Deandre Ayton happy with free agency resolution; was intrigued by pairing with Tyrese Haliburton

Deandre Ayton will remain with the Phoenix Suns after they matched the four-year, $133 million offer sheet the restricted free agent signed with the Indiana Pacers. According to Adrian Wojarowski, Ayton was intrigued to play with young guard Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana.

But the pair was not to be, as the Phoenix Suns matched the Pacers’ offer in three minutes and kept Ayton in Arizona for four more year. Phoenix and Ayton did not come to an agreement on a contract extension last October, which brought on restricted free agency for the starting center.

“I’ve come to understand that this is a business. So, I was more anxious to know the end of the result so I could focus, move on and just get back to work. I just treated everything like a business. Just keep being professional, approach everything with professionalism and not looking too deep into it,” Ayton told Marc J.Spears.

Ayton was selected first overall by the Suns in the 2018 NBA Draft. In his fourth year, Ayton averaged 17.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 63.4% from the field.

He was a key part of the Phoenix’s NBA Finals run in 2021. However, the last season was different story as the Suns’ regular season success do not follow them in the playoffs, where they fell to Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.

The core of Ayton, Chris Paul and Devin Booker will be tasked with competing against the  NBA titleholders Golden State Warriors and others in the tough Western Conference.

“I got to give a lot of respect to the Pacers organization. They were aggressive from the start and showing a lot of love. And we agreed to a max offer sheet. The Suns matched. Now, I’m back in Phoenix as a Sun.

“I’m happy. The process is over. I put all this behind me and focus on chasing a championship this upcoming season with my brothers.”

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