Report: Suns Have Shown No Interest In Ayton Sign-And-Trade With Pacers

While the Phoenix Suns and Indiana Pacers do have several more hours (until midnight) to work out a sign-and-trade for Deandre Ayton, the Suns, according to Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, are highly unlikely to do so.

So far, Suns haven't shown an interest in negotiating a sign-and-trade on Ayton with the Pacers, but the expectation remains that Phoenix will match the record-$133M offer sheet once it's signed, sources tell ESPN. Suns could trade Ayton as soon as Jan. 15 once sheet is matched.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 14, 2022

Restricted free agent Ayton has signed the max offer sheet of 4-years, $133M with Indiana, but the Suns will have 48 hours as of midnight tonight to match it. If they don't, they lose him for nothing. But all indications are that they, essentially, will not be bullied, and will, in fact, match the offer.

As Woj notes, if they do match it, they would be able to trade Ayton as of Jan. 15th—but NOT to the Pacers: They'd have to wait one full year to trade him to Indiana. In addition, making it even more difficult for Phoenix, is that Ayton would have some say in the matter if they tried to trade him.