'Pacers are gonna be nasty': Deandre Ayton signs max offer sheet from Indiana, Twitter reacts
Deandre Ayton took a big step toward becoming an Indiana Pacer on Thursday, signing a max offer sheet for four years and $133 million, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Phoenix Suns have 48 hours to match the offer.
It would be the biggest free agent signing for the Pacers in a decade — possibly ever — and would provide a jolt of energy to a fanbase who is staring a lengthy rebuild in the face.
More:Would Deandre Ayton be a bigger Pacers free-agent signing than David West?
Here's how Twitter reacted to the news.
RFA center Deandre Ayton has agreed to a four-year, $133M maximum offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers, his agents Nima Namakian (Innovate Sports) and Bill Duffy (BDA Sports + WME Sports) tell ESPN. The Phoenix Suns have 48 hours to match the largest offer sheet in NBA history.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 14, 2022
Pacers are gonna be nasty
Ayton, Haliburton, Mathurin, Duarte, Smith… Quite the young core there— Colin (@cmbfooty) July 14, 2022
Would be the first #1 pick to even *play* for the Pacers. If they pull this off, Kevin Pritchard would have taken the team from completely collapsed in February to having a core of Hali-Ayton-Mathurin + Duarte, IJax, [Redacted], and Oshae. If it works, he’s Executive of the Year.
— michael warshauer (@MJWarshauer) July 14, 2022
Haliburton
Ayton
Mathurin
Duarte
IJax
Jalen Smith
None of these players were on the Pacer's roster a little over a year ago, and now are the core future of this franchise. Such an incredible retooling by Kevin Pritchard in such a short time— Jake Elrod (@JakeElrod44) July 14, 2022
Deandre Ayton makes the Pacers real competitors in this year’s play-in tournament https://t.co/OULiCRCDrr
— Noah's Ark That Back (@NoahsArkDatBack) July 14, 2022
If the Suns don't match, an updated list of the #Pacers highest average annual contract value (AAV) in franchise history:
1. Deandre Ayton $33.25M
2. Malcom Brogdon $22.5M
3. Brogdon $21.5M
4. Myles Turner $20M— Charlie Clifford (@cliffWISH8) July 14, 2022
"I can't see the Suns allowing Deandre Ayton to just walk out the door like this."@CoachAvery6 believes Phoenix will match Deandre Ayton's offer with the Pacers. pic.twitter.com/5DbSzBttzZ
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) July 14, 2022
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Deandre Ayton signs max offer sheet with Pacers, Twitter reacts
