The record offer sheet that Deandre Ayton signed Thursday with the Pacers and was quickly matched by the Suns certainly complicates the Nets’ ongoing efforts to trade superstar Kevin Durant.
Ayton, a restricted free agent, was signed to a four-year, $133 million offer, and Phoenix opted not to lose the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA draft for nothing, according to multiple reports.
Ayton is now not eligible to be traded until Jan. 15 and has veto power over any trade after that for the first year of the deal. The binding offer sheet also negates the possibility of him being included in a sign-and-trade with the Pacers or a third team, which was thought to be the most likely path for the Suns to acquire Durant.
The Nets have fielded offers for Durant since he requested a trade on June 30, but The Post reported earlier this week that there is a growing perception among league personnel that one or both of Durant and Kyrie Irving will still be on the Nets’ roster , when training camp starts in September.
Deandre AytonAP Kevin DurantAP
The Suns finished with a league-best 64-18 record last season before being swept in the second round of the playoffs by the Mavericks and their star Luka Doncic, who was drafted third overall in 2018 behind Ayton and Marvin Bagley III.
Ayton’s initial deal with Indiana tops the $107 million offer Otto Porter Jr. received in 2017 from the Nets, which was matched by the Wizards. The largest non-restricted free agent deal remains Harrison Barnes’ $94.4 million offer from the Mavericks in 2016.
The Pacers traded guard Malcolm Brogdon to the Celtics earlier this offseason to help create salary cap space to facilitate the acquisition of the 6-foot-11 Ayton, who averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds in 58 game last season for the Suns.
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