The Phoenix Suns are officially flying high in more ways than one. With the addition of Josh Okogie, the Suns became the first NBA club to have a salary that exceeded the incredible $400 million mark. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Okogie reportedly reached a $16 million, two-year deal with the club on Thursday. The Suns will evaluate his play this year to see whether they want to retain him for the second year of the deal, which is not guaranteed.
Following the public disclosure of his contract, ESPN’s Bobby Marks breaks down the astronomical figure of the Suns into $223 million in base salaries and a projected tax penalty of a whopping $198 million. Despite the high cost, the Suns’ approach seems quite well-planned.
He called Okogie’s sign a smart move and noted, “The Okogie signing is smart and gives Phoenix a $8M trade asset to use during the season. Because of the rules of the 2nd apron, his salary cannot be aggregate with other players on the Phoenix roster.”
Bobby added in his tweet, “The contract had to be 2 years because he was signed with early bird rights.” This rule required the club to offer a two-year deal, even though they wanted to test out the 25-year-old in the first year before making a final decision.
Given the standout performances of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, Okogie will be seen as a supporting player for the team. Despite this role, he’ll need to step up his game significantly in the 2024-25 season to help Phoenix avoid becoming an expensive letdown.
Kevin Durant Opens Up About Frustration With Suns’ Offense
Multiple stories from The Athletic say Kevin Durant is unhappy with the Phoenix Suns’ offensive plan. Even though Durant clarified his position, there are still questions about how the team attacks and how each player fits into their part.
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In a recent interview with Arizona Sports, the superstar forward spoke openly about his concerns. “If we are struggling on offense, and the ball is not moving, and your best players aren’t being put in a position or in space to showcase their skill—that’s with anybody,” Durant said.
His words give us a glimpse into the strain that was said to be developing in the Suns after their disappointing playoff run. Even though he brushed off trade talks at first, it’s clear that his frustration with his scoring role made things harder for the team.
