NBA Coach of the Year winner wrong to go in on Suns for Booker contract extension

The Phoenix Suns did right by Devin Booker this offseason by extending his current deal by two years and an eye-watering $145 million, but that doesn't mean everybody was happy with the decision for the franchise to do so. You can count former NBA Coach of the Year Sam Mitchell among those who think it was a mistake.

Mitchell took to SiriusXM NBA Radio recently, and blasted the organization by comparing the additional dollars to a "sugar high" because the Suns haven't actually achieved anything since making the finals in 2021. Mitchell is right about that part - but with Kevin Durant gone and Bradley Beal soon to follow - what exactly was owner Mat Ishbia supposed to do?

Mitchell wrong for picking apart Booker's extension in Phoenix.

No matter what way you come at this, Mitchell was wrong to go at the Suns and Booker here. The player's perspective is easy to defend, you get what you can while you're fit and healthy and you set yourself and your family up for generations to come. Booker might just go down as the best player in franchise history, it is hard to put a number on just what he has meant to The Valley for a decade.

But if you're the Suns, really there's no reason not to do the deal now either. The numbers themselves might make you queasy - over $70 million in each of those final two seasons - but both the cap and contracts around the league continue to rise. When you have a chance to lock down your franchise player, you do it every single time.

This also comes at a point in Booker's career when he is going to have to accept not contending for a couple of seasons at the very least. Still only 28-years-old, he's likely not going to make the playoffs next year again either. That will represent zero playoff wins in his last three seasons, and on two occasions - again assuming they don't make it in 2026 - he won't even have played any games.

This extension is a commitment to Booker to let him know that the organization cut corners trading for Durant and Beal, and is now trying to build a winner the right way. That takes buy-in from Booker, which is another reason the extension makes sense. Never once has he ever gone public with any displeasure, using the Stephen Curry model of trusting the front office is going to figure it out.

That's a gamble that has backfired so far - yet despite the many missteps and head coaches - Booker just shows up and plays basketball. That's rare in the league today, and it is worth rewarding. Then there is the more cynical reason a deal was done, although it is also potentially the most important as to why it happened this offseason.

If Booker does decide he wants to go elsewhere to try and win because Ryan Dunn and Khaman Maluach aren't doing it for him, the Suns have ensured they'll get a haul back for his services. Being under contract for so long, another team can trade for him and know they'll have him for the rest of the decade. Mitchell meant well - but if you look at the big picture - he was wrong for this one.