Valley of the Suns
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Big Sauce Signs Extension To Stay With Phoenix

Drew Zlogar|
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 18: Alan Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns celebrates during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 18, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 18: Alan Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns celebrates during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 18, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Alan Williams, known to the Suns faithful as “Big Sauce,” is staying in the desert.

The backup big man signed a 3yr/$17M extension over the weekend to give the Phoenix Suns a young big man to go along with Tyson Chandler and Marquese Chriss.

Known most famously as a Phoenix native with a fun social media account to follow, Williams showed glimpses in 2016-17 of why he was deserving of a new contract to stay with the team, and Suns management saw it too.

In 47 games last season playing for the Suns, “Big Sauce” had averages of 7.4 ppg and 6.5 rpg in little more than 15 minutes per game played. His stats weren’t anything to tell mom about, however, he showed tremendous hustle on the boards and running the floor which gave Suns fans something to cheer for when watching number 15. With everyone getting paid insane amounts of money this offseason, to snag Williams for threebmore years and only dish him $17 millions dollars, it is a bargain for what hopes to be a nice career that Williams seems to be forming.

At times last year, in a limited amount of action, Williams looked like the better big man than Alex Len. Len, the former top five pick from 2013, hasn’t been able to find his stride since over his first five seasons. Now this offseason he is set to get paid as well. The question is, do the Suns want to pay him the amount he is looking for, thus telling the franchise that they will be moving forward with Len as their featured big?

As a RFA, Len is set to make more than $4M this season, while potentially putting more than a $12M hit on the cap moving forward. Now with the extension given to Big Sauce, the promise in Chriss, and the veteran presence that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere in Tyson Chandler, does it make sense to keep Len?

The former Maryland Terrapin stand out, who had a high potential ceiling coming into the league in 2013, only averaged 8 ppg, and 6.6 rpg in 77 games this season for the Suns. Len, presumably one of those free agents in the league asking for a big price tag from teams, might be one of the contracts to stay away from considering his lack of production since turning pro.

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In the meantime, let’s not stress ourselves out too much about Len and his contract issues because this weekend was a win overall for the Suns community. In the two games the Summer Suns had in Vegas, the youngsters has some great moments, headlined by Josh Jackson, Dragan Bender, and Marquese Chriss.

Then off the court, we got the pleasure of hearing the news that Alan “Big Sauce” Williams inked a contract keeping him in the Valley of the Suns for three more years.

For more, follow Drew on Twitter: @Drew_Zlogar

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