This offseason is all about Deandre Ayton for the Suns.
After finishing the regular season with the best record in the league, it all came crumbling down for Phoenix in the second round of the playoffs, losing to Dallas by a historic margin in Game 7.
This is far from the end of the road for the Suns — Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Mikal Bridges are each under contract for the foreseeable future — but they do have a big decision to make with Ayton, the only member of the team's core that is due for an extension this summer.
Ayton has played an important role in Phoenix's success in each of the last two seasons and is one of the best players available in this free-agent class. The expectation is that he'll command a max salary.
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Ayton's contract details, strengths, weaknesses and best fits before getting into the latest news surrounding the Suns' center ahead of free agency.
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Deandre Ayton's contract details
After being selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Ayton signed a four-year, $40.4 million contract with the Suns. He is a restricted free agent this offseason, meaning he can sign an offer sheet with any team in the league, but the Suns will have an opportunity to bring him back by matching the offer sheet.
Ayton is eligible for a five-year, $177 million extension with the Suns. The most he can sign with any other team is four years, $131.1 million.
Another option for Ayton is signing the qualifying offer for the 2022-23 season, which is worth $16.4 million. He'd then be an unrestricted free agent next offseason, allowing him to sign with any team of his choosing.
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Deandre Ayton's strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
There aren't many centers that impact both ends of the court at the level Ayton does.
Offensively, Ayton thrives as a roller, cutter and offensive rebounder. He's a massive target at 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, and he has good touch around the basket. According to Cleaning The Glass, he shot 76.6 percent at the rim in the 2021-22 season, ranking him in the 89th percentile for his position. He also has a mean hook shot, making him a threat to score from floater range.
Ayton doesn't take many jumpers, but he's flashed enough potential as a shooter from both midrange and 3-point range to believe that could be a bigger part of his game in the future.
While Ayton doesn't pick up as many blocks and steals as other centers, he's a solid rim protector. He's a versatile defender as well. Not only does he have the strength to guard forwards and centers, but he's nimble enough to switch onto guards.
Weaknesses
Ayton has been more of a finisher than a creator over the last couple of seasons. Some of that has been the result of him adapting his game to better complement Booker and Paul, who are two of the best shot-creators in the NBA, but it is fair to wonder how he'd fare as more of a focal point on offense.
Ayton is also more of a finesse big than a bruising one. It's telling that he averaged 2.4 free throw attempts per game this season, an incredibly low mark for a starting center.
Ultimately, Ayton has proven himself to be an excellent role player, but is he a star? That's the $30-plus million question.
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How old is Deandre Ayton?
Born on July 23, 1998, Ayton will turn 24 years old this offseason.
Through four seasons of his career, Ayton is averaging 16.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game on 59.9 percent shooting from the field. His best years are still ahead of him.
Deandre Ayton possible teams and best fits
The first team that comes to mind is the Pistons. According to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, Detroit is "heavily expected" to pursue Ayton in restricted free agency. The Pistons have the money to do so and Ayton would be a nice addition to their core, which is headlined by Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.
The Raptors are an interesting option for Ayton. They don't have cap space like the Pistons do, so their best hope of getting him would be in a sign-and-trade. It's no secret that Toronto is looking for a center, and Ayton has the versatility to play in Nick Nurse's system.
The Spurs have been mentioned as a potential destination for Ayton. San Antonio is one of few teams expected to have cap space this offseason and is in the business of acquiring young talent, especially at Ayton's position. Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reported in May that the Spurs began weighing their long-term frontcourt plans at this season's trade deadline. Their current starting center, Jakob Poeltl, is set to enter free agency in 2023.
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Deandre Ayton news, rumors and latest updates
Ahead of the 2022 NBA Draft, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Suns don't value Ayton at a max contract, adding that he thinks Phoenix is motivated to find a sign-and-trade to get assets in return for the former No. 1 pick.
