Deandre Ayton, Suns Perceived Around NBA To Had 'Burned Bridge' Before Matched Offer Sheet

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Phoenix Suns retained Deandre Ayton when they matched his four-year, $133 million offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers. With the Suns not offering Ayton an extension before the season and any sort of deal in his restricted free agency, they signaled that they don't value him in a way we typically see for players of his caliber. 

Many expected Ayton to depart the Suns this offseason in a sign-and-trade, but the Kevin Durant trade talks presumably made that scenario more difficult. Now, the Suns and Ayton will have to rehabilitate their working relationship. 

"The weirdness of the Ayton situation, both the contract negotiations, the widespread perception, I'm talking widespread around the league that the bridge was pretty much burned between Ayton and the team," said Zach Lowe on his podcast.

"The comments that Monty Williams made after Game 7 when he pulled Ayton. There's clearly some mending of fences that has to happen there. Can it happen? Is this just a 'we're waiting it out until we can trade him' situation. That's another interesting human dynamic."

Via Zach Lowe/ESPN

[SkynMan]

Phoenix is definitely a toxic environment. This team will never win a chip

[King4Day]

Phoenix is definitely a toxic environment. This team will never win a chip

The toxic environment was 2 wins from a championship 2 seasons ago and had the best record in franchise history last year.
The prior decade put a bad taste in everyone's mouth (rightfully so), but toxic it is currently not.

[Phystic]

Phoenix is definitely a toxic environment. This team will never win a chip

What a ridiculous take.

How is it toxic to handle RFA the exact way that it's meant to be handled?

[MitchB3]

Phoenix is definitely a toxic environment. This team will never win a chip

What a ridiculous take.

How is it toxic to handle RFA the exact way that it's meant to be handled?

How did they handle it, "exact way that it's meant to be handled?" ...? I'm still surprised that the Suns matched the deal; I also won't be surprised if end up trading him once he becomes eligible to be traded.

[MitchB3]

Phoenix is definitely a toxic environment. This team will never win a chip

You're definitely correct, I'm surprised KD put them on his list of teams that he wanted to get traded too.

[madmaxmedia]

Most bridges are easily fixed with $133 million.

[Revived]

Phoenix is definitely a toxic environment. This team will never win a chip

What a ridiculous take.

How is it toxic to handle RFA the exact way that it's meant to be handled?

How did they handle it, "exact way that it's meant to be handled?" ...? I'm still surprised that the Suns matched the deal; I also won't be surprised if end up trading him once he becomes eligible to be traded.

RFA means a player goes out and finds a contract that another team is willing to pay them. If the player’s current team wants to keep that player at the contract he signed the offer sheet for, then they match the contract.

That’s how RFA works. If Ayton or anyone is mad at that, they should be mad at the NBPA for agreeing to the RFA regulations in the CBA agreements.

[alienpick]

What a ridiculous take.

How is it toxic to handle RFA the exact way that it's meant to be handled?

How did they handle it, "exact way that it's meant to be handled?" ...? I'm still surprised that the Suns matched the deal; I also won't be surprised if end up trading him once he becomes eligible to be traded.

RFA means a player goes out and finds a contract that another team is willing to pay them. If the player’s current team wants to keep that player at the contract he signed the offer sheet for, then they match the contract.

That’s how RFA works. If Ayton or anyone is mad at that, they should be mad at the NBPA for agreeing to the RFA regulations in the CBA agreements.

EXACTLY. It's obvious the Suns didn't want to over pay him, and just pay him what he's worth. In an age where everyone thinks they are worth the max, it was a good plan.

[Lalouie]

duuuuh

[IWishIWasHarden]

It's a sign of the times.

You don't need to show any respect to people anymore. You can just tell them that's how capitalism works.

The Suns owner did nothing different to a typical person of today.

Browse the internet long enough and you'll see Jordan Peterson calling those who care about respect narcissists.

[BK_2020]

Time for RGM to get an editor.

[Phystic]

Phoenix is definitely a toxic environment. This team will never win a chip

What a ridiculous take.

How is it toxic to handle RFA the exact way that it's meant to be handled?

How did they handle it, "exact way that it's meant to be handled?" ...? I'm still surprised that the Suns matched the deal; I also won't be surprised if end up trading him once he becomes eligible to be traded.

They offered him a contract last summer. He declined and chose RFA. Suns let the market dictate his price, he got an offer and they matched. Exact purpose of RFA to allow teams to have the market set the price

[teco1497]

What a ridiculous take.

How is it toxic to handle RFA the exact way that it's meant to be handled?

How did they handle it, "exact way that it's meant to be handled?" ...? I'm still surprised that the Suns matched the deal; I also won't be surprised if end up trading him once he becomes eligible to be traded.

They offered him a contract last summer. He declined and chose RFA. Suns let the market dictate his price, he got an offer and they matched. Exact purpose of RFA to allow teams to have the market set the price

if players were machines you are right, how can you make him play %100 now he is upset to the team?

[ElSapo]

How did they handle it, "exact way that it's meant to be handled?" ...? I'm still surprised that the Suns matched the deal; I also won't be surprised if end up trading him once he becomes eligible to be traded.

They offered him a contract last summer. He declined and chose RFA. Suns let the market dictate his price, he got an offer and they matched. Exact purpose of RFA to allow teams to have the market set the price

if players were machines you are right, how can you make him play %100 now he is upset to the team?

You should probably read what Ayton had to say after signing his contract. He's pretty happy to be in Phoenix.

[Charlie-Runkle]

Phoenix is definitely a toxic environment. This team will never win a chip

I used to wonder why everyone hated Dallas & the Cowboys in particular, but after their bball playoff push last year I never seen so many trolls in my life. I get it now.

[Charlie-Runkle]

Phoenix is definitely a toxic environment. This team will never win a chip

You're definitely correct, I'm surprised KD put them on his list of teams that he wanted to get traded too.

Another Dallas troll, see what I mean

[Phystic]

How did they handle it, "exact way that it's meant to be handled?" ...? I'm still surprised that the Suns matched the deal; I also won't be surprised if end up trading him once he becomes eligible to be traded.

They offered him a contract last summer. He declined and chose RFA. Suns let the market dictate his price, he got an offer and they matched. Exact purpose of RFA to allow teams to have the market set the price

if players were machines you are right, how can you make him play %100 now he is upset to the team?

Just because YOU think he should be upset, doesn't mean he is.

Everything he and James Jones have said is the relationship is fine. They both understood it's business. Ayton got what the market said he was worth. How can he blame the Suns for that?

[MitchB3]

Phoenix is definitely a toxic environment. This team will never win a chip

You're definitely correct, I'm surprised KD put them on his list of teams that he wanted to get traded too.

Another Dallas troll, see what I mean

Who said I'm a Dallas fan?