Phoenix Suns: Grading The Offseason
A Knight In Shinier Armor
A five-year, $70 million extension seems like a lot considering Knight’s production in his limited 11-game stint in Phoenix last season, but with the NBA’s salary cap set to jump through the roof over the next three years (projected at $89 million in 2016-17 and $109 million in 2017-18), that contract won’t look nearly as bad down the road.
The Suns’ identity is based in their youth right now, so locking in the key pieces until the team can acquire a bonafide superstar is a prudent approach.
Suns are smart to lock down Knight (& Bled) long-term. In 2017, salary of $14M/year will be just 13% of cap – equivalent to $8.7M in 2015 $.
— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) June 28, 2015
Given the state of the market right now, Knight’s contract already looks like a bargain deal. This summer, we saw DeMarre Carroll earn a four-year, $60 million deal from the Toronto Raptors, Reggie Jackson rake in $80 million over five years, Thaddeus Young pile up $50 million over four years, Khris Middleton earn $70 million over five years and Goran Dragic rack up $90 million over five seasons.
Other than Middleton, Knight might have the highest ceiling of any of those players since he’s only 23 years old.
With Phoenix’s key, younger players locked in, the Suns have positioned themselves to be players in the free agency market next summer when the cap is projected to skyrocket to around $90 million, not to mention the following summer when it leaps again to around $109 million.
$80 million for Reggie Jackson? No thanks, I prefer Brandon Knight for $70 million
— JJ (@Suns6thMan) July 6, 2015
Last season, Knight was in the middle of an All-Star caliber year with the Milwaukee Bucks before they traded him to the Suns, averaging 17.8 points, 5.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 41 percent from three-point range. In Phoenix, Knight’s numbers dropped to 13.4 points, 4.5 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game on 31.3 percent three-point shooting, and he only played 11 games due to an ankle injury.
However, the Suns liked what they saw from Knight during his time in Milwaukee, and at age 23, he’s nowhere near realizing his full potential. Knight underwent arthroscopic ankle surgery in April, but is expected to make a full recovery and should look like a better fit after spending a full training camp alongside Bledsoe.
.@Suns I'm most intrigued to see:
— Matt Petersen (@TheMattPetersen) September 2, 2015
1) @Goodknight11 (full camp)
2) @Teletovic33 (hard-nosed floor spacer)
3) R. Price (fellow Wolverine)
More importantly, Knight has the capability to develop into a locker room leader for a team that badly needed one last season. One of the more well-spoken and level-headed personalities on the team, Knight has drawn praise from general manager Ryan McDonough and head coach Jeff Hornacek, who both see leadership potential in him.
Phoenix’s long-term backcourt is officially locked in, and both deals could look like bargains a few years from now.
Grade: B+
Next: A Champion Chandler Joins The Mix