ESPN is on the verge of publishing a report alleging "racism, sexism and sexual harassment" within the Phoenix Suns.

"The NBA is preparing for a massive story accusing Suns owner Robert Sarver of racism, sexism and sexual harassment in a series of incidents, sources say. With enough evidence to support such claims, there’s a real chance the league would forcibly remove Sarver,'' ESPN's Jordan Schultz said on Twitter.

Robert Sarver preemptively released a segment denying those allegations. 

“I am wholly shocked by some of the allegations purported by ESPN about me, personally, or about the Phoenix Suns and Mercury organizations," Sarver said in the statement. "While I can’t begin to know how to respond to some of the vague suggestions made by mostly anonymous voices, I can certainly tell you that some of the claims I find completely repugnant to my nature and to the character of the Suns/Mercury workplace and I can tell you they never, ever happened."

James Jones defended Sarver in a statement.

"None of what’s been said describes the Robert Sarver I know, respect and like – it just doesn’t,” Jones said.

Ish Wainright has signed a Two-Way contract with the Phoenix Suns.

Wainright was waived by the Toronto Raptors before the start of the season.

Wainright has played overseas since graduating from Baylor in 2017.

Deandre Ayton admitted he was disappointed that the Phoenix Suns didn't offer him a full, five-year max extension.

Ayton will be a restricted free agent in the 2022 offseason.

"One thing about me, throughout my whole life, I've always learned to control what I can control," Ayton said. "At the same time, obviously I'm disappointed, but I'm still trying to get us back to the finals. I've still got to represent the team and myself as well. I'm just a competitor, man. Just like to compete to the best and every time I'm in between those lines, that's what you're going to see out of me. Nothing else."

James Jones said in an interview with The Athletic that "we didn't have real negotiations" with Ayton's representative, but Ayton's agents, Bill Duffy and Nima Namakian, said the Suns didn't offer any kind of max deal, even informally.

James Jones spoke with Sam Amick of The Athletic on Monday, just a few hours after the Phoenix Suns were able to agree to an extension with Deandre Ayton. Ayton will become a restricted free agent during the 2022 offseason.

Jones contends that the Suns were open to discussing the possibility of a three- or four-year max and that it was only the designated rookie five-year max that was completely off the table.

“We didn’t have real negotiations,” Jones said.

That notion, however, was strongly disputed by Ayton’s agents, Bill Duffy and Nima Namakian.

Teams cannot have more than two players on designated rookie max extension players on their team at any given time. Ayton's representatives were never told that by the Suns that was a consideration on why a five-year max wasn't offered. 

"We know it’s important to us; it’s important to him that we continue to progress and we continue to develop and we win (a title)," said Jones. "So when we talked about a focus this offseason, it was to continue to build this team. So for us, unfortunately, we are where we are (with Ayton). No agreement. We didn’t have real negotiations. You talk about conversations (with Ayton’s representatives, Bill Duffy and Nima ) — it was five-year, max extension like the other peers, the other former No. 1 picks, and that’s where the conversation started and ended. Anything less than a five-year max wasn’t something to be considered — not something to talk about. It’s evident. They talk about us having discussions on a three-year, four-year max (deals). Those are real."

Jones also contends that the perception that Robert Sarver is being frugal by not offering a five-year max to Ayton is misguided.

"It’s inaccurate," said Jones If you just look at the moves we’ve made, it’s inaccurate. It’s just not (true). If you look at all the moves we’ve made, and the things we’ve done, from the practice facility to the roster itself to acquiring Chris Paul, going and acquiring Jae Crowder, extending the guys that we have, that’s not accurate.

"When you boil this thing down, it’s disappointing that we didn’t get a deal done. It’s disappointing that it was a five-year-rookie-max-or-bust, or nothing to talk about, and we just didn’t have real substantial conversations. And that (idea that a) lack of a deal is a signal that we aren’t committed to Deandre or interested in continuing, that we don’t believe in him, that becomes the narrative. But it’s the furthest from the truth."

Landry Shamet and the Phoenix Suns have agreed to a four-year, $43 million extension.

Shamet arrived in a draft-night trade with the Brooklyn Nets, a deal of which Monty Williams had been a huge proponent.

Shamet  joins forward Mikal Bridges, who agreed to a four-year, $90 million extension earlier Sunday.

Shamet averaged 9.2 points on 41.6% shooting from the floor and 39.7% from 3-point range in his three seasons.

Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns have broken off talks without a contract extension.

Ayton expected to receive a max contract, which was never offered by the Suns. The Suns raised the concept of a shorter max contract of three or four seasons instead of the full five, but never formally made the offer. Ayton held firm on seeking a five-year, $172.5 million deal plus possible escalators. 

Ayton was the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA draft and helped lead the Suns to The Finals, but he is one of the only top picks of his draft class not to receive an extension.

Ayton is now unhappy with the Suns' stance to his representatives that they didn't see him as a max player. 

The Phoenix Suns and Mikal Bridges have agree to a rookie scale contract extension worth $90 million over four years. Bridges was acquired by the Suns in a draft night trade at the 2018 NBA Draft. Phoenix sent the Philadelphia 76ers the draft right to Zhaire Smith and a future pick for the draft rights to Bridges.

In his first three seasons in the NBA, Bridges has proven to be a reliable and rugged player. He's played in all 227 regular games of his career, starting 160 of those games.

Last season, Bridges took a jump to becoming a more reliable offensive player. Bridges averaged 13.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game as the Suns made it to the 2021 NBA Finals. He also put up shooting splits of 54/43/84.

Bridges joins Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Cameron Payne as signed long-term. Phoenix is still negotiating a long-term extension with fellow 2018 draftee Deandre Ayton. The former first overall pick is rumored to be seeking a max contract of $172.5 million over five years. The deadline to sign rookie scale extensions is Monday, October 18 at 6:00 PM ET.

The Phoenix Suns and Mikal Bridges have had discussions on an extension but have yet to reach a deal.

Bridges is expected to receive "a lot of interest in the marketplace if he has to go into restricted free agency," reports Adrian Wojnarowski on The Jump.

Wojnarowski adds that Bridges figures to each a contract in the $20 million per year range should he become a free agent.

Bridges averaged 13.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 32.6 minutes per game last season for the Suns while also playing high quality perimeter defense.

The Phoenix Suns and Deandre Ayton have stalled on their rookie contract extension as the franchise is reluctant to offer a maximum contract.

Ayton has no intention of accepting a deal less than the comparable max contracts signed by several of his 2018 NBA Draft classmates, including Trae Young, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Michael Porter Jr., sources told ESPN.

Ayton is eligible for a five-year, $172.5 million extension, with escalators that could reach $207 million if he makes an All-NBA team this season. Many executives league-wide expected a deal to be reached between Ayton and the Suns.

If a deal is not reached, Ayton would become a restricted free agent in 2022 and the Suns would retain matching rights. The Suns, however, risk creating a level of acrimony with Ayton.

Robert Sarver hasn't paid luxury tax as Suns owner since the 09-10 season.