What NBA teams would offer Ayton a max of he's not extended?

[Da ThRONe]

In basketball if it's close players get the contract. Ayton isn't a max player by my evaluation, but I think at least half of the players on max contracts aren't worth it.

[JonFromVA]

Ayton is 7ft in shoes, right? Surely the Cavs would be willing.

[Ghost of Kleine]

my Knicks will gladly take him

If it'd need to be a sign 'n' trade to get the full max offer for him, What would be your best legitimate trade offer?

[Ghost of Kleine]

Not sure any other team is willing to max him. And while he's definitely not worth a max contract in a vacuum, the whole idea of the Paul contract structure certainly appeared to be to give them 2 more years of Paul, one year of tax next year when Ayton/Bridges get big raises and then Paul is gone(unless he is still playing at a similar level in which case you pay tax a 2nd year).

Suns should give him the 4 year max with no escalators and no player option, trade kicker, any of the perks. They overpay but make their guy feel loved and they don't risk him signing an offer sheet because those are generally very team unfriendly as a way of discouraging matching.

And if they are convinced he's simply not worth anything close to the max, they should trade him right now for a win now center and some future value.

But seriously just pay the guy. This is the cost of being a relevant team. These are good problems.

I agree that in a vacuum he's not yet proven worthy of being a legitimate max player. That being said, He's absolutely going to get the max offer from a few teams out there ( albeit a 4 yr max as opposed to a 5 yr max by us). But nevertheless, there'll absolutely be teams putting offers in for him in that range. I also completely agree that we ( Phoenix) need to pay him, As we just aren't viewed as a big market destination still, And this kind of hardball leverage stance from our reputed stingy, tightwad owner is definitely not a good message to be sending out after Aytons' performance and improvements a a key factor to our finals run.

The consistently repetitive problem it seems is our owners fiscal ineptitude and delusional megalomaniacal ego issues. Overall it's just not worth the disruption of the chemistry and good will that our team has worked so very hard to achieve. It reaks of a repeat of the Joe Johnson debacle wherein "Saver" opted to not pay Joe Johnson and instead lowballed him into feeling disrespected and he left, taking probably our best title chances with him. Now he claims that he learned his lesson on that situation, But fast forward to our current situation with Ayton and Bridges and it feels uncomfortably similar!

Saver wants a contending team for profit, He just doesn't want to have to fully invest on the same scale as everyone else. He'll pull the "show me" your a max player card, and lowball both Ayton and Bridges, Feeling like he holds all the leverage for both as restricted free agents. Yet they'll both ball out and feel undervalued and unappreciated (disrespected) as young talented players often do these days, And they'll opt to take the qualifying offer and leave! Then we'll be back to a lottery team post Paul. But Saver won't care as he'll just pocket the profits and gains from whatever playoff run we make, then let them leave and just start over again. He's not really in this to contend like other owners, He's in it for personal profit that he can squeeze out of the fanbase from time to time.

Sorry for the rant. Overall I do agree with you on the post though.

[JonFromVA]

my Knicks will gladly take him

If it'd need to be a sign 'n' trade to get the full max offer for him, What would be your best legitimate trade offer?

The Cavs offer Collin Sexton and a Case of Cleveland Kraut.

[MGB8]

Hornets, Pistons, Thunder…

[GrindCityHustle]

Knicks would prob trade Robinson and Toppin for Ayton.

[CIN-C-STAR]

It would be a total no brainer for the Spurs to offer him a max.
They already have the cap space so it wouldn't cost them additional assets, and he'd instantly become the best player on their team.
A bit of an overpay is nothing to add high end talent to your roster. Look at what the Bucks gave up for Jrue Holiday. Total overpay, and absolutely worth it.
If the Suns think they are retaining Ayton for less than max they are probably delusional, though I've no problem with them running it back first and making him prove it over another season.

[antonac]

De'Andre Ayton is basically the same type of player as Jarrett Allen, and Allen just signed a below max contract with the Cavs (flat $20M per year) that some might still consider an overpay.

Another comparison is Jonas Valanciunas, he's putting up as good or better numbers than Ayton and only making $15M per year. Hard to justify a max for a center like Ayton when there are similar players making so much less.

this is true. but Ayton is also a former no.1 draft pick and is a young player that just played a role on a team that made the finals. In terms of clout, he has a lot more than either of those players, it's really down to the Suns if they want to gamble they can get similar production from someone else for a lot cheaper because Ayton doesn't have to back down from a max (or near) contract.

