The Phoenix Suns have taken care of business early this offseason, with the biggest remaining question mark what they would do with center Mark Williams.
Fans didn't have long to wait after the conclusion of the NBA Draft to find out, with the 24-year-old being brought back on a three-year, $38 million deal.
Williams' next contract is surprisingly fully guaranteed
Not allowing the big man to walk for nothing was the right move from Phoenix, but the surprise here is that his contract is fully guaranteed. This despite the injury issues that have plagued his career to this point, and were the main reason the Charlotte Hornets were comfortable getting rid of him in the first place.
Restricted free agent Mark Williams intends to sign a three-year, $38 million contract to return to the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. The deal is fully guaranteed for Williams, who averaged 11 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block in 23.6 minutes per game as the Suns starting center. pic.twitter.com/3hpQ9KlZNi
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2026
But when you consider the relatively small sum the franchise were able to bring their starting center back for, this is still a no-brainer. Williams could yet sit out plenty of time for the Suns, but that kind of team-friendly contract means he can still be traded down the road.
While all the talk of trading for a more proven big man was exciting and would surely keep Devin Booker happy, this was always the most likely out come here. The front office have said all along they wanted to run it back, and re-signing Williams is the final piece to that puzzle.
He remains a much better player and fit than Oso Ighodaro, while the best case scenario here is that Khaman Maluach eventually becomes the starter and the Suns move Williams along.
The great shame for the player is that his first deal after his rookie contract is not the massive payday he would have hoped for, particularly given his career may not be a long one. Had Williams been available to face the Oklahoma City Thunder (and that was a favorable series for him to showcase his talents), there would likely have been extra millions added to this deal.
This is another excellent piece of business by the organization, while Williams has to be happy with the outcome as well. He has financial security and a starting berth on a team that made the playoffs last season, with a view to growing his role down the road.
That still feels like it will happen away from The Valley, but the Suns will be content with Maluach and Ighodaro backing up the big man for the time being as well. A deal in which everybody won? Indeed, even if guaranteeing his deal was a surprise.
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