By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Indiana Pacers are signing restricted free agent center Deandre Ayton to a four-year, $133 million offer sheet according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. It’s the largest offer sheet in the history of the NBA and the Phoenix Suns have 48 hours to match it if they want to keep the player.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks reports, the Pacers have to clear 4.7 million from their cap space to accommodate Ayton’s salary. If the Suns do match the offer in order to at least retain Ayton as a potential trading asset, then they can’t move him until January 15 and the Pacers can’t acquire him until the next summer.
Ayton was selected by the Suns with the No. 1 overall pick in 2018 and made the All-Rookie First Team of that season. He was a pivotal member of the squad that reached the NBA Finals in 2021, the Suns’ first appearance in a championship series since 1993.
Last season, Ayton had 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds in 52 games.