The Suns were impressed with Ayton in his rookie campaign, and the big man also showed his dedication to the team.
One of the NBA’s rising centres, DeAndre Ayton, plays for the Phoenix Suns, a powerhouse in the Western Conference. The Ayton is a traditional centre that has adhered to the game’s origins in a time when big men are choosing to shoot the ball. Ayton played for the Arizona Wildcats during his college career, and was projected to be the top pick in the 2018 draught. The 7’1″ Bahamas native was a standout in his college career, averaging a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds in his lone season with the Wildcats. His high potential made him attractive to many teams in the 2018 draught. The Phoenix Suns made their selection with the first overall pick despite players like Luka Doncic and Trae Young being available. Although Ayton hasn’t been as effective as the other two guards, he has maintained his position as a reliable utility player for the Suns.
To put it mildly, Ayton’s first season with the Suns was impressive. He continued to average a double-double, just like he had in college. But with their outstanding rookie campaigns, players like Doncic and Young undoubtedly received the majority of the praise.
In his second season, the 7’1″ big man’s statistics improved as well, averaging 18.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. However, the Suns were embarrassing the league and themselves in his first two seasons, having missed the playoffs for the previous ten years. However, the Orlando bubble undoubtedly revealed a different aspect of the Phoenix Suns as a whole. The Suns entered the 2020–21 season with incredible momentum after winning every game. It indicated that the Sun’s front office was prepared to make some significant changes. With the addition of Chris Paul and numerous veterans, the Suns appeared to be a well-rounded team. However, the addition of some notable players required a starter like Ayton to make a significant change.
The former first-overall pick was adaptable and made concessions regarding his shot volume in a league where players are eager to establish themselves with numbers and strive to be superstars. But there wasn’t a significant decrease in his offensive output. Ayton’s effectiveness around the rim increased dramatically. Chris Paul, one of the best point guards of the time, helped the 7’1″ centre develop into a pick-and-roll and rim-runner machine. The Suns had easy baskets left, right, and centre, so this was one of the playoffs’ most notable features. Additionally, the Bahamian’s defence improved significantly. In contrast to his early years, when he served as an offensive unit, in the 2020–21 campaign, he was given the responsibility of guarding the best big men in the league, and more often than not, the 7’1” centre held his own. Given his selfless play and how significantly his defence has improved.
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The Suns were impressed with Ayton in his rookie campaign, and the big man also showed his dedication to the team by agreeing to a 4-year, $40 million contract back in the 2018–19 season. He is expected to make $12.6 million this season. However, this amount of money is unquestionably comparable to what his peers Doncic and Young are currently making. The Suns had a chance to make the big man a good offer during this offseason.
Ayton had anticipated a five-year maximum deal with the team, but the front office has been, to put it mildly, hesitant and is only interested in three or four-year contracts. Ayton’s future with the Suns appears to be in some danger as both parties were unable to agree. It is understandable why the Bahamian has a net worth of $5 million given that the centre is only at the beginning of his career and did not sign a sizable contract.
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