Apr 19, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) against the New Orleans Pelicans during game two of the first round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton is very close to joining the Indiana Pacers and leaving the Phoenix Suns.
According to sources, the Indiana Pacers are allegedly very close to offering an offer sheet to former No.1 overall pick Deandre Ayton or acquiring him through a sign-and-trade.
Ayton is a restricted free agent, so if the Pacers offered an offer sheet to him, the Phoenix Suns would have two days to counter it. Deandre Ayton is free to accept Indiana’s invitation to play there next season if the Suns decide not to match the Pacers’ offer.
According to Brian Windhorst: “The Indiana Pacers have shown a lot of interest in Deandre Ayton this offseason. They now have salary cap space to offer him a contract. They had space before, but they had to wait until they completed the Malcolm Brogdon trade, which they just did over the weekend, and so effective now they have the cap space to sign Deandre Ayton outright to an offer sheet. … The league is waiting to see if Ayton signs it, as early as today.”
The Indiana Pacers have a good young core. They already have Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Duarte in their backcourt. If they add Deandre Ayton to their team, it will be a great long-term investment for them.
Ayton has shown that he is a good player. He worked well alongside Chris Paul, and Haliburton certainly can bring the best out of him. Hopefully, the Pacers will be able to strike a deal with Ayton.
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