[Phreak50]

Spurs would.

They probably almost did to Lauri...

[AussieBuck]

OKC

[3toheadmelo]

my Knicks will gladly take him

If it'd need to be a sign 'n' trade to get the full max offer for him, What would be your best legitimate trade offer?

yall can have Mitchell Robinson with Immanuel quickley and some picks or RJ Barrett and picks

[PD28]

Pistons will have alot of cap space

Ayton and Cade would be a nice core to build with. Still not convinced Ayton is a max-level player but sometimes it takes overpaying to get something started.

[cjmcallist]

I actually don't think OKC would offer it.

I would, but I don't see Presti doing it.

[wegotthabeet]

my Knicks will gladly take him

If it'd need to be a sign 'n' trade to get the full max offer for him, What would be your best legitimate trade offer?

For the Raptors/Suns.

Something built around Ayton for Siakam might be intriguing to both teams next offseason.

[Ghost of Kleine]

my Knicks will gladly take him

If it'd need to be a sign 'n' trade to get the full max offer for him, What would be your best legitimate trade offer?

yall can have Mitchell Robinson with Immanuel quickley and some picks or RJ Barrett and picks

If were definitely going to lose Ayton and there needs to be a sign 'n' trade , That's definitely a fair and generous offer. And even though we wouldn't really need Barrett with Booker starting at the 2, and Bridges at the 3, I'd be inclined to see if you'd switch him with Toppin. But IF your looking to move him, Then I'd take him in the deal and look to package him with a few other pieces and picks for a more get ready 4 option?

Overall, I'd be on board with:
Ayton for Robinson/ Quickley/ either Barrett or Toppin and the Charlotte 2022 first and Dallas 2023 first. If you'd be amenable to that, I'd call it a done deal!
* I think Ayton can become a Ewing 2.0 for you guys.

[BlazersBroncos]

If OKC lucks out and gets Chet, I think throwing a max at Ayton to speed up the team becoming competitive would be a great move. You dont have to worry about paying Giddey or Chet for a few years, you can afford 2 max deals to SGA / Ayton, and this roster looks really good:

G - SGA
G - Lou Dort
F - Josh Giddey
F - Chet Holmgren
C - DeAndre Ayton

[3toheadmelo]

If it'd need to be a sign 'n' trade to get the full max offer for him, What would be your best legitimate trade offer?

yall can have Mitchell Robinson with Immanuel quickley and some picks or RJ Barrett and picks

If were definitely going to lose Ayton and there needs to be a sign 'n' trade , That's definitely a fair and generous offer. And even though we wouldn't really need Barrett with Booker starting at the 2, and Bridges at the 3, I'd be inclined to see if you'd switch him with Toppin. But IF your looking to move him, Then I'd take him in the deal and look to package him with a few other pieces and picks for a more get ready 4 option?

Overall, I'd be on board with:
Ayton for Robinson/ Quickley/ either Barrett or Toppin and the Charlotte 2022 first and Dallas 2023 first. If you'd be amenable to that, I'd call it a done deal!
* I think Ayton can become a Ewing 2.0 for you guys.

Obi is all yours. now tell Adam silver to announce the trade

[Biff Cooper]

If the Suns are not sure if Ayton is "worth" a maximum contract, it probably makes sense for them not to extend him and wait to see how this season goes and then decide if they want to match his RFA offer. The only downside to waiting is losing a year on the next contract length (and potentially angering Ayton).

I still wish my Timberwolves would have gone this route with Wiggins, and if they hadn't botched the Kevin Love extension 5-6 years earlier, they probably would have gone that route.

[Ghost of Kleine]

my Knicks will gladly take him

If it'd need to be a sign 'n' trade to get the full max offer for him, What would be your best legitimate trade offer?

For the Raptors/Suns.

Something built around Ayton for Siakam might be intriguing to both teams next offseason.

Perhaps?
I like Siakim personally, And would be intrigued. But Siakim is already making max money, And if that's the sticking point (unfortunately) for our tightwad owner, Then he might as well just sign Ayton for the max all things being equal. Maybe though, You guys keep Siakim ( Or flip him to a 3rd team for additional assets) in our deal.

The most likely trade that I'd look to would be Ayton for Barnes/ Flynn/ picks?

In a 3 team deal:

Toronto- Ayton/ Hield.
Sacramento- Siakim/ Flynn.
Phoenix- Barnes/ Mitchell/ Sacramento 2022 1st.
Would that sound amenable??