Just like Deandre Ayton a year ago, the Phoenix Suns have been unable to come to agreement on a rookie-contract extension with forward Cameron Johnson.
Johnson will now play out the season and become a restricted free agent next summer, meaning he can negotiate and accept an offer from another team that the Suns would have the right to match.
No rookie extension deals for Phoenix's Cam Johnson, Charlotte's P.J. Washington or Boston's Grant Williams -- all headed to restricted free agency next summer, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 17, 2022
The Suns followed this pattern with Deandre Ayton last year, and waited until another team set his market price before they simply matched the offer mere minutes later.