Detroit Pistons: 5 potential free agents from the Phoenix Suns

Detroit Pistons: 5 free agents from the Phoenix Suns

Deandre Ayton: Restricted free agent

Ayton is the guy we’ve been talking about for over a year now, as he is a 23-year-old center who would be a nice fit wit the Detroit Pistons.

Whether or not he will hit the market is unknown, as the Suns just flamed out in the second round and may think they’ve hit their ceiling with the Paul/Booker/Ayton trio.

However, Ayton was very solid this season and they don’t have an immediate replacement, so it’s tough to see the Suns just letting him walk.

That doesn’t mean they will offer the full five-year max either, as Sarver is notoriously cheap and may decide he doesn’t want to go deep into the luxury tax for their third best player.

It amazes me how quickly some Pistons’ fans went to “Ayton is the perfect guy!” to “We can’t give this guy $30 million, he’s not a max player!” after he wasn’t great in the Dallas series after helping to carry the Suns there in the first place. Is Devin Booker a max guy then? How about Chris Paul?

Let me tell you why the second sentiment is dead wrong. One, “we” aren’t paying Ayton anything, no one is asking you to chip in on it. I am being slightly facetious here but some fans are acting like Tom Gores is asking them to cut the check.

Two, you have to pay max money to get good players, it’s that simple.

Three, Cade Cunningham is still on a rookie deal that will end one year before Ayton’s would. They can afford to pay one player max money.

Four, the salary cap is going to explode again after the next TV deal and $30 million is going to be minimum wage for a starter in the NBA, just as $20 million is pretty much the minimum going rate now. I guarantee you there will be guys we consider role players getting that money soon, so Ayton will look like a bargain if you can lock him up now and get his entire prime at what will be a discount.

Five, the Detroit Pistons could possibly get him in a sign-and-trade for Jerami Grant, which would lessen their financial obligations for next season.

Six, he’ll make Cade Cunningham and Killian Hayes better.

Seven, if you think this is another Andre Drummond situation, think again. Ayton is already better than Drummond ever was on both sides of the ball. Drummond was/is a very good rebounder who does little else. This is not the same situation at all. Ayton is good now and has another level as a shooter and playmaker.

For me, Deandre Ayton is the only free agent worth the max when you consider his skill set and age. If you want to point to the fact that he had a bad series against Dallas as a reason not to sign him, I’d point to the fact that the was the starting center on a Finals team last year and a team that won 64 games in this one.

He’s proven he can be an impact player on a very good team. Only one team wins a title every year, so does that mean everyone who didn’t is a bum who choked? Ring culture has rotted some brains.

Ultimately, I’d be surprised if Ayton didn’t re-sign with the Suns, even after the reported dust up between him and Monty Williams, but if there is a sliver of hope the Pistons should be in there with a check book.