. DPOY? no not yet, DPOY is both numbers and reputation, Ayton will need to start getting highlights showcasing his defense... unfortunately Ayton is more of a System Non-Box score stat defender right now, similar to DPOY Chandler and Marc Gasol.

[thamadkant]

Xin Varlock (@XinNBA) Tweeted:
Hmm. https://t.co/xEmkoQAVqC

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Impact = Max player?

Turner, Holmes would also lay claim for max salaries if their teams were winning.

Ayton in the other hand is best plus/minus on the league's top team (tied)