You may not like what everybody talking about, but nonetheless, we’re a team that has expectations and so it just goes with the territory.”Īyton is generally popular with his teammates. Now that you’re winning and having some success, things are talked about, and that’s a good thing in my opinion. And there was stuff going on because it’s a team and you’re dealing with people. The one thing I understand is when I first got there, the team wasn’t winning many games and so nobody was talking about anything that was going on. “This team is a new standard in Suns basketball and it’s part of a process. It was embarrassing to play that way, but as the dust settles and I look at the season from a holistic perspective, I look at all the good stuff that happened. Unfortunately, in sports and even in society, we focus on the one bad thing. “We had a bad day, but we had an unbelievable season. “I didn’t feel like I had to say anything. In an interview with ESPN, Williams described that Game 7 ouster as a “bad day.” He was also benched for part of Game 7 of the team’s second-round loss to Dallas this year after appearing to exchange words with coach Monty Williams.īy re-signing Deandre Ayton, the Suns keep their nucleus intact following a 64-win season. He was suspended 25 games without pay by the NBA in 2019 for violating the league’s Anti-Drug Program by testing positive for a diuretic. Much of the criticism about Ayton has been about his maturity. He averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season while shooting 63.4% from the field and 36.8% on 3-pointers. The athletic 6-foot-11 Ayton is powerful in the low post and has developed a strong mid-range game. The two guards have had more individual success, but neither has made it as far in the playoffs. He’s part of the 2018 draft class that includes Dallas’ Luka Doncic and Atlanta’s Trae Young. The Suns’ move is a blow to the Pacers, who were hoping to add Ayton as a pivotal piece in a promising young core that includes 22-year-old point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was acquired in a February trade with Sacramento.Īyton - who turns 24 later this month - had a shaky start to his career but became a critical component in the Suns’ run to the Finals. Phoenix has been linked to interest in acquiring Brooklyn star Kevin Durant during the offseason, but Ayton can’t be used as trade bait because of the new deal. Once Indiana made its move, the Suns countered quickly.ĭeandre Ayton is back in Phoenix after the Suns match Indiana's offer sheet, but the relationship will have to be repaired. That didn’t happen, and he became a restricted free agent this summer - meaning Phoenix had the chance to match any offers. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, Ayton was eligible to get an extension from Phoenix last summer. The trio pushed Phoenix to the NBA Finals in 2021 and a franchise-record 64 wins during the most recent regular season. The move means the Suns - at least for now - keep their nucleus of Ayton and the All-Star backcourt of Devin Booker and Chris Paul. Just keep being professional, approach everything with professionalism and not looking too deep into it.” I just treated everything like a business. So, I was more anxious to know the end of the result so I could focus, move on and just get back to work. “I’ve come to understand that this is a business. “This contract not only has generational impact for my family, but also with the way we are able to work in the Phoenix community and home in the Bahamas. Spears on Monday, Ayton express how the experience of being a free agent was a learning experience for him. We are excited to keep Deandre at home in the Valley where he belongs.” “DA is so important to what we do and without him we could not have reached our recent levels of success. “Deandre is a force on both ends of the floor, who has elevated his game every year and will continue to do so,” Suns general manager James Jones said in a statement. ESPN first reported that Ayton had agreed with the Pacers. The Athletic first reported Phoenix matching the offer. The deal was reported by multiple outlets to be a four-year, $133 million deal, which was the offer sheet he signed with the Indiana Pacers that Phoenix quickly matched. The big man officially inked his pact with the Suns on July 18. Deandre Ayton averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds last season while shooting 63.4% from the field.ĭeandre Ayton finally has his new deal from the Phoenix Suns, who simply weren’t willing to let him get away for nothing.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |