Valley of the Suns
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The 3 most overpaid players on the Phoenix Suns’ roster

By Luke Duffy

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 19: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns misses a rebound during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Footprint Center on January 19, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 19: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns misses a rebound during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Footprint Center on January 19, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MARYLAND – JULY 30: Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns looks on. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – JULY 30: Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns looks on. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

The Phoenix Suns enter the 2023-24 season as one of the favorites to win what would be a first ever NBA championship. We have them pegged to go 54-28 during the regular season, although franchise legend Charles Barkley isn’t buying the hype just yet.

Just as impressive as owner Mat Ishbia and the front office turning Chris Paul into Bradley Beal, is how they managed to get so many players to join the roster on minimum deals. In all, a whopping eight players will be playing while on these types of deals in 2023-24.

Not all of these players are going to work out, but to get the likes of Yuta Watanabe and Keita Bates-Diop for less than $3 million for a season is a steal.

In fact Watanabe, Bates-Diop, Drew Eubanks, Josh Okogie, Chimezie Metu, Eric Gordon, Bol Bol and Damion Lee are making about $19.3 million combined in 2023-24. To put that into context, all of Spencer Dinwiddie, Lonzo Ball and Clint Capela will each make more than that this coming season.

To have rounded out an entire roster for less than each of those three players make is incredible business by the Suns’ front office — but that doesn’t mean some of their players still aren’t overpaid here. Context is everything, and there are barely any individuals left to talk about. Still, these are the three most overpaid players on the Suns’ roster in 2023-24.

3. Kevin Durant – $47.6 million

If Kevin Durant can help lead this organization to a first ever championship, then he will be worth every penny. As we’ve discussed here recently as well, he has still averaged 27.5 points per game with both the Suns and the Brooklyn Nets. The two teams he has suited up for post injury.

Durant might just be the greatest scorer in the history of the league, and at 34-years-old, he is still in the tail end of his prime. The money only becomes an issue if his body breaks down even more, and there is a worrying trend developing that this might be the case before long. Apparently, there’s 33 reasons why that might even be the case now.

Related Story. 3 possible starting lineups for the Phoenix Suns in 2023-24. light

Since 2020, Durant has played only 164 games total. In his three seasons with the Nets, he managed 129 regular season games. In the three before that with the Golden State Warriors, it was 208. There’s no doubt Durant is going in the wrong direction here, and even the most optimistic Suns fan would peg him in for 60-70 games this season.

As long as he is healthy come the playoffs though, it won’t matter. Durant makes this list because he is the highest earner on the roster, and he simply has to be healthy and firing on all cylinders for the Suns to have a legitimate title window. With two years left on his deal after this one, and with a figure in 2025-26 of over $54 million, this contract will look ugly if — and only if — Durant sits.

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