You're 100% right.
He knows he's not getting the max, from anyone.
I doubt the max is actually what this is over.
If we are dumb enough to give him the max, he'll suck it up, and take it, because he KNOWS he's not worth it.
He requested something insane. If he doesn't get it, he wants to play where HE chooses to. Not here. The money would be the ONLY reason he stays here. He'll make the same money with a QO this year and the max for the following years somewhere else, as he does taking the $12m here.
For equal money, he would rather be NOT here.
LA, Cleveland, anywhere but here.
If we were dumb enough to pay that max though, he'd think about it. Until then, he can blame it on the money, rather then flat out coming out and trashing Phoenix. He'd rather kill his reputation being seen as just another money grubber, rather then being the asshole that actually comes out and says no, I don't care, I don't like it here, Period.