The Suns are matching the Pacers’ offer of four years and $133 million to center Deandre Ayton, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Phoenix now cannot trade Ayton until Jan. 15 by NBA rules.
There had been some doubt if the Suns would keep Ayton — or if they would try to work out a sign-and-trade. Now, they will keep him.
A few months back, agent Bill Duffy expressed disappointment that Ayton wasn’t signed by the Suns during the season.
“We’re disappointed. We wanted a max contract,” Duffy said on SiriusXM Radio, via RealGM. “He went out and was a solider the whole year, played well, improved his statistics. So, we’re proud of him. A lot of guys handle things differently, but he was very mature about it.”
Ayton, 23, averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds this season while shooting a career-high 63.4 percent from the field. He is a restricted free agent.
Hoops Wire will have more on this story as it develops.
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