1 contract every NBA team would want back

Indiana Pacers: Deandre Ayton

Last summer the Pacers signed Ayton to a four-year, $132 million offer sheet which was ultimately matched by the Phoenix Suns. Given how things worked out since then, it may seem like they dodged some bad luck. Ayton was underwhelming with the Suns and could be traded. The Pacers meanwhile were able to use a hot start to smooth Myles Turner’s ruffled feathers and convince him to sign an extension. In retrospect, the Pacers are probably very happy with how things turned out.

BUT, if they hadn’t signed Ayton to that offer sheet they might have been able to get Turner on an extension that was longer and cheaper than the two-year, $40 million one they ultimately signed him to. By making Ayton that offer, they also missed an opportunity to get a better, different fit in last free agency — someone like Kyle Anderson, Yuta Watanabe, or Bruce Brown (for less than they paid him this year).

Again, the Pacers ended up in a fine spot. But that’s because they caught a bunch of breaks at the beginning of last season which helped them undo their early summer mistake.