Deandre Ayton, the first overall pick in 2018, is set for restricted free agency next year after failing to agree to a rookie contract extension with the Phoenix Suns before Monday’s deadline. The negotiations between the two sides fell through after Ayton reportedly asked for a max deal, and the Suns refused to make that offer.

The type of deal that Ayton wanted, a five-year, $172.5 million contract, was already given to several members of the 2018 draft class, including Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC Thunder), and Michael Porter Jr. (Denver Nuggets). But while the 23-year-old player and his camp believed he is on the same level as the players listed above, the Suns didn’t and never made any indications they would tap into the max territory.

Not signing Ayton to a deal he wanted saves money for Phoenix short-term but might come with severe implications. Ayton already publicly signaled his concerns that the Suns don’t value him enough, so having an unhappy player on the roster could potentially be a distraction as the team attempts to return to the NBA Finals.

Also, the Suns are risking having a lot less control over Ayton than they would have if they had signed him to a max extension. While they can match offers from other teams in restricted free agency, Ayton could accept a deal that would give him an early exit and make him a free agent earlier than expected.

There is also a scenario, which is less likely, that Ayton simply signs the qualifying offer that would see him play out 2022-23 and then leave for free after.

Since entering the NBA, Ayton has averaged 16.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game.

The post Deandre Ayton Fails to Agree to a Rookie Extension with Phoenix appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Phoenix Suns had the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and decided to use it well, selecting Arizona’s big man Deandre Ayton with the pick on Thursday night. There were rumors that Suns might trade the pick but decided not to pass on the chance to have a No.1 overall selection for the first time in the franchise’s history.

Sacramento Kings were next on the clock and decided to select Duke’s power forward Marvin Bagley III. There were speculations that the Kings might go all in for Slovenia and Real Madrid’s wonder kid Luka Doncic but still stuck with a more popular choice. Dallas Mavericks, on the other side, were so amazed by Doncic’s talent that they have decided to move up in the draft in order to get him.

Atlanta Hawks decided to trade their 2018 NBA Draft third overall pick to Mavericks in exchange for their fifth overall pick and lightly protected 2019 first round pick. Mavs used their newly acquired pick to get Luka Doncic.

With the fourth overall pick, Memphis Grizzlies selected Michigan’s Jaren Jackson Jr., while Hawks used the Mavericks pick to take Oklahoma’s Trae Young. Orlando Magic drafted talented big man Mohamed Bamba from Texas with the sixth pick, while Chicago Bulls also took a center with the seventh pick, Duke’s Wendell Carter. Cleveland Cavaliers used the Brooklyn Nets pick they acquired from Boston Celtics to take Alabama’s point guard Collin Sexton.

Interesting thing was that Missouri’s Michael Porter Jr., who was considered to be among top three talents in the draft class, slipped down all the way to the 14th spot, where he was selected by the Denver Nuggets. Reportedly, Porter’s back problems scared away teams and they just didn’t want to take that risk.

2018 NBA Draft also saw Philadelphia 76ers trading their tenth overall selection, Villanova’s Mikal Bridges, to Phoenix Suns in exchange for Suns’ 16th overall selection, Texas Tech’s Zhaire Smith, and Miami Heat’s unprotected 2021 first-round pick.

You can check out the all selections of 2018 NBA Draft here.

The post Phoenix Suns Select Arizona’s Deandre Ayton as the No.1 Overall Pick in 2018 NBA Draft appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Arizona’s center Deandre Ayton isn’t just a talented basketball player, but also a confident young man. The 19-year-old told reporters on Wednesday that he already knows he will be the number one pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

“I know I’m going No. 1,” – Ayton told reporters after a pre-draft workout with the Phoenix Suns, the team who has the first overall pick.

Although Suns didn’t promise Deandre Ayton that they will use their No.1 pick on him, he is so confident in his game that he already thinks it is a done deal. This is why he won’t attend pre-draft workouts for any other team.

Deandre Ayton was born in the Bahamas but moved to Phoenix, Arizona when he was a high school student. By 2017, he established himself as one of top five prospects in the nation and decided to attend University of Arizona. During his freshman season as Arizona Wildcats player, Ayton averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.9 points per game.

“Everybody knows us now,” – said Ayton. “This is our second home, so we just feel welcome, and it would be a blessing if I become the No. 1 pick and stay here and make this home.”

It looks like the Suns wouldn’t have anything against making Ayton number one overall pick as well since they liked what they saw at Wednesday’s workout.

“It was everything that we expected form Deandre,” – said Suns general manager Ryan McDonough. “Obviously, we’ve watched him closely at Arizona and we’ve scouted him heavily in person in games, at practice, and on film. He showed us what we expected to see.”

