Valley of the Suns
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Devin Booker’s injury could have wide-ranging effects

By Adam Maynes

TORONTO, ON - December 05: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns injures himself and leaves the court early during the second half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre on December 5, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - December 05: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns injures himself and leaves the court early during the second half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre on December 5, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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How long should they wait to Extend Devin Booker

BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 2: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns runs out before the game against the Boston Celtics on December 2, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 2: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns runs out before the game against the Boston Celtics on December 2, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

I have long been a proponent of signing Booker to a max extension ASAP.

The earlier the better to both send a message to the fan base and the league that Booker is the heart of the organization and there is no chance of anything otherwise, as well as to Booker himself. While Markieff Morris, Goran Dragic, Isaiah Thomas, and Eric Bledsoe obviously never felt like they were at the heart of the Suns and thus each felt compelled at one time or another to demand a trade, the sooner Devin Booker is shown ultimate love through a max contract, the sooner he can be fully assured that they only have eyes for him, or some other lovey-dovey metaphor.

But should his injury present any sort of lingering fears of slowed down play or chronic re-aggravation, Owner Robert Sarver may actually decide to push off Booker’s contract talks for an additional season, and wait until Booker reaches the very end of his rookie contract in the summer of 2019 to guarantee long-term and extended health.

While I admit that this is so far-fetched it might even be laughable to discuss, I will not feel truly confident that Devin Booker will be a Sun in five years until I see the handshake in the press conference announcing his official retainment.

And while waiting until the end of his rookie deal wouldn’t necessarily be a contract killer as Booker would still be a restricted free agent giving the Suns the right to match any contract offered to him by another team – which they undoubtedly would – there is no doubt in my mind that the thought of potentially signing Booker to anything less than a max, and wanting to possibly use this injury as leverage to retain him for less, will be discussed should it ever present itself as a viable option.

Next: The Phoenix Suns must learn from themselves, and Arizona State

Granted I too am laughing to myself at the notion that this could occur as the likelihood is paper-thin. However, I have been a loud voice in the push to re-sign Devin Booker during this season and not even let the conversation of “if” come up as I believe it should be a conversation of “when.” However, both Sarver and McDonough have each stated at one time or another that extending Booker is not  at the forefront of their plans until at least next summer, in which case, if an injury occurs like this one that has the potential to linger…

Why wait?

This injury could influence that conversation as just one of many wide-ranging effects a long-term injury to Devin Booker might present.

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