Paul shares thoughts on Ayton
Suns guard offers views on center’s contract issue
Chris Paul’s advice to Deandre Ayton on not getting a rookie max extension deal done by Monday’s deadline for 2018 first rounders is pretty straightforward.
“Control what you can control and that’s how you go out and hoop,” Paul said, after Wednesday’s morning shootaround prior to the Suns opening the 2021-22 season against the Denver Nuggets at Footprint Center.
“Things happen. The business of the game, but I know DA’s heart. I know how he competes. I know how competitive he is and at the end of the day, he wants to do his job for our team. I appreciate him for that. I know when he step out on the court tonight, it’s going to be all about what he got to do to help our team win.”
Ayton reportedly was seeking a fiveyear rookie max extension for $172 million. He didn’t get that deal and the Suns weren’t able to agree on any type of extension.
So the first overall pick in the 2018 draft, who posted 14 double-doubles in helping the Suns reach the NBA Finals last season, will enter next offseason as a restricted free agent. The Suns will be able to match any offer from another team.
Now, Ayton is heading into his fourth season on the final year of his initial rookie deal for $40.3 million wondering about his future. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft.
First rounders from the 2018 draft class were eligible for rookie extensions up until Monday’s deadline. Luka Doncic (Mavericks), Trae Young (Hawks), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) and Michael Porter Jr. (Nuggets) all received five-year rookie max extensions.
Paul, who is entering his 17th NBA season, understands it’s easier said than done to just go out and play when the circumstances are what they are for Ayton, but offered a broader perspective on the matter. “It’s life,” Paul said. “We’re all in this situation of playing and it’s a business. You have to figure out those different types of things, but we all show up to work today to win and play for each other. I think that’s what we’re going to try and keep doing.”
Paul talked about rallying around a situation like this, saying the players “really care about each other.” He took it a step further in saying it doesn’t matter if a player is with the team for a small period of time like Chasson Randle, who was waived before the season began after participating in training camp, they still care about the player.
“He became one of us,” Paul said about Randle. “So it’s always like that around here.”
Ayton’s teammates and 2018 draft classmates, Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet, who joined the team on a draftday trade this summer, each received four-year rookie extensions for $90 million and $43 million, respectively.
With that in mind, Paul was asked about the idea of celebrating Bridges and Shamet receiving extensions, yet sympathizing with Ayton not getting one.
“It is what it is,” Paul said. “This isn’t AAU basketball. We’re all grown men and understand the business of the game. You celebrate guys when you can and you there to listen to guys who want to talk to you about it, but it is what it is.”