Here’s the current state of the Suns roster after Deandre Ayton offer match
Jul 15, 2022, 11:49 AM | Updated: 12:41 pm
Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns talks with Chris Paul #3, Deandre Ayton #22, Mikal Bridges #25, Jae Crowder #99 and Devin Booker #1 in the second half of game five of the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks at Footprint Center on July 17, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Bucks defeated the Suns 123-119. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The dust is beginning to settle after the Phoenix Suns matched the Indiana Pacers’ maximum offer sheet for restricted free agent center Deandre Ayton.
Phoenix matched a four-year, $133 million offer sheet — the biggest offer sheet in NBA history — which will make Ayton the fourth-highest paid center next season.
And while the sweepstakes for Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant are technically still alive, Suns general manager James Jones and Co. still have to construct a roster heading into the 2022-23 season.
Here is the current state of Phoenix’s roster as head coach Monty Williams gets to “run it back” with the majority of his squad that finished with a franchise-record 64 wins last year:
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BIGS
Obviously the biggest returning name is Ayton, but the Suns also have two more running it back in bigs Bismack Biyombo and Dario Saric, with the latter missing all of last season due to an ACL injury he suffered in the 2021 NBA Finals.
Phoenix also added center Jock Landale via trade with the Atlanta Hawks while losing both JaVale McGee and Frank Kaminsky in free agency to the Dallas Mavericks and Hawks, respectively.
GUARDS
The Suns’ backcourt will remain predominantly the same with the likes of the Point God Chris Paul, backup guards Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet and of course, Devin Booker, who Phoenix just signed to a four-year, $224 million supermax extension.
Phoenix also added Damion Lee in free agency from the Golden State Warriors.
However, the team lost backup guard Aaron Holiday to Atlanta in free agency while Elfrid Payton remains a free agent.
WINGS
The Suns still have the likes of Defensive Player of the Year finalist Mikal Bridges and NBA Sixth Man of the Year finalist Cameron Johnson on the roster, with the latter going into the final year of his four-year rookie contract after being selected No. 11 overall in the 2019 draft out of North Carolina.
Phoenix also has “Boss Man” and starting forward Jae Crowder in addition to Torrey Craig and Josh Okogie, who the team acquired via free agency this offseason.
The Suns currently have 14 players on the roster while Ish Wainright is on Phoenix’s Summer League squad.
