'Other teams': Deandre Ayton's agent, Bill Duffy, addresses future with Phoenix Suns
Duane RankinDeandre Ayton's agent, Bill Duffy, says "things will work out" for his client.
Will it be with the Phoenix Suns or someone else, though?
Duffy spoke with Justin Termine and Suns TV commentator Eddie Johnson on SiriusXM NBA Radio over the weekend about Ayton, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, meaning Phoenix can match any offer given to him.
"He's a valuable player and there's other teams in the league as well," Duffy said. "He's a restricted free agent, so we'll see how this process unfolds."
Ayton wanted a rookie max extension for five years, $172 million heading into the 2021-22 season, but his representatives and the Suns couldn't agree on that extension or any extension at all.
"One thing about me, throughout my whole life, I've always learned to control what I can control," said Ayton after the season opener back in October of last year.
Ayton would've filled the second allotted rookie max extension slot an NBA team can have. Devin Booker has the first.
"At the same time, obviously I'm disappointed, but I'm still trying to get us back to the finals. I've still got to represent the team and myself as well. I'm just a competitor, man. Just like to compete to the best and every time I'm in between those lines, that's what you're going to see out of me. Nothing else."
Ayton averaged 17.2 points on a career-best 63.4% shooting from the field and 10.2 rebounds in helping the Suns win a franchise-record 64 games in the regular season to earn homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.
Related: Where will Deandre Ayton stand with Suns after their shocking Game 7 loss to Mavericks?
"We wanted a max contract and he went out and he was a soldier the whole year, played well, improved his statistics, " Duffy said. "So, we're proud of him. A lot of guys handle things differently, but he was very mature about it."
However, Dallas, a fourth seed, eliminated Phoenix in the Western Conference semifinals in seven games.
In Game 7 which Phoenix lost by 33 points at home, Ayton scored a playoff career-low five points in 2-of-5 shooting in just 17 minutes. The Suns big exchanged words with Monty Williams after Williams took him out with 8:26 left in the third quarter.
The Suns were down 38 points at the time as they fell behind by as many as 46 points.
When asked why Ayton only played 17 minutes in Game 7, Williams said "it's internal" as he didn't put him back in the game.
Related: Why Suns should be sick Warriors 1 win away from NBA Finals
"It’s one of those things where you’re playing an emotional game and at an emotional point,” Suns general manager James Jones said last week. “It’s a game of emotions and feelings and sometimes your feelings get hurt and you process it and you move on, but we’re adults. We’re teammates. We’re grown men. Those things you handle and you move on and improve from.”
Duffy described Game 7 as "an anomaly" in the radio interview.
"Luka (Doncic) attacked and things just didn't work out," said Duffy about Doncic, who posted a double-double of 35 points and 10 rebounds in Game 7.
Duffy also represents Doncic, the third overall selection in the 2018 draft. Doncic signed a five-year, $207 million supermax rookie extension last August.
Now Ayton is looking for a huge payday.
Moore:Phoenix Suns should pay Deandre Ayton, but will he accept the raise?
The Suns can match any offer from another team, which could come from a number of franchises, such as Detroit, Orlando and San Antonio, but they could also do a sign-and-trade in a package deal and get players and draft picks in return.
The Suns don't have any draft picks as of right now and are in need of a third scorer who can create shots off the bounce.
Jones said Ayton had a "great" and "really productive" season and added the Suns are looking to maintain "continuity" heading into next season.
“As far as free agency and those things, we’ll address them at the proper time,” Jones said. “That happens in July, end of June, but we want to continue to keep our consistency and continuity and keep the guys that we have and continue to help those guys improve upon the things that we did this year.”
Jones also addressed the idea of the luxury tax being a concern moving forward considering Booker will be supermax eligible for a four-year, $211-milion deal if he makes All-NBA this year.
Cam Johnson is up for a rookie extension heading into his fourth season.
The Suns signed Chris Paul to a four-year, $120-million deal last offseason while Mikal Bridges' four-year, $90-million rookie extension kicks in this upcoming season.
Paul, 37, will be in the second year of his deal in 2022-23. His third year is partially guaranteed and the last year is non-guaranteed, according to multiple reports.
"We’re not talking about a luxury tax issues or avoiding those things," Jones said. "That’s not something that’s going to prevent us from continuing to build this team and keep this team together.”
Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.
Support local journalism. Start your online subscription.