DeAndre Ayton was one of the thorniest free agency cases of the summer. After virtually breaking up with the team and coach Monty Williams during the Playoffs, the center for the Phoenix Suns was looking for a new team. The Indiana Pacers tried, offering him a four-year, $133 million: a proposal tied precisely by the Suns, who still held the rights to the player. Ayton therefore eventually stayed in Phoenix: yes, with the maximum salary he wanted, but with morale apparently down.
Yesterday during Media Day he had already appeared quite annoyed with the way things turned out. When asked by a reporter about his reaction after signing a new deal with the Suns, Ayton responded in an almost sad tone: “I was happy — I had finally made it, I think.”.
“I was happy-it was all done, I guess.”
Deandre Ayton reacts to the Suns matching the Pacers offer 😅
🎥: @TavioThrowerNBA pic.twitter.com/fHya9rM8u0
– FanSided (@FanSided) September 26, 2022
And today, at the start of the Suns’ training camp, it got even worse.
Reporter: So?
Ayton: They are here.
G: Are you happy to be here?
A: It’s okay.
Deandre Ayton doesn’t seem too happy to be in Phoenix 😬
(Via @GeraldBourguet | h/t @AhnFireDigital )
– NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) September 27, 2022
Earlier in the day, he had said of he had not spoken to Coach Williams since Game-7 loss to Dallas during the last Playoffs.