Suns secure bright future with Devin Booker extension

By Cody Rivera | Jul 8, 2018

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 5: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against the Miami Heat on March 5, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Phoenix Suns were down in the dumps last season with an NBA-worst record of 21-61, but after their performances during this offseason, it appears that things are about to start looking up for basketball fans in the desert.

The direction of the Phoenix Suns organization officially turned around on draft night back in June. After securing the top pick, Phoenix selected DeAndre Ayton, the hometown big man out of the University of Arizona, who has potential to be a franchise-changing player in this league.

The Suns then took a big step forward by locking up their best player of the last three years, Devin Booker, by signing him to a five-year extension worth $158 million. Not only do they believe that Booker, along with Ayton, can be the guys that bring them back to relevancy, but Booker is also 100 percent committed to the Suns organization and bringing a championship back to the city of Phoenix.

Booker expressed his appreciation for his sparkling new contract, and his commitment to the Suns, with a tweet.

I am humbled & honored to commit to the Suns organization long term. I loved calling Phoenix home the last 3 seasons as this team & community are special to me. Thank you to the Suns for drafting me and believing in me. I look forward to the future & pursuing a title as a Sun. pic.twitter.com/AHRaraPww6
— Book (@DevinBook) July 8, 2018

It will take another year or two before the Suns can officially call themselves a title contender, especially given the ridiculously competitive Western Conference, but this young team is on its way there. Booker is only 21 years old, and he averaged 24.9 points during his third NBA season last year.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Josh Jackson (last year’s fourth overall pick) will be entering his second season after averaging 13.1 points as a rookie last year, and the Suns also acquired Mikal Bridges, who averaged 17.7 points last year at Villanova, on draft night this year as well.

And then you have Ayton, who has drawn comparisons to “The Admiral” David Robinson, who will already be one of the best big men in the game even as he enters the NBA. Ayton averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds during his one season at Arizona, and he’s already making an impact in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, notching 21 points and 12 rebounds against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.

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Only time will tell, but with a group of talented youngsters like Booker, Ayton, Jackson and Bridges, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Suns squeak into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed, or maybe even the No. 7 seed, in the Western Conference in 2019.

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