The worrying part of Devin Booker's extension nobody is talking about

By far the most important piece of business the Phoenix Suns have gotten done this offseason - and they have been busy - was signing Devin Booker to a two-year, $145 million extension on his current deal. A number that will make you shudder when he is earning $70 million a season once the extension kicks in, but which also had to be done.

If you're owner Mat Ishbia, you can't wave the white flag entirely so soon after purchasing the franchise. Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal are both gone, and have been replaced by young and enthusiastic players who are going to take in some cases years - we're looking at you Khaman Maluach - to get close to their potential.

Player option on Booker's extension needs to be talked about more.

About the only person who has sounded concerned about Booker's deal having a player option for that second year is Brian Windhorst, and he said as much on his Hoop Collective podcast recently.

"I want you to think about what Devin Booker got here. He essentially agreed to a one-year extension. He agreed to giving the Sunsonemore year because he got a player option in the deal, which I would not have thought was a guarantee, and he promised the Suns one additional season and guaranteed himself $140-something million. My God."

Booker's current deal ran through 2028 - and as Windhorst perfectly points out above - he has guaranteed himself a massive payday while only committing to 2029 if he really wants to. That also gives the player all of the leverage if he ever does want out of Phoenix, because he can frame his new deal in several ways.

If he doesn't like the direction the organization is going as soon as next season, he can ask to be traded and has a ton of time left on his deal before even getting to that player option. If it gets closer to that extension, he can also let the Suns know he wants to leave and make it clear his list of preferred destinations because of that player option.

Booker could tell potential suitors he'll pick up that option if he's moved there, or else opt out entirely and begin a new negotiation on another monster, long-term deal with them. That is so much power to give a guy who isn't even a top 10 player in the league right now, and he's not exactly coming off a superb individual season either.

Again though if you're the Suns, you had to do this. How else can you convince a 28-year-old to hang tight having just traded away two All-Stars - and one of the best to do it in Durant - and assure them that they'll be back to winning ways. A ton of money that's how. You also structure it in such a way that Booker feels like he can leave whenever he wants to, and the reality is he can.

Phoenix then is betting on Booker being the player he has been since he showed up to the franchise, and is rewarding him as such. The superstar who never speaks to the media when he is upset, and who just gets on with business no matter who the front office puts around him. Not doing the extension would have sent the franchise into the abyss anyways, so it simply had get done.