Are Suns going to pay Ayton AND Cam Johnson?

[basketballRob]

Cam Johnson isn't a free agent.

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[SunsLyf3]

Cam Johnson isn't a free agent.

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He's up for an extension this offseason and will become a RFA next off-season if he doesn't sign, which isn't that big of a deal tbh.

[Mr Puddles]

Personally I'm hoping he signs the one year tender and walks as a free agent after next season. Phoenix would get nothing from him walking out the door.

I'm not one to crush another man's hopes, God knows that as a Hawks fan you have very few of them actually coming to fruition as it is, but there's a better chance of Ayton winning bronze at the women's Winter Olympic figure skating competition this month then there is of him opting into his one year tender.

So insulting me as a Hawks fan aside, it would be karma for your terrible owner to have a player do exactly what I posted. He is once again taking the cheap route with the Suns and is screwing Ayton over in the process. Ayton owes the Suns nothing as a result. Nothing. He should take the one year tender and leave as a free agent. If for no other reason to punish Sarver and to show him and the rest of the owners that if you play cheap with top talent it bites you in the ass.

It isn't because I dislike Phoenix that I hope this happens. It is because I hate what Sarver has done to that franchise. He deserves some kind of basketball karma for how he's treated the franchise and its fans.

Just for future reference, if you don't want to be insulted as a Hawks fan it's probably better to not essentially post:

"I really hope the first #1 pick in your franchise's history not only doesn't re-sign, but that he goes one step further and makes a financial sacrifice so he can leave the franchise without the team getting any compensation back for it - just to stick it to them "

You might ruffle a few feathers by doing so.

Food for thought.

[zeebneeb]

The answer to this question will become apparent after this year's playoffs. If the Suns win a title, or come excruciatingly close again, I think the Suns will do their best to resign/extend.

If the Suns get bounced, you could see Ayton get a max from Detroit, and PHX not match.

Suns have a tiny window because of Paul's age.

[WargamesX]

At worst they are going to wait and pay them what the market gives them through a RFA match… which fits with the general belief that Sarver is a cheap bastard.

[itlnsunsfan]

At worst they are going to wait and pay them what the market gives them through a RFA match… which fits with the general belief that Sarver is a cheap bastard.

I don't like Sarver. At all. But in fairness, it is unwise for a team to spend more than it needs to retain a player.

[Sothron]

I'm not one to crush another man's hopes, God knows that as a Hawks fan you have very few of them actually coming to fruition as it is, but there's a better chance of Ayton winning bronze at the women's Winter Olympic figure skating competition this month then there is of him opting into his one year tender.

So insulting me as a Hawks fan aside, it would be karma for your terrible owner to have a player do exactly what I posted. He is once again taking the cheap route with the Suns and is screwing Ayton over in the process. Ayton owes the Suns nothing as a result. Nothing. He should take the one year tender and leave as a free agent. If for no other reason to punish Sarver and to show him and the rest of the owners that if you play cheap with top talent it bites you in the ass.

It isn't because I dislike Phoenix that I hope this happens. It is because I hate what Sarver has done to that franchise. He deserves some kind of basketball karma for how he's treated the franchise and its fans.

Just for future reference, if you don't want to be insulted as a Hawks fan it's probably better to not essentially post:

"I really hope the first #1 pick in your franchise's history not only doesn't re-sign, but that he goes one step further and makes a financial sacrifice so he can leave the franchise without the team getting any compensation back for it - just to stick it to them "

You might ruffle a few feathers by doing so.

Food for thought.

I take it you didn't actually read my post you literally just quoted. I will repeat it for your benefit. I have nothing against the Suns franchise or its fans. I do however can't stand and in fact loathe Sarver because he's the epitome of a horrible cheapskate owner that ruins franchises. His treatment of Ayton is despicable. So I hope Ayton leaves Phoenix for zero compensation not because I dislike the Suns but because it would teach Sarver a lesson.

It must be nice having a #1 pick in your franchise history. The Hawks never had one play for us. We only ever had #1 pick ever and he signed with the ABA. And when the ABA folded into the NBA somehow the Hawks didn't have his rights as a NBA player.

[WargamesX]

At worst they are going to wait and pay them what the market gives them through a RFA match… which fits with the general belief that Sarver is a cheap bastard.

I don't like Sarver. At all. But in fairness, it is unwise for a team to spend more than it needs to retain a player.

Not saying you are wrong but he is seen as a cheap bastard for a reason. Flipside I do not see the suns letting Ayton walk

[itlnsunsfan]

At worst they are going to wait and pay them what the market gives them through a RFA match… which fits with the general belief that Sarver is a cheap bastard.

