The Suns have numerous decisions to make regarding their own free agents, Spotrac’s Keith Smith notes in his offseason preview.
Mark Williams will be a restricted free agent and Phoenix should tread cautiously, according to Smith, who writes that Williams is a solid but not overly impactful center and has a lengthy injury history. The big man could wind up signing his $9.6MM qualifying offer.
The fact that Phoenix holds Early Bird rights on guards Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin should allow the front office to give them competitive offers and retain the duo. Smith anticipates something in the range of $40MM over four years as a solid baseline for Gillespie and views a three-year, $18MM offer as fair value for Goodwin.
As for a potential extension for Dillon Brooks, Smith notes he turned 30 in January and thus the franchise shouldn’t get carried away. A four-year, $100MM contract should be considered a fair offer.
Here’s more from the Western Conference:
- The Mavericks should seriously consider Arizona freshman guard Brayden Burries with their lottery pick at No. 9, James Piercey of Dallas Hoops Journal writes. Burries made 39.1% of his three-point tries during his one-and-done season with the Wildcats, in which he averaged 16.1 points per game. With Cooper Flagg serving as a point forward, Burries could be an ideal complement to the team’s franchise player. Burries is also a stout point-of-attack defender, Piercey adds.
- The Trail Blazers should make an aggressive trade proposal to the Bucks to win the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, Bill Oram of The Oregonian opines in a subscriber-only column. While Portland showed some growth this season, the Blazers need a star talent to make them true contenders. Oram believes that if a smaller market club has a chance to add a proven superstar, it must go all-in on that opportunity. Oram also notes the Trail Blazers have a built-in advantage — they control Milwaukee’s first-round picks from 2028 to 2030.
- Russell Westbrook, who played his first 11 seasons with the Thunder organization, is giving back to the Oklahoma City community. He returned to the city on Monday for the groundbreaking ceremony of the multi-purpose stadium that’s set to open in 2028, according to The Oklahoman’s Joe Mussatto. Westbrook teamed up with Christian Kanady, the founder and CEO of Echo Investment Capital, to develop the surrounding stadium district. The 10,000-seat outdoor venue will be the home of Oklahoma City’s pro soccer and football teams, which will compete in the United Soccer League and United Football League, respectively. Westbrook is headed to unrestricted free agency this summer.
Giannis is going to Choose where he goes. It ain’t Portland.
Portland has the assets to do a trade but he doesn’t want to play on the west coast. I feel for the Bucks fans just wanting it to get over with.
I remember a time not too long ago that Dame, national media and Heat fans had all but decided that Miami was where he’d end up cause that’s where he chose to be.
Think Collin and Goodwin can get more than Kieths projections
I’d be fine with the QO to MW but Id be ok dropping out if someone’s going multiple years at 8 figures on a bid for him
I don’t think beating the tax should be a priority at all , Ishbias wallet got him into this mess it’s gonna have to be used as a helper to get them outta it
The problem is there are a total of 3-4 teams in the whole league that have cap space. The market isn’t going to be robust for a lot of guys. Also have to see what players around the league don’t have their team options picked up. Guys like Lou Dort and Isiah Hartenstein may be available.
I hear that but over half the league this year has the full MLE so they can challenge those projections by Keith upwards
I still think they stay in Phx just on a couple more mill per year than stated above
Yeah, I think Gillespie gets $12 million per year or more easily. There are not that many 2-way guard on the market and he can play both ends.
And I’m not sure Suns would win the tie breaker to keep him. If he gets offers from Detroit, Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, why exactly would he want to stay where he’s at?
Portland controls Milwaukee’s 2028-30 picks…. Oof
Small market media lives in a time warp. Everything in the NBA, from its CBA to its governing infrastructure, favors small market teams.
There is no such thing as urgency for small market teams, on any front, not trades, not signings, not winning (they have tanking to get high draft picks, and a non-existent FA market to make sure they can keep the guys they draft and like, forever). Time is on their side. The urgency based in a lack of options to add a star is on the so-called big market teams or similar win now teams.
So true DXC. Especially if you listen to big market media.
Blazers don’t have the assets to get Giannis. They would be depleted after trade. Giannis will have a say where he goes. Has to resign.