The Phoenix Suns made some massive roster changes this offseason, but the most intriguing addition by the organization was center Mark Williams. The 23-year-old arriving at a time when the Suns need a long-term answer for the position, having failed to properly transition away from former number one overall pick, Deandre Ayton.
Adding another layer of intrigue to his arrival is the fact that Williams is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and so is due an extension. Quite what that number looks like is complicated, although the Suns' salary cap situation looks a little better having dipped below both aprons while buying out Bradley Beal in the process.
Contract extension for Williams must include injury protections.
Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon were on their Game Theory podcast as we inch closer to media day for a number of teams - including the Suns - and the topic of eligible rookie extensions was on the menu. Vecenie rightly predicting that Williams' next deal is going to be complicated - because although he's a productive player - his injury history is massively concerning.
The 44 games he managed last season the most of his career, while who could forget the Los Angeles Lakers sensationally vetoing a trade for the big man at the deadline. Which is why Vecenie thinks that - whatever the number ends up being - the new deal simply has to include injury protections. This will be difficult to incorporate at the negotiating table.
From the perspective of the player, he is right to try and lock-in as much money for as many years as he possibly can. If his body is already breaking down at such a young age, then setting himself up financially is what he has to do. It's not like he's a bad player on the court either, there's a reason the Suns traded for him after all.
Although rookie Khaman Maluach may be the long-term solution here, Williams can be the guy who allows Maluach to come along slowly as an incredibly raw, 18-year-old prospect. Vecenie did also go on to say that defensively Williams already doesn't have the mobility to make the most out of his big frame, but he's still clearly an upgrade over Jusuf Nurkic.
It is also hard to untangle some of his worrying trends on that end from that of his previous employers in the Hornets, a team that hasn't done much of anything in a long time. Averaging over 15 points and 10 boards last season is not nothing, while it is clear Williams is going to be an excellent lob threat for both Devin Booker and Jalen Green.
If there's one area it would be nice to see some improvement it is with offensive rebounding to keep possessions alive, with Williams ranking in the 76th percentile last season per Cleaning The Glass. The Suns also need to be wary of making the same mistake the Chicago Bulls once did, in giving Patrick Williams a five-year, $90 million deal which backfired massively.
So whether it is for less years - or else through incentives like Jonathan Isaac got from the Orlando Magic in his own extension in the past because of his own injury issues - Phoenix is going to have to get creative with the next contract that they give Williams. Pivoting from the second apron into overpaying for an already often-injured center would be a complete disaster.