ESPN Analyst Kendrick Perkins accuses Chris Paul of not stepping up and helping Deandre Ayton secure an extension
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The Phoenix Suns are coming off from a run of the ages. After being unable to make the playoffs in an entire decade, they managed to do so last year, and book a berth straight to the NBA Finals! There was one key contributor, in the form of Chris Paul, who provided his veteran leadership, and his clutch gene.
However, it wasn’t Chris Paul alone running the show. Devin Booker led the scoring charge, and young players like Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Payne, and Cameron Johnson stepped up. The Phoenix Suns locked down Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamat, but failed to do so with Deandre Ayton. They missed the deadline to sign an extension with him and would have the last chance to keep him, using the RFA option.
Kendrick Perkins blames Chris Paul for not getting Deandre Ayton a deal
The Pheonix Suns and Deandre Ayton wanted different things all along. While Ayton wanted a max deal, for achieving all he did, the Suns did not feel the same way. It is said that the two parties stopped discussing an extension way before the deadline even approached.
ESPN Sources: Suns talks with Deandre Ayton on rookie extension have ended — without a deal. Ayton expected max contract and owner Robert Sarver hasn’t offered it. More coming on consequences for failing to reach deal with 2018 No. 1 overall pick. NBA Today debut, ESPN2. Now.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 18, 2021
Kendrick Perkins questions the move by the Phoenix front office. The 2018 #1 Pick has achieved a lot more than almost everyone in his draft class, and yet hasn’t even been offered the money. Chris Paul, who mentioned ‘Pay Deandre Ayton’ in a post-game interview during the playoffs, didn’t follow up. Kendrick Perkins blames CP3 for not helping Ayton secure the bag.
I thought CP3 was supposed to get Ayton his bag?! I guess CP3 meant to get himself that bag. Don’t mind me and carry on… pic.twitter.com/3dC3AKSQGQ
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) October 18, 2021
While Perk is right about Ayton deserving a contract, he isn’t right to blame CP3. At the end of the day, CP3 is a player on the Suns, and it was the owner and the front office’s decision to not offer Ayton the money.
It would be interesting to see how the season progresses, with Ayton reportedly upset with the Suns.
