Deandre Ayton 'did not feel valued' by Suns, is expected to receive max offer as free agent, per report - CBS Sports

Now Ayton and the Suns enter the uncertainty of restricted free agency.

Ayton can seek out the max offer he craves on the open market… but Phoenix will have the right to match any offer he receives.

They matched the one he got from Charlotte, but it was a short-term max that allowed him to bolt as an unrestricted free agent three seasons later.

Though the situations were not identical, San Antonio forced Kawhi Leonard to wait until he was a restricted free agent to get his max contract in 2015 because doing so allowed the Spurs to preserve cap space to sign LaMarcus Aldridge.

If Ayton's goal is merely to get a four-year max deal, one of these teams could help him out by giving him such an offer sheet with the understanding that the Suns could match it.

Only the Suns can offer him a five-year deal.

Phoenix must tender Ayton a one-year, $16.4 million qualifying offer in order to maintain the right to match any offer he receives this offseason.

If Ayton accepts that offer, he would become an unrestricted free agent in 2023.

Of course, anything could happen if Ayton accepts that offer.

He might have a bounce-back season and become the most coveted free agent on the 2023 market.

Very few players ever actually take the qualifying offer for this reason.

The Suns went 16-6 without Ayton this season.