Booker Discussion, news and highlights

[King4Day]

It doesn't appear there are any options either way.

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Big loss of cap space.....first round pick will probably at a minimum be a $5 million cap hold, so that reduces cap space to $16 but stretch Knight and can get to $27+. Then of course we could decline Bender or Chriss or trade people...though it's unlikely we will create cap space through trade.

Booker's extension doesn't kick in until 2019-2020 season?

According to this, the Suns have team options for Bender and Chriss that season:

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/phoenix-suns/yearly/cap/

It would be tough to let Bender and Chriss go without anything in return, since they were lottery picks. They don't have to worry about Jackson until 2021-2022 and Ayton the year after.

Will the owner pay to keep some of these lottery picks, especially Jackson and Ayton? It sounds like he doesn't have the deep pockets as some other owners.

Are the Suns at least drawing well or are they going to have to contend for the playoffs to sell tickets?

With how they are currently looking/developing, I wouldn't expect Chriss or Bender to land big contracts. Jackson, so far, doesn't appear to be a max contract type player.
Ayton has the best chance to be our 2nd max guy in a few years.

All that said, I don't doubt Sarver will pay if it's leading to wins.

[wco81]

Good to hear.

I would think once you get Knight's deal off the books, there would be pressure to sign a PG FA, to try to get the team into the playoffs during Booker's deal.

For Jackson, you have to hope his shooting will improve from year to year. He showed some handles in a few games I saw but his efficiency would improve with an all-star caliber PG, you'd think, especially if they adopt an uptempo game with all the young, athletic players on the roster.

[Phystic]

I'm so happy that waiting debate is done. It was never happening. You simply can not ask Booker to risk $150m for even the slight chance that he sustains a career ending or altering injury. That's generational money. Even for the suns it would have been a risk because if Booker got disgruntled this year he could have went and got a short offer sheet and started his exit strategy. It was the right thing to do for both sides.

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Disagree. Max contract off rookie contracts are just about never at risk. The player always takes them. And it would benefit Booker as well

Booker takes the most risk in waiting and I'm sure his agent and him were pushing for this to be done. While the risk of a career ending injury is low it is there and you just can't take that chance. It's not only injury he's risking. Look at Andrew Wiggins, he signed his max extension then had a mediocre year had he waited I don't think he's getting all that money this summer. Booker was right to look out for himself.

Now basing it off the fact that Booker wanted the extension then there is risk for the Suns to not give it to him this summer; that could have caused bad blood that plays out years down the line even if he did take the extension next summer.

It's easy to say to wait when it's not your money that you're gambling with.

I've always been a vocal proponent of Players getting what they can. It's a job, you maximize your income. I do not ever look down at a player for that.

Booker literally had no leverage here. We did not have to offer it to him this summer and it is beyond rare for a player to turn down a max contract after their rookie contract. Sure we risk upsetting him, but that's where the pitch comes in. Pitch Booker on the benefits of waiting, having that flexibility next summer when their are multiple marquee free agents. I would think a player that just expressed his displeasure with losing would be interested in maximizing the teams ability to turn it around. Literally the only risk would be a MAJOR injury. You use Wiggins as an example for Booker, well that's an example of why it's not necessarily a good idea to extend a player before you have to for the Suns.

I also understand the Suns position as we've had bad press last few years from disgruntled players and rocky contract negotiations. I do support extending Booker, obviously, but I don't think this was necessarily the right player for the Suns. Though it was an understandable move.

[Phystic]

Would have been nice if we could have waited until next summer to utilize the space before resigning him.

Now just gotta hope he keeps working and stays healthy

I'm so happy that waiting debate is done. It was never happening. You simply can not ask Booker to risk $150m for even the slight chance that he sustains a career ending or altering injury. That's generational money. Even for the suns it would have been a risk because if Booker got disgruntled this year he could have went and got a short offer sheet and started his exit strategy. It was the right thing to do for both sides.

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+100

Look what happened to Cousins. He lost $100 mil due to back luck

Nobody was arguing this was a bad move for Booker, so not sure how using Cousins as an example is relevant. Plus didn't Cousins turn down that $80m extension AFTER his injury?

[WeekapaugGroove]

Disagree. Max contract off rookie contracts are just about never at risk. The player always takes them. And it would benefit Booker as well

Booker takes the most risk in waiting and I'm sure his agent and him were pushing for this to be done. While the risk of a career ending injury is low it is there and you just can't take that chance. It's not only injury he's risking. Look at Andrew Wiggins, he signed his max extension then had a mediocre year had he waited I don't think he's getting all that money this summer. Booker was right to look out for himself.

Now basing it off the fact that Booker wanted the extension then there is risk for the Suns to not give it to him this summer; that could have caused bad blood that plays out years down the line even if he did take the extension next summer.

It's easy to say to wait when it's not your money that you're gambling with.

I've always been a vocal proponent of Players getting what they can. It's a job, you maximize your income. I do not ever look down at a player for that.

Booker literally had no leverage here. We did not have to offer it to him this summer and it is beyond rare for a player to turn down a max contract after their rookie contract. Sure we risk upsetting him, but that's where the pitch comes in. Pitch Booker on the benefits of waiting, having that flexibility next summer when their are multiple marquee free agents. I would think a player that just expressed his displeasure with losing would be interested in maximizing the teams ability to turn it around. Literally the only risk would be a MAJOR injury. You use Wiggins as an example for Booker, well that's an example of why it's not necessarily a good idea to extend a player before you have to for the Suns.

