Report: 'No Traction' Between Suns and Deandre Ayton

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski says Phoenix isn't willing to pay the price to keep Ayton.

The future of Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton continues to be debated, and as we inch closer to the beginning of free agency, reports from major insiders and outlets suggest Ayton will play in a new uniform for the 2022-23 season.

On a recent episode of SportsCenter, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski gave the latest on the contract standoff between Ayton and the Suns:

"There's no traction there," said Wojnarowski. "There hasn't been. They had a chance to do an extension last year at a max number. Phoenix has simply decided they don't value Deandre Ayton on a max contract. The good news for Deandre Ayton is a number of teams around the league do, and I think as a restricted free agent most teams are expecting right now as they jockey to get involved with Deandre Ayton is a sign-and-trade scenario. 

"Because he's a restricted free agent, Phoenix could match an offer sheet and keep him, but what Phoenix and Deandre Ayton would prefer is they come to an agreement where the Suns get some assets from a team , whether it's draft picks or players or cap space, and Deandre Ayton gets his max contract elsewhere.  That can all start moving tomorrow (Thursday, June 30) at 6:00 p.m. eastern. 

"I think there's several landing spots for Deandre Ayton on a max contract and those conversations can commence.  It's more increasingly likely Deandre Ayton is elsewhere in the NBA on a sign-and-trade deal, but we'll know more as that market starts developing tomorrow night."

Ayton just yesterday had a qualifying offer tendered on him by the Suns to officially make him a restricted free agent.   

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