The Phoenix Suns entered the offseason with a big priority: Keeping Chris Paul around after he helped them make the NBA Finals for the first time in nearly three decades.
Notably, that wasn’t the only renowned player they had to keep in mind during the summer.
Former first-overall pick Deandre Ayton is eligible to sign a max contract extension just like the one Trae Young, Luka Doncic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got.
Nonetheless, a recent report claims that the team is hesitant about offering him such a big contract, meaning that he could become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Paul, however, isn’t too concerned about how that situation will unfold, and recently said that he’s confident in their ability to get a deal done:
“I’m not concerned, I’m not concerned. That’s the business side of the game, you know,” Paul said on ESPN’s First Take, as quoted by the International Business Times. “Those contract talks happen. Players, agents, all that stuff. Hopefully, that stuff takes care of itself so we can get back to playing and doing what we do.”
Ayton doesn’t seem too pleased about this situation and has vowed to play with a chip on his shoulder next season and prove his doubters wrong once and for all:
“All that blood and sweat and tears and the sacrifices our team made and you’re trying to say it was a fluke. It’s personal now. I have so much vengeance coming into this league. I’m fed up. That’s just my energy right now,” Ayton said, as reported by Duane Rankin of the Arizona Central.
From a franchise standpoint, playing the waiting game could be the smartest move from the Suns.
At the end of the day, teams are wary of offering big contracts to big men nowadays, and they’d still have the right to match any offer he gets as a free agent.
Then again, Ayton can sign his extension until October 18, and not getting one could make him want to force his way out of the desert.
