Mark Williams nightmare is just beginning for the Suns

The Phoenix Suns did about the best job they realistically could have of changing course and re-tooling around Devin Booker this offseason. Despite entering the summer with very little draft capital while stuck in the second apron, they managed to bring in three rookies while also ducking below both of those aprons.

That sounds like an incredible achievement, until you consider what it cost to get there. The haul for Kevin Durant relative to what they gave up to get him in the first place was underwhelming, while buying out Bradley Beal only prolongs the agony of paying him. The front office had to do something though, and the hope is that a couple of these young guys can be a success.

Suns created new long-term problem with trade for Mark Williams.

By far the most curious move the franchise made was trading for center Mark Williams, almost immediately after drafting an 18-year-old big man in lottery pick Khaman Maluach. It makes sense to bring the South Sudanese prospect along slowly, while is where Williams enters the picture. Still only 23-years-old himself, Phoenix is gambling on him being over the worst of his injury woes.

It was those same issues that caused the Los Angeles Lakers to call off a deal for him at the last minute around the trade deadline last season, although the 44 games he ended up playing was the most of his three year career. A small bar to clear, but a positive outcome nonetheless. But what the front office have done here is once again back themselves into a corner, seemingly for no reason.

Despite being under zero pressure to go out and add a big man who can help them win games now, Williams is eligible for an extension on his rookie contract. The Suns also gave up what became the 29th pick in this year's NBA Draft (Liam McNeely), as well as a first in 2029 at a time when they have very little draft capital for the future. They would have to get creative to try and change that fact.

You could argue that - because Phoenix can't tank to get a high pick moving forward - win now players such as Williams make sense. A fair point, if only he could stay on the court long enough to have the desired impact. What the Suns have done here is trade for a guy who is going to want to secure as much money and years as possible, and they're going to have to agree to a lot of it.

You don't give up what amounts to a pair of first rounders and then let Williams hit restricted free agency next summer. If the Suns did, then they'd have much bigger problems to fix in Phoenix. So they're going to pay him more than they will be comfortable doing, and what they are going to get back is a guy who optimistically will play 60 games a season and who has defensive issues.

Williams may have a hulking frame, but his mobility is already an issue and he just doesn't imact the game on that end the way you would like. Perhaps some of that is to do with playing for the Hornets - who haven't been serious about winning for a while now - but it is a big risk for the Suns to take as the look to keep Booker happy throughout this re-tooling process. An unnecessary dilemma to be in.