The Phoenix Suns could lose one of their star players if they do not match the Indiana Pacers’ bumper maximum contract offer sheet for Deandre Ayton.
The 23-year-old Suns center, who was pick one in the 2018 NBA Draft, is a restricted free agent this off-season.
The Pacers have tabled the largest offer sheet in NBA history according to his agents Bill Duffy and Nima Namakian, leaving the Suns two days to decide whether to match it.
The deal is a four-year, $133million maximum contract offer sheet. If the Suns opt not to match it, he will depart with nothing in return given his free agent status.
The previous offer sheet record was $107m for Otto Porter Jr from the Brooklyn Nets in 2017 which was matched by the Washington Wizards.
Ayton’s potential departure would be a major blow for the Suns, who finished top in the Western Conference with a 64-18 record last season before bowing out in the Conference Semi-Finals.
The Suns were also Pacific division winners and Conference runners-up in 2020-21, before losing in the NBA Finals to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Ayton has been a key player across those two seasons for the Suns alongside Chris Paul and Devin Booker.
However, ESPN reports it is anticipated that Phoenix will match the offer sheet once it is signed by Ayton, which would mean he cannot be traded until January 15.
Ayton averaged 17.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in the 2021-22 season, with a career-best .634 field goal percentage.
