NBA Rumors: Re-Signing Mikal Bridges Could Lead To Deandre Ayton's Extension Soon

The Phoenix Suns have agreed to an extension with Mikal Bridges, which could serve as a bridge to getting Deandre Ayton to re-sign for less than the max.

ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that the 25-year-old versatile wing player signed a four-year, $90 million rookie extension that will see him get paid an average of $22.5 million per year.

Getting Bridges to agree to an extension is one of the more important moves the Suns have made this offseason, and it shows how committed the team is to keep their core intact.

However, their talks with Ayton have come to an impasse after the No. 1 pick of the 2018 NBA draft is demanding nothing less than a max contract.

The former Arizona Wildcat is keen on getting a top-dollar deal after seeing fellow draft classmates Luka Doncic, Trae Young and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander receive the max from their respective teams.

Ayton played a major part in the Suns’ run to the NBA Finals, but the hesitancy from the organization is whether he can repeat that success this moving forward.

Last season, the 6-foot-11 big man averaged 14.4 points on 62.6 percent shooting and 10.5 rebounds to go along with 1.2 blocks across 69 games.

Ayton bumped up those numbers to 15.8 points on 65.8 percent shooting from the field and 11.8 rebounds in the playoffs.

With the Ayton situation, fans are reminded of the 2005 offseason disaster that was Joe Johnson.

Johnson grew upset with the front office after the Suns fielded offers that he believed were well below his market value, and the Atlanta Hawks swooped in to get him on a sign-and-trade deal worth $67.4 million.

Phoenix would pay dearly for letting him walk, and owner Robert Sarver later admitted he made a mistake in not paying the sweet-shooting guard.

As each hour passes, there is reason to believe that a repeat will happen with Ayton, but Chris Paul offered consolation by saying that it is all part of the business side of basketball.

A max deal for Ayton, starting at around $29.75 million, would put the Suns well over the luxury tax after signing Bridges, further hampering their ability to sign key pieces down the road.

But they have a golden opportunity on their hands to win the NBA title, with both Bridges and “The Point God” re-upping their contracts in the Valley.

Time is against Ayton and the Suns to get a deal done as the October 18, 6 PM ET deadline for rookie contract negotiations is looming on the horizon.