The Phoenix Suns have been in the news ever since the trade deadline when they acquired 4-time scoring champion and NBA superstar Kevin Durant. The Suns already have Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton on board, but adding Durant has pushed them over the top in terms of roster talent and superstar power. No doubt, if Durant is healthy, Phoenix will be looking to win an NBA championship as soon as this year. After all, there are no excuses as to why they should not win since they have championship experience, a young and hungry center, and a terrific coach.
Since Durant is 34 years old and Chris Paul is 37 years old, many have started wondering what the duo’s championship window looks like. If they don’t win it this year, do the Suns have time to win a championship the following year? Remember, the team gave up valuable assets Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson to bring Durant on board, so they got older and less healthy with this blockbuster deal. What happens if the Suns do not win it all this season, especially with the pressure on Chris Paul to get the job done as an aging point guard without an NBA championship?
Perhaps most importantly, what does the Suns’ future currently look like? Suns fans are basically waiting for Kevin Durant to be healthy for the start of the playoffs with the hopes of a late championship surge. But what does the 2024 season look like from now?
Rather, how does the Suns’ salary cap stand after the team brought in newcomer Kevin Durant making over $47 million next year? Amazingly, the Suns have the sixth-highest payroll in the NBA next year and have four players on max deals. It is time to look at the Phoenix Suns’ salary cap situation in the 2023-24 season and deduce how they can plan their attack to win a championship next year. Similar to what we did when we analyzed the Golden State Warriors’ salary cap in 2024, the Phoenix Suns’ situation could be a little bit more complex because of how old their stars are. By utilizing a mix of attracting free agents, re-signing talented players, and letting some others go, here is how title-contending Suns can plan their 2024 NBA season.
Suns Players Under Salaries
Kevin Durant – $47,649,433
Devin Booker – $36,016,200
Deandre Ayton – $32,459,438
Chris Paul – $30,800,000
Landry Shamet – $10,250,000
Cameron Payne – $6,500,000
Kevin Durant is the best player on the team, making over $47 million per season until the end of the 2026 season. That means the Suns have arguably a top-two player in the world for another three seasons after this one, so why would their championship window be closing? Durant is still one of the best scorers of all time and even after coming back from an Achilles injury, he is right back on top. The reason the Suns’ window could be closing is that Chris Paul is almost 38 years old. Paul is making over $30 million next year, and he is obviously not worth that much money anymore. In fact, the point guard will make over $30 million until the 2025 season, an extremely large amount of money invested in an older player.
Paul is 13.6 PPG and 9.1 APG, very solid numbers this year from a veteran point guard. He can still be one of the best floor generals in the NBA, but will he be able to do the same next year? Remember, the Suns tried to move CP3 for Kyrie Irving this season when the star was available, so he could be involved in trade talks if the Suns do not win it all this year or at least make the Western Conference Finals. Kevin Durant is untouchable, but Chris Paul absolutely isn’t.
Speaking of untouchables, the Suns won’t move Devin Booker for anybody in the NBA except the likes of Luka Doncic or Giannis Antetokounmpo who are untouchables for their franchises also. Booker is arguably the best shooting guard in the NBA since he is posting 27.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 5.9 APG at 26 years old. The All-Star is a tremendous scorer and has improved his all-around game as well. Even if Chris Paul is on the decline, Booker’s ability makes him one of the best possible partners alongside Kevin Durant on the perimeter. Booker is making over $50 million until the end of the 2027 season, so he is clearly in for the long term. Just like Durant, Booker is untouchable.
Deandre Ayton, at 24 years old, could also be untouchable. The center has not made an All-Star Team yet and is generally inconsistent in the playoffs, but he is not a bad 4th option by any means. Ayton is averaging 18.2 PPG and 10.2 RPG this year on 59.2% shooting from the field and if he can put up those numbers in the postseason, the Suns will be in a very strong position to win it all. Ayton is also making over $30 million until the end of the 2026 NBA season, so he should be a long-term piece unless the Suns fail in the playoffs and the franchise wants to add another All-Star.
Other Suns players under contract include Landry Shamet, who will be a long-term figure for the franchise. Shamet is getting paid until the 2026 season at over $10 million per season. If the Big Four is kept together, the player is nowhere near a bad bench option. Shamet is shooting 37.7% from three this season and averages over 38% from deep over his career so that money is normal for a sharpshooter who doesn’t need much space to let his shot fly. Cameron Payne is a hard-nosed point guard that is a fan favorite because his impact comes beyond numbers. As a backup to CP3, Payne competes hard and is only making $6,500,000 next season before becoming a free agent.
Overall, the money is tied up for the four best players on the team while role players such as Shamet and Payne are making decent money as well. It is clear what the Suns’ core is made up of, and they are going all-in with a Big Four that is very talented.
