What is Phoenix doing

On Thursday the Phoenix Suns retained the services of a 7-foot center with four-year career averages of over 16 points and 10 rebounds. DeAndre Ayton is only 23 and his new contract runs for four years and it will pay him $133 million, a very good deal for Phoenix.

To get here, the Suns only had to throw Ayton under the crush of encircling media following Phoenix’s upsetting defeat in Game 7 of the Western semis. Later it was revealed the Suns were allegedly roiling in coronavirus at the time, but to hear coach Monty Williams tell it, DeAndre Ayton blew germs on all the mouthguards before blowing all his defensive assignments.

Phoenix made Ayton no offer in free agency. On Thursday afternoon, Indiana floated an offer sheet at Ayton, a restricted free agent. Hours later, Phoenix matched the terms.