I don't like Sarver. At all. But in fairness, it is unwise for a team to spend more than it needs to retain a player.

Not saying you are wrong but he is seen as a cheap bastard for a reason. Flipside I do not see the suns letting Ayton walk

Agreed. I think they'll figure out a way to retain Cam as well.

[Mr Puddles]

So insulting me as a Hawks fan aside, it would be karma for your terrible owner to have a player do exactly what I posted. He is once again taking the cheap route with the Suns and is screwing Ayton over in the process. Ayton owes the Suns nothing as a result. Nothing. He should take the one year tender and leave as a free agent. If for no other reason to punish Sarver and to show him and the rest of the owners that if you play cheap with top talent it bites you in the ass.

It isn't because I dislike Phoenix that I hope this happens. It is because I hate what Sarver has done to that franchise. He deserves some kind of basketball karma for how he's treated the franchise and its fans.

Just for future reference, if you don't want to be insulted as a Hawks fan it's probably better to not essentially post:

"I really hope the first #1 pick in your franchise's history not only doesn't re-sign, but that he goes one step further and makes a financial sacrifice so he can leave the franchise without the team getting any compensation back for it - just to stick it to them "

You might ruffle a few feathers by doing so.

Food for thought.

I take it you didn't actually read my post you literally just quoted. I will repeat it for your benefit. I have nothing against the Suns franchise or its fans. I do however can't stand and in fact loathe Sarver because he's the epitome of a horrible cheapskate owner that ruins franchises. His treatment of Ayton is despicable. So I hope Ayton leaves Phoenix for zero compensation not because I dislike the Suns but because it would teach Sarver a lesson.

It must be nice having a #1 pick in your franchise history. The Hawks never had one play for us. We only ever had #1 pick ever and he signed with the ABA. And when the ABA folded into the NBA somehow the Hawks didn't have his rights as a NBA player.

So maybe just hope for the owner to be replaced rather than wishing ill fortune on the franchise and its fanbase? We don't get to choose our ownership.

It would be like someone posting "I hope Trae Young pulls a Ben Simmons and that the Hawks lose him for absolutely nothing"

And then turning around and saying "But actually I really like the Hawks franchise and its fanbase, i don't wish any ill-fortune on them at all"

The two things don't really go well together, wouldn't you agree?

[Sothron]

Just for future reference, if you don't want to be insulted as a Hawks fan it's probably better to not essentially post:

"I really hope the first #1 pick in your franchise's history not only doesn't re-sign, but that he goes one step further and makes a financial sacrifice so he can leave the franchise without the team getting any compensation back for it - just to stick it to them "

You might ruffle a few feathers by doing so.

Food for thought.

I take it you didn't actually read my post you literally just quoted. I will repeat it for your benefit. I have nothing against the Suns franchise or its fans. I do however can't stand and in fact loathe Sarver because he's the epitome of a horrible cheapskate owner that ruins franchises. His treatment of Ayton is despicable. So I hope Ayton leaves Phoenix for zero compensation not because I dislike the Suns but because it would teach Sarver a lesson.

It must be nice having a #1 pick in your franchise history. The Hawks never had one play for us. We only ever had #1 pick ever and he signed with the ABA. And when the ABA folded into the NBA somehow the Hawks didn't have his rights as a NBA player.

So maybe just hope for the owner to be replaced rather than wishing ill fortune on the franchise and its fanbase? We don't get to choose our ownership.

It would be like someone posting "I hope Trae Young pulls a Ben Simmons and that the Hawks lose him for absolutely nothing"

And then turning around and saying "But actually I really like the Hawks franchise and its fanbase, i don't wish any ill-fortune on them at all"

The two things don't really go well together, wouldn't you agree?

They actually do go well together as I have explained, twice, now. Do you have any realistic expectation of Sarver selling the franchise in the next year though? I know what it is like as an Atlanta sports fan to have horrible ownership situations. The Atlanta Spirit Group crippled the Hawks and literally sold our NHL franchise, the Thrashers, to Winnipeg instead of 24 local groups that would have kept the team in Atlanta. The Falcons were owned forever by the wretched Rankin Smith family that was the cheapest NFL ownerships of all time.

I don't know if you guys have an Arthur Blank or Tony Ressler that can save your franchise from Sarver but I sincerely hope that happens. Fans are victims and held hostage by loyalty by owners.

[lilfishi22]

Pretty confident we'll retain Ayton and Cam.

I see a ton of comments about Ayton being replaceable with McGee and Biyombo coming in and doing a great job and that's it's mostly CP3's effect but the Suns have to look beyond the CP3 era. There WILL be a time when CP3 is no longer with the Suns and Ayton as a starter without CP3 is a far better player than two NBA journeymen centers.