The post Arizona’s Deandre Ayton: “I know I’m going No. 1” in 2018 NBA Draft appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Deandre Ayton, the first overall pick in 2018, is set for restricted free agency next year after failing to agree to a rookie contract extension with the Phoenix Suns before Monday’s deadline. The negotiations between the two sides fell through after Ayton reportedly asked for a max deal, and the Suns refused to make that offer.

The type of deal that Ayton wanted, a five-year, $172.5 million contract, was already given to several members of the 2018 draft class, including Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC Thunder), and Michael Porter Jr. (Denver Nuggets). But while the 23-year-old player and his camp believed he is on the same level as the players listed above, the Suns didn’t and never made any indications they would tap into the max territory.

Not signing Ayton to a deal he wanted saves money for Phoenix short-term but might come with severe implications. Ayton already publicly signaled his concerns that the Suns don’t value him enough, so having an unhappy player on the roster could potentially be a distraction as the team attempts to return to the NBA Finals.

Also, the Suns are risking having a lot less control over Ayton than they would have if they had signed him to a max extension. While they can match offers from other teams in restricted free agency, Ayton could accept a deal that would give him an early exit and make him a free agent earlier than expected.

There is also a scenario, which is less likely, that Ayton simply signs the qualifying offer that would see him play out 2022-23 and then leave for free after.

Since entering the NBA, Ayton has averaged 16.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game.

The post Deandre Ayton Fails to Agree to a Rookie Extension with Phoenix appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Phoenix Suns had the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and decided to use it well, selecting Arizona’s big man Deandre Ayton with the pick on Thursday night. There were rumors that Suns might trade the pick but decided not to pass on the chance to have a No.1 overall selection for the first time in the franchise’s history.

Sacramento Kings were next on the clock and decided to select Duke’s power forward Marvin Bagley III. There were speculations that the Kings might go all in for Slovenia and Real Madrid’s wonder kid Luka Doncic but still stuck with a more popular choice. Dallas Mavericks, on the other side, were so amazed by Doncic’s talent that they have decided to move up in the draft in order to get him.

Atlanta Hawks decided to trade their 2018 NBA Draft third overall pick to Mavericks in exchange for their fifth overall pick and lightly protected 2019 first round pick. Mavs used their newly acquired pick to get Luka Doncic.

With the fourth overall pick, Memphis Grizzlies selected Michigan’s Jaren Jackson Jr., while Hawks used the Mavericks pick to take Oklahoma’s Trae Young. Orlando Magic drafted talented big man Mohamed Bamba from Texas with the sixth pick, while Chicago Bulls also took a center with the seventh pick, Duke’s Wendell Carter. Cleveland Cavaliers used the Brooklyn Nets pick they acquired from Boston Celtics to take Alabama’s point guard Collin Sexton.

Interesting thing was that Missouri’s Michael Porter Jr., who was considered to be among top three talents in the draft class, slipped down all the way to the 14th spot, where he was selected by the Denver Nuggets. Reportedly, Porter’s back problems scared away teams and they just didn’t want to take that risk.

2018 NBA Draft also saw Philadelphia 76ers trading their tenth overall selection, Villanova’s Mikal Bridges, to Phoenix Suns in exchange for Suns’ 16th overall selection, Texas Tech’s Zhaire Smith, and Miami Heat’s unprotected 2021 first-round pick.

You can check out the all selections of 2018 NBA Draft here.

The post Phoenix Suns Select Arizona’s Deandre Ayton as the No.1 Overall Pick in 2018 NBA Draft appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Arizona’s center Deandre Ayton isn’t just a talented basketball player, but also a confident young man. The 19-year-old told reporters on Wednesday that he already knows he will be the number one pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

“I know I’m going No. 1,” – Ayton told reporters after a pre-draft workout with the Phoenix Suns, the team who has the first overall pick.

Although Suns didn’t promise Deandre Ayton that they will use their No.1 pick on him, he is so confident in his game that he already thinks it is a done deal. This is why he won’t attend pre-draft workouts for any other team.

Deandre Ayton was born in the Bahamas but moved to Phoenix, Arizona when he was a high school student. By 2017, he established himself as one of top five prospects in the nation and decided to attend University of Arizona. During his freshman season as Arizona Wildcats player, Ayton averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.9 points per game.

“Everybody knows us now,” – said Ayton. “This is our second home, so we just feel welcome, and it would be a blessing if I become the No. 1 pick and stay here and make this home.”

It looks like the Suns wouldn’t have anything against making Ayton number one overall pick as well since they liked what they saw at Wednesday’s workout.

“It was everything that we expected form Deandre,” – said Suns general manager Ryan McDonough. “Obviously, we’ve watched him closely at Arizona and we’ve scouted him heavily in person in games, at practice, and on film. He showed us what we expected to see.”

The post Arizona’s Deandre Ayton: “I know I’m going No. 1” in 2018 NBA Draft appeared first on SportzBonanza.