Pound The Rock

We discuss the long-simmering contract standoff between the Suns and Deandre Ayton that ultimately ended with Phoenix matching a max offer sheet to retain him (for now). We wonder how this reflects on the Suns, what's next for the Pacers, whether restricted free agency needs to change, and how likely it now is that Kevin Durant will start the season in Brooklyn. Then, we hit on Donovan Mitchell's availability, why going after him makes sense for the Knicks (and Raptors), and how prioritizing draft picks over flawed but talented young players can go too far. Finally, we discuss the gigantic new contracts signed by Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard, and weigh the pros and cons of NBA co-dependency.