I also understand the Suns position as we've had bad press last few years from disgruntled players and rocky contract negotiations. I do support extending Booker, obviously, but I don't think this was necessarily the right player for the Suns. Though it was an understandable move.

They definitely didn't have to extend him this summer but if they let him hit RFA next year then weird **** can happen. He gains leverage and if he played well he definitely gets that 5th year player option. And if he would want out he could go get a shorter deal that he knows the suns would match but would put him back on the market in 2-3 years. Plus it would put a ton of pressure on them to land a max guy next summer because if you're gonna play that game with Booker's money you better be able to deliver and FA is a crap shoot.

This is absolutely a risk for the suns. If he doesn't improve then it won't be a great contract. They are all in on him as a franchise guy and now with him locked up for the next 6 years he can go into team USA practice this year and hopefully do some recruiting instead of being the recruted.

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[denial]

How about closing the old Booker thread that has over 100 pages and continue talks in this one?

The old thread is awesome.
Gems such as "I'm not liking the pick [Booker] but I'm willing to give McD the benefit of the doubt since I did like what I saw from Warren and Archie in the minutes they got and Len is already my favourite player on the team."

[NTB]

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[DeAndre Ayton]

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Sarver loves his Boy

[NTB]

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Sarver loves his Boy

That kiss...

[8on]

The number of people who, for whatever reason, think this was a mistake is much bigger than I expected.

I have no doubt that Book will be even better next season. If nothing else, he’ll want to prove to everyone that he’s worth it (which he is already).

[SlovenianDragon]

The number of people who, for whatever reason, think this was a mistake is much bigger than I expected.

I have no doubt that Book will be even better next season. If nothing else, he’ll want to prove to everyone that he’s worth it (which he is already).

The hate on the GB gives me aids.

Its taking alot of restraint to not post in those threads because id get banned.

Want so see Booker blow up next season and put these haters to rest.

[bwgood77]

The number of people who, for whatever reason, think this was a mistake is much bigger than I expected.

I have no doubt that Book will be even better next season. If nothing else, he’ll want to prove to everyone that he’s worth it (which he is already).

The hate on the GB gives me aids.

Its taking alot of restraint to not post in those threads because id get banned.

Want so see Booker blow up next season and put these haters to rest.

It's not worth arguing with those who only looked at advanced stats without also watching him play. Those people's minds don't change in a thread. There are really only a handful really knocking him though.

[DeAndre Ayton]

The number of people who, for whatever reason, think this was a mistake is much bigger than I expected.

I have no doubt that Book will be even better next season. If nothing else, he’ll want to prove to everyone that he’s worth it (which he is already).

The hate on the GB gives me aids.

Its taking alot of restraint to not post in those threads because id get banned.

Want so see Booker blow up next season and put these haters to rest.

those ppl are not haters they just trolling and the ppl are so stupid and feed em

[DeAndre Ayton]

btw who is that milf in the video?

[JMac1]

The number of people who, for whatever reason, think this was a mistake is much bigger than I expected.

I have no doubt that Book will be even better next season. If nothing else, he’ll want to prove to everyone that he’s worth it (which he is already).

The hate on the GB gives me aids.

Its taking alot of restraint to not post in those threads because id get banned.

Want so see Booker blow up next season and put these haters to rest.

Haters never die, they only multiply. Even when they are wrong, they are right. Let the Suns players do the talking.

[NTB]

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[Spin Move]

Suns had no choice but to give him the max, the timing could have been better but if he wants to sign it now, fine, he was never going to be an RFA that didnt get the max, he needs to imporve, but even if he had gotten hurt this year we still would have maxed him. He is the first legit home grown player who has a chance at being an all star in a while, it had to be done.

[wco81]

If you have to pay the max to a player who has a chance to be an all-star, payrolls are going to be out of control.

I would assume the front office thought Booker would have multiple all-star seasons.

[bwgood77]

If you have to pay the max to a player who has a chance to be an all-star, payrolls are going to be out of control.

I would assume the front office thought Booker would have multiple all-star seasons.

It's likely in part because we have been SO bad for so long without a premier scorer or player and he has been a great scorer. For the points he has scored at his age, he is in rare company and he is finally doing it on above avg efficiency from all 3 levels, with a TON of defensive attention. He has also become a better passer, though I guess you could debate that given the high turnovers...but he has shown the ability to make great plays for others.

I really think he could take a major leap with some more shooters around him and some defenders.

If he had come onto our team in 2005 or something he likely wouldn't be looking at a max because we had a bunch of stars and he would have been another piece, so you can't really judge it in a vacuum. For THIS franchise now, and the hype, popularity and his production he has, and the fact you don't want to give him any reason to have a sour spot for the organization, I think you have to do it.

The defense is a real issue, but at least we have some wings around him now that can cover for that. Ultimately, if he is going to be a true worthy max player, he should be at least somewhat near average on defense...or at least like top 75%....but of course he needs to be among the very best scorers. I think he can be with the right team around him. We will see but they couldn't afford not to give him the max.

[denial]

I never post on the GB. But I just did. And I feel like an idiot with my "Suns win SL.." signature. Like, someone should definitely make fun of the fact that I am excited about winning SL. When I just post on the Suns board and ppl know me a little better, I don't feel so dumb. But Im not changing it! I'll enjoy the little victories.