Team Options
Darius Bazley – $6,205,035
Ishmail Wainright – $1,927,896 (Qualifying Offer)
Saben Lee – $1,761,752
Phoenix also has three players with team options attached to them, meaning the Suns have a little bit of flexibility in the 2024 season although not much. Darius Bazley was brought in before the trade deadline and offers a ton of potential as a young big man. This season, Bazley is averaging 5.3 PPG and 3.4 RPG at only 38 games played. Bazley is coming off two straight seasons posting over 10 PPG and 6 RPG, so he can return to those numbers as a backup to Ayton. It is likely Phoenix accept the team option unless they have better plans to bring in a better player and want to save money. The same goes for Saben Lee, who is a benchwarmer averaging 5.3 PPG with a career average of 5.5 PPG. Lee’s contract will hardly affect Phoenix’s cap, so they might pick him up or not.
Ishmail Wainright is posting 4.3 PPG this season and has actually begun showing what he can do this season. The 28-year-old forward combines size (6’6”, 250 lbs) with some skill, so he could be offered a team option if he continues to play hard for the rest of the season. No doubt, the biggest decision in terms of team options will be if they offer Darius Bazley a team option because unless they can find a better option, he will be back.
Free Agents
Duane Washington Jr
Terrence Ross
Jock Landale
Josh Okogie
Damion Lee
TJ Warren
Bismack Biyombo
Torrey Craig
There are also some decent players for the Suns in 2024 who are all free agents. Duane Washington Jr is a bench player and is there to fill out the roster so he won’t make much of an impact if he gets re-signed or departs for greener pastures. Terrence Ross was signed this season and if he is happy with his role, will be the best free agent that re-signs other than Josh Okogie. Ross averages a career 11.0 PPG on 36.3% from three, so he is an excellent bench player who can space the floor and provide immediate offense. At 32 years old, Ross is also very experienced and brings a ton of energy off the bench.
Josh Okogie is proving to be a valuable wing player averaging 7.0 PPG and 3.3 RPG on 33.8% from three. Okogie is improving his outside shooting as that is his biggest weakness, but he competes on defense and provides size (6’4”) and athleticism. Playing on a team filled with offensive stars, Okogie has found a niche as a defender and replacement for Mikal Bridges. No doubt, the Suns want Okogie back and will be paying him a nice chunk of money to stay. He can easily slot into the starting lineup because of his defense.
Jock Landale, Damion Lee, and Bismack Biyombo all provide bench minutes as required and could be brought back for the right price. Lee can shoot (44.4% 3-PT FG this season), Biyombo can bring size, rebounding, and defense (career 1.3 BPG) as Deandre Ayton’s backup. Landale is posting 6.4 PPG and 4.1 RPG so he can be another option as a backup big man. TJ Warren last played 60 games at a minimum in the 2020 season, and if he can return to somewhat decent form, can be another fire-starter off the bench for the Suns. He too will be brought back on a reasonable deal (veteran’s minimum).
Finally, Torrey Craig is exactly what a title contender needs in terms of being a defensive-minded wing player who can shoot threes. Craig is posting 7.4 PPG and 5.6 RPG on 39.3% from three this season, so he will absolutely be a priority to fill out the starting lineup or the bench depending on how the Suns want to approach a particular team. At 6’7” and 221 lbs, Craig is a perfect modern-day wing player.
Suns Currently Have $154 Million For Salaries In 2023-24 Season
The Phoenix Suns have a total of approximately $154 million in salaries for the 2023-2024 season that is fixed. That is a very high number considering that there are only four-star players that are getting paid most of the money and will be the championship core going forward. Of course, the number could get over $160 million if they bring Darius Bazley, Ish Wainright, and Saben Lee.
It is important to note that the salary cap for the NBA season will likely rise to $134 million and $162 million on a tax level, which is record-breaking. With this amount of extra money being afforded to the Suns, the flexibility for the Suns to keep their key players is very possible. Remember, Durant and Booker are both untouchable and Paul and Booker must prove to be championship players this season as evidence. If either or both of them fail to make an impact this year, the Suns won’t waste time targeting other elite stars in the NBA that could be available after this season (Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Zach LaVine, Bradley Beal). The future of the Suns’ franchise relies completely on the superstar players because they can either make or break title contention.
It will be very interesting to see what the Suns do with Chris Paul. The Suns tried to move the future Hall of Famer this season, and they could try again this offseason if the team fails in the playoffs. Time is of the essence in Phoenix, and Paul must prove he is not washed up and can continue his 13 PPG and 9 APG averages throughout the playoffs. With Durant injured right now, Paul must compete and keep the Suns in the running for a top-3 or top-4 seed in the West to prove he can still play at an All-Star level. The same goes for Ayton, who is always in rumors for being unhappy with head coach Monty Williams.
The Suns have less flexibility than most thought entering the 2024 season, even thanks to an increase in the salary cap. It is up to the Suns to maneuver well in the market and try to win with Durant, Booker, Paul, and Ayton as the core of the starting lineup. Of course, the team can compete for a title as they can sign their important bench players (Warren, Ross) on minimum deals while retaining defensive-minded wings Craig and Okogie. Whether they end up moving CP3 or Ayton for another star remains to be seen because Phoenix must at least come close to the NBA Finals this season or risk changing the team up around Durant and Booker.
Source: fadeawayworld
