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The Suns made their first step to prepare for its prime target, Deandre Ayton, entering free agency, which officially opens Thursday at 3 p.m., according to a report Tuesday from Spotrac's Kevin Smith.
The team has tendered a $16.4 million qualifying offer to make Ayton a restricted free agent, Smith reported.
As one of the market's top pending free agents, the tender enables the Suns to match any offer their starting center receives from other teams.
If Ayton signs the Suns' qualifying offer, he can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2022-23 season and sign with another team without Phoenix holding the right to match offers from elsewhere.
Ayton is at the end of his four-year rookie contract. He was the Suns' first-ever No. 1 overall pick in 2018.
Ayton was not offered a rookie max contract at the start of this past season like several of his draft-class peers, including Denver Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr., the  Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young and and Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic.
After the negotiations for Ayton to possibly get the Suns' second allotted rookie max extension alongside Devin Booker fizzled early last regular season, General Manager James Jones repeatedly told the media they would resolve the issue after the season when free agency approaches.
They can match offers to the max of four years for $131 million, and can pay him more than any other team by giving him a four-year, $136 million deal or $177 million for five years.
Free agents are able to negotiate contracts during the NBA's annual player movement moratorium beginning July 1, which is when contracts can't be signed and trades can't be made official.
All the movement reported during the moratorium can become official following the league's finalized 2022-23 season salary cap and luxury tax numbers.
In addition, the Suns could opt to sign-and-trade Ayton to get some players in return, which could prevent him from possibly walking to another team and leave Phoenix with nothing in replace.
Ayton has averaged a double-double throughout his NBA career since he was a one-and-done at Arizona.
He's emerged as one of the league's top centers, averaging 16.3 points on 60% shooting, 74.6% on his free throws, 10.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.7 blocks.
2022 NBA free-agent center rankings: Deandre Ayton leads list to watch in NBA free agency
This past season when the Suns reached a franchise record 64 regular-season wins, Ayton posted a team second-best 17.2 points scoring average and team-leading 10.2 rebounds, and his 63.4% shooting ranked fourth in the league.
In 2021, Ayton helped lead the Suns to their first finals appearance in 28 years. He produced 15.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 22 playoff games and shot 65.8%, the highest field goal percentage mark in a single postseason.
During the 2022 playoffs, Ayton was the Suns' second-leading scorer (17.9 points) and top rebounder (8.9) and shot 64%.
"Deandre had a great season, a really productive season,” Jones said to reporters on May 18, three days after the Suns' playoff run was ended by Dallas. “I think across the board, when you look at what he did, he improved. That’s a testament to him and the hard work. That’s what you expect from a player of his caliber.”
Read more: Should Phoenix Suns, Deandre Ayton stay together or part ways?
After much speculation and chatter about Ayton's future, Jones seemed to amplify that position after last week's draft.
In the Game 7 loss to Dallas, Ayton produced his season-low 5 points (2-for-5 shooting), four rebounds, and two assists in 17 minutes before he was benched by Suns coach Monty Williams at the 8:26 mark in the third quarter. Ayton and Williams had an acrimonious exchange once Ayton returned to the bench, which Williams cited as "it's internal" when he was asked by The Republic about Ayton not returning to play in that game.
"Nothing has changed on our end," Jones said after last Thursday's draft. "We haven't said anything different. DA remains a huge part of what we do and he's a free agent. So we'll talk about free agency when that time comes, but that hasn't changed. I think you hear his teammates. They echo the same sentiment that we have. This team is a really good team and we're going to keep it together."
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Have tips for us? Reach the reporter at dana.scott@azcentral.com or at 480-486-4721. Follow his Twitter @iam_DanaScott.
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