Deandre Ayton 'happy' with resolution after signing extension; Phoenix Suns tout 'vital' piece

Deandre Ayton says he gained generational wealth that can help his family and many others after signing a four-year, $133 million maximum contract extension to return to the Phoenix Suns on Monday.

But there was also a business lesson involved, too, for the young center as the contract initially came via a matched offer sheet from the Indiana Pacers.

«This is a blessing,» Ayton told ESPN's Andscape in a phone conversation after signing his contract. «This contract not only has generational impact for my family, but also with the way we are able to work in the Phoenix community and home in the Bahamas. That is the things that we go by...

»I've come to understand that this is a business. So, I was more anxious to know the end of the result so I could focus, move on, and just get back to work. I just treated everything like a business. Just keep being professional, approach everything with professionalism and not looking too deep into it."

The Suns could have offered Ayton a five-year deal paying $179.6 million on July 1, but did not. Instead, the «anxious» restricted free agent signed the four-year, $133 million max offer sheet with the Pacers on July 12. The Suns had until 11:59 ET on July 14 to match the largest offer sheet in NBA history, but ended up matching it as soon as they received it.

Phoenix general manager James Jones said he told Ayton through the entire free agency process that he planned to re-sign him, including a Zoom conference call on July 1. James also told ESPN's Andscape that it was «important» and «critical» to match immediately.

«We wanted Deandre here,» Jones said in a phone interview. «He's vital to what we do, at the core of everything that we do. And throughout this whole process it was, it rang