NBA Rumors: Deandre Ayton Wanted 'Trae Young Max' Contract; Suns 'Weren't Willing'

More details about the failed contract-extension talks between Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns have come out. 

On the latest episode of his podcast (starts at 6:09 mark), ESPN's Brian Windhorst said Ayton went into the negotiation looking for the "Trae Young max" of five years and $172.6 million. 

"That's what his expectation was," Windhorst added. "The Suns were not willing to give him a five-year contract."

Monday at 6 p.m. ET was the deadline for 2018 draft picks to sign rookie extensions. 

Young, Luka Doncic, Wendell Carter Jr., Mikal Bridges, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Michael Porter Jr. were among the notable players from that class to receive a long-term deal. 

Ayton is the most prominent member of that class who didn't get a new deal. Windhorst and Adrian Wojnarowski reported the 23-year-old is "unhappy with the franchise's consistent stance to his representatives that the organization simply didn't foresee him as a max player."

The Suns' decision not to extend Ayton a five-year max offer comes as the team did show a willingness to spend money on core players this offseason. 

Bridges, Chris Paul and Landry Shamet each signed multiyear deals with Phoenix. Devin Booker locked in a five-year, $158 million extension in July 2018. 

Ayton can become a restricted free agent next summer if the Suns extend him a qualifying offer. That will give the reigning Western Conference champions the ability to match any offer sheet the fourth-year center might receive from another organization. 

The No. 1 pick in the 2018 class, Ayton is coming off the best season of his career. He averaged 14.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in 69 regular-season starts in 2020-21. The Arizona alum's 3.1 defensive win shares nearly matched his total from the previous two seasons combined (3.3, per Basketball Reference). 

Ayton and the Suns will tip off the season Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets at Footprint Center.