When will Deandre Ayton escape free agency purgatory?
Despite being one of the top players on the market, the Suns center remains unsigned nearly two weeks after the free agency period began.
The 23-year-old restricted free agent, who has averaged 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game across four seasons in Phoenix, got caught up in the Kevin Durant vortex, but he could soon be on his way to a new team.
MORE: The best players still available in free agency
Deandre Ayton trade rumors: Will Pacers, Suns figure out deal?
On Monday's edition of "Get Up," ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that the Pacers were "very close" to giving Ayton an offer sheet or finalizing a sign-and-trade deal with the Suns.
"The Pacers had to do some business over the weekend and complete the Malcolm Brogdon trade [with the Celtics]," Windhorst said. "That is now on the verge of happening, and that is opening [up] enough cap space to almost give Deandre Ayton a max contract he is looking for."
Phoenix has previously made it clear that the franchise doesn't feel Ayton belongs in the same tier as Luka Doncic, Trae Young and other max extension candidates from the 2018 NBA Draft class. Figuring out a sign-and-trade deal would allow the Suns to bring back players who are capable of contributing on a contending team or could be flipped in another trade.
However, if Indiana can open up enough cap space to sign Ayton outright with an offer sheet, Phoenix could lose him and receive nothing in return. The Suns would have the opportunity to match the offer sheet and keep him on the roster, but as of Tuesday morning, that scenario seems unlikely.
MORE: Why hasn't Deandre Ayton signed a new contract?
How Deandre Ayton impacts potential Kevin Durant trade
As Windhorst noted during an appearance on "NBA Today," if an offer sheet is presented to Ayton, he wouldn't be eligible to be traded until Jan. 15. That would "essentially take him out of the [Durant trade] process altogether."
The Nets star has listed Phoenix as one of his "preferred destinations," so the Suns are looking to remain as flexible as possible in negotiations and have Ayton as a potential piece in that trade package.
MORE: Who says no? Debating six potential Kevin Durant trade packages
It's worth noting, though, that Brooklyn isn't necessarily interested in acquiring Ayton, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania, who discussed the challenge of a Suns-Nets trade on "The Pat McAfee Show" last week.
"When you're thinking about trades — Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges and draft picks — I don't think that's a deal construct that we're gonna see," Charania said. "So, can Phoenix go and take Deandre Ayton and take these other players on their roster — Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder — can they go trade them to other teams and go get another type of elite player that they could then use with Mikal Bridges to ship to Brooklyn?"
Can the Suns sort through these complicated situations? The clock is ticking.
