Which Phoenix Suns are eligible for extension this offseason?

The Phoenix Suns won't be active in the trade market this offseason, because having the most expensive roster in the entire league restricted them from making many of the moves that they'd like to. Entering the second apron not only going to cost owner Mat Ishbia over $100 million in luxury tax, but forbidding them even from entering into sign-and-trade deals.

This puts even more emphasis on looking at the players they already have on their roster who are extension eligible, and deciding if they should act by adding more years and money to their deals now. Doing so doesn't necessarily mean the player will stick around any longer, and if anything it can make them more appealing in a trade as well.

There are currently three candidates who can sign an extension this summer, although the reasons for the Suns to do so vary wildly with all three.

Not letting these players hit the open market - even though one is about to be at the end of this month - is surely also of importance to the organization too. When it comes to unrestricted free agents, they are only armed with the veteran's minimum to go out and get players. Which is why keeping what they already have is the priority here.

3. Royce O'Neale (through June 30th)

The Suns have until the end of this month to bring Royce O'Neale back on a new deal, or else watch him walk into unrestricted free agency. The reasons to bring O'Neale back are obvious, there's no way they'd be able to get a player of his quality using the minimum on the open market.

There's also little chance of even bringing back a guy like O'Neale in a trade given the Suns' financial position, not without giving up a first round pick and sending out a matching salary. That's all very complicated, whereas signing O'Neale to a new deal is straightforward and keeps a valuable rotation player in The Valley.

Doing this will push the Suns' luxury tax even further north - but as the old saying goes - in for a penny, in for a pound. That is money that is coming out of Ishbia's pockets, and as somebody who is as committed as anybody to winning, it is his decision to do that.

Besides, it is nice for Suns fans to have an owner who will spend the money required to compete, unlike the cost-cutting measures under previous stewardship. Ishbia spoke last season about wanting to bring back both O'Neale and Grayson Allen, and he already re-signed Allen prior to the playoffs beginning. This is a deal that will get done at a number that suits both player and team.