This summer, Deandre Ayton got the bag. After he entered restricted free agency, the Phoenix Suns center got an offer sheet from the Indiana Pacers at the full maximum salary a 4th-year player can be offered, and the Suns exercised their right to match that offer and keep Ayton in purple and orange for the foreseeable future.
Now, your favorite ‘why won’t he dunk harder?!’ center will be paid over $30.9 million in the upcoming 2022-23 season and $133 million over the next four years. That salary places him as the second-highest paid player on the championship-contending Suns, right behind first-team All-NBA guard Devin Booker, ahead of third-team All-NBA guard Chris Paul, and miles ahead of first-team All-Defense forward Mikal Bridges.