Phoenix has repeated Indiana’s offer and retained restricted free agent Deandre Ayton.
This was reported by ESPN citing the basketball player’s agents.
The Indianapolis-based club offered the centerfielder a maximum four-year contract worth $133 million. “The Suns were expected to make a decision by Saturday night but repeated the offer as early as Thursday.
Phoenix has decided not to negotiate a sides-and-trades deal with the Pacers.
The Suns won’t be able to trade Ayton until January 15 if they wish. In addition, the No. 1 pick of the 2018 draft will have one year to veto the swap.
For a long time, it was thought that Phoenix did not want to write Ayton a max and could part ways with the 24-year-old player.
Indiana will waive defenseman Dwayne Washington (22, 191cm) and the three players it acquired in the Malcolm Brogdon trade to Boston – Malik Fitts (24, 203), Juwan Morgan (25, 201), and Nik Stauskas (28, 198) – to make room in the payroll for Ayton.