[Mr Puddles]

Pretty confident we'll retain Ayton and Cam.

I see a ton of comments about Ayton being replaceable with McGee and Biyombo coming in and doing a great job and that's it's mostly CP3's effect but the Suns have to look beyond the CP3 era. There WILL be a time when CP3 is no longer with the Suns and Ayton as a starter without CP3 is a far better player than two NBA journeymen centers.

Not just that, but you can see the value Ayton bring to the team when watching last night's game against the Spurs. With Ayton, you can't go small - he's nimble enough defensively to stick with smaller guys on defense and absolutely punishes them on the offensive end due to his ability to pin guys down low and by using his soft touch to score over them. Watch game 1 against the Clippers in the western conference finals to see what happens when a team tries to play small ball against Ayton. Mcgee and Bismack have been great filling in, but they don't possess those qualities (which will be very important come playoff time).

[jcsunsfan]

At worst they are going to wait and pay them what the market gives them through a RFA match… which fits with the general belief that Sarver is a cheap bastard.

I don't like Sarver. At all. But in fairness, it is unwise for a team to spend more than it needs to retain a player.

Teams that pay too much often falter and then they have to try to trade away their power forward or whatever position their overpaid player plays.

[Saberestar]

Are Suns going to pay Ayton AND Cam Johnson?

Short answer: YES.

Long answer: YESSSSSSS.

[bigfoot]

Yes, the Suns are going to pay both. Personally, Cam Johnson is just as important as Ayton since he is proving to be a very good player on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. He is not merely a 3 point shooter on offense. He also can play multiple positions.

If anything Sarver should have learned letting Amare walk for nothing in return was a mistake. Ayton will be signed and have huge trade value. It's that simple.

Currently, Ayton is Gobert-lite, slightly better on offense, slightly worse on defense. If DA doesn't grow on offense where he can create for himself and others, he can be moved. Capella was moved, why not DA. The worst case is the Suns move Ayton for a future CP3 replacement and run with a younger star point guard, Booker, Bridges, Cam, and a serviceable big man.

[King4Day]

The answer to this question will become apparent after this year's playoffs. If the Suns win a title, or come excruciatingly close again, I think the Suns will do their best to resign/extend.

If the Suns get bounced, you could see Ayton get a max from Detroit, and PHX not match.

Suns have a tiny window because of Paul's age.

Phoenix would do a sign and trade if a team tries signing him to an offer sheet. The signing team would have little leverage this year.

[NetsWorld]

Yes, Ayton improved a lot with CP3 but no way he can be replaced with either Mcgee or Biyombo. I understand most people don't watch the games and only look at box scores, but if you follow this team you would know that Ayton is a much better player for many reasons.

Understandable but are the Suns willing to pay him? They didn't want to pay him over the Summer, is it because he can get more money this year? Remains to be seen.

[3toheadmelo]

suns would be idiots to let Ayton go

[SunsLyf3]

So insulting me as a Hawks fan aside, it would be karma for your terrible owner to have a player do exactly what I posted. He is once again taking the cheap route with the Suns and is screwing Ayton over in the process. Ayton owes the Suns nothing as a result. Nothing. He should take the one year tender and leave as a free agent. If for no other reason to punish Sarver and to show him and the rest of the owners that if you play cheap with top talent it bites you in the ass.

It isn't because I dislike Phoenix that I hope this happens. It is because I hate what Sarver has done to that franchise. He deserves some kind of basketball karma for how he's treated the franchise and its fans.

Just for future reference, if you don't want to be insulted as a Hawks fan it's probably better to not essentially post:

"I really hope the first #1 pick in your franchise's history not only doesn't re-sign, but that he goes one step further and makes a financial sacrifice so he can leave the franchise without the team getting any compensation back for it - just to stick it to them "

You might ruffle a few feathers by doing so.

Food for thought.

I take it you didn't actually read my post you literally just quoted. I will repeat it for your benefit. I have nothing against the Suns franchise or its fans. I do however can't stand and in fact loathe Sarver because he's the epitome of a horrible cheapskate owner that ruins franchises. His treatment of Ayton is despicable. So I hope Ayton leaves Phoenix for zero compensation not because I dislike the Suns but because it would teach Sarver a lesson.

It must be nice having a #1 pick in your franchise history. The Hawks never had one play for us. We only ever had #1 pick ever and he signed with the ABA. And when the ABA folded into the NBA somehow the Hawks didn't have his rights as a NBA player.

That's not going to teach Sarver a lesson. He'll still get his money and if anything it will save him money, which he'll love cause he's a penny pincher. DA walking is going to screw the fans and his teammates/coaching staff.