With Booker's extension all set, Phoenix's attention will turn to figuring out the future of starting center Deandre Ayton, who is a restricted free agent, and the potential extension status of forward Cam Johnson. Now, the Suns are hoping to begin turning things back in a positive direction this offseason. Phoenix then saw its season come to a disappointing conclusion with a rout at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks on Phoenix's home court in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals. It was by making the All-NBA team this past season that Booker qualified to receive the supermax from the Suns this offseason. He was also named to the All-NBA first team as he played for a Suns team that finished with a league-leading 64-18 record. Now, he is officially tethered to Phoenix through the 2027-28 season after agreeing to this four-year extension, which won't even begin until after his current contract expires following the 2023-24 season.īooker averaged 26.8 points, 5 rebounds and 4.8 assists this past season for Phoenix, making his third straight All-Star appearance and finishing fourth in the league's Most Valuable Player award voting. Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker has agreed on a four-year, $224 million supermax extension, his agents, Jessica Holtz and Melvin Booker of CAA Basketball, told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.īooker's deal, agreed to early Friday, begins in 2024-25 and brings his total contract value to six years and $295 million.īooker, 25, has become the face of the Suns franchise since being drafted 13th overall by Phoenix in the summer of 2015, including leading the Suns - alongside future Hall of Famer Chris Paul - to the NBA finals in 2021. Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker agree on 4-year, $224 million supermax extension We have six years to find out for certain.īen Rohrbach is a staff writer for Yahoo Sports.You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser On the other hand, the supermax extension represents a belief that Booker can either keep Phoenix in contention, regardless of the roster around him, or retain enough value not to become a bad deal down the line. On one hand, paying Booker $60 million in the final year of his new contract seems like a no-brainer and an impressive investment into the best player on an elite team. "My position for a market like us with the tax is, if you get yourself where you can compete at the highest level, then you pay it and you go for it," Sarver told 's Evan Sidery in May.īut what happens if the Suns dip, even slightly, below that highest level? Any cost-cutting that removes Ayton, Johnson or Jae Crowder from the equation could further strip Phoenix of its power, which is built more on the rotation's collective contributions than on one player. Booker scored 11 points on 14 shots in defeat, far worse than his 26-5-5 averages on 45/43/89 shooting splits over the past two postseasons - the only playoff appearances of his career.Ĭoncerning for the Suns is how quickly the franchise could fold around him in the wake of that loss. A second-round playoff exit was made more concerning by a listless 33-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals. The 25-year-old averaged 26.8 points (on 47/38/87 shooting splits), five rebounds and 4.8 assists in 34.5 minutes per game this past season, finishing fourth in the NBA MVP race.Īfter reaching the NBA Finals in 2021, the Suns won eight more games than any other team in the league this past season, cementing themselves as title favorites entering the playoffs. Ayton could now command more than $100 million in restricted free agency this summer, and Cameron Johnson is also eligible for a hefty extension on his rookie deal, putting the team's financial commitment to the test.īooker is the best of the bunch, and signing him to so sizable an extension at least assures the Suns of stability at the top of the roster. The Suns respectively signed Chris Paul and Mikal Bridges to four-year deals worth $120 million and $90.9 million last summer, when they declined to offer DeAndre Ayton a maximum rookie scale extension. "That’s not something that’s going to prevent us from continuing to build this team and keep this team together.” We’re not talking about luxury tax issues or avoiding those things," general manager James Jones told reporters after a disappointing end to a 64-win season. “It doesn’t preclude us from doing anything. Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker made the All-NBA first team and finished fourth in MVP voting this past season.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |