The Phoenix Suns have tendered a $16.4 million qualifying offer to Deandre Ayton. This makes Ayton a restricted free agent on July 1.

Ayton is now eligible to sign an offer sheet with another NBA team. Phoenix would then have 48 hours to match that offer sheet or to let Ayton leave.

The Suns can also re-sign Ayton to a new deal themselves. It's also possible that Phoenix could work out a sign-and-trade of Ayton to a new team vs going through the offer sheet process in restricted free agency.