Victor Wembanyama just gave the San Antonio Spurs a gift that could echo for years, and it only makes the Phoenix Suns’ climb back into contention look steeper.
The French star agreed to a $252 maximum extension with the Spurs, but in doing so he also left roughly $50 million on the table over the next five years. That kind of decision is rare enough on its own. In the middle of a league where most superstars chase every dollar, it stands out even more.
That’s the part that should make Phoenix uneasy. Wembanyama’s choice doesn’t just keep him in San Antonio; it gives the Spurs more financial breathing room to hold their core together and stay active when big trade targets or free agents become available. In a Western Conference already looking crowded at the top, that matters.
The Suns were already facing a tough road, and the rise of the Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder has only made the path back look more brutal. Now San Antonio has even more flexibility, which is exactly the kind of edge contenders need when the margins get tight.
There’s also a broader shift here. Jalen Brunson did something similar for the New York Knicks, and that move helped them build the best starting five out East and win an NBA Championship.
Brunson and Wembanyama still feel like exceptions, though. Donovan Mitchell’s recent monster deal is a reminder that most stars still go after the biggest payday available.
But the league’s financial landscape has changed, too. With a hard cap effectively in place these days and the salary cap having dropped by $6 million heading into this offseason after years of climbing, every dollar matters more than ever.
That shrinking room for error hits Phoenix hard. Devin Booker’s current deal ranks among the worst in the league, even though he has always come across as a team-first player. He has never forced his way out, and no one could blame him for wanting to maximize his earnings while staying in place and likely becoming the best player in Suns history.
Still, the reality is uncomfortable. Booker is 29 and in his prime, while San Antonio has now locked in a deal that should keep Wembanyama and the Spurs competitive for the rest of the decade. If Booker had known rivals were willing to take less in order to build something stronger, it’s fair to wonder whether he would have viewed his own situation differently.
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Collin Gillespies Breakthrough Just Earned Him A Massive Suns Commitment
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Brian Gregorys praise for Gillespies toughness and value to the team underscored how much the Suns have come to trust him, and now that trust has been rewarded with a major commitment. The timing matters, too, because Phoenix moved before he could test the market, signaling that what Gillespie became this season is something the organization wanted to lock in for the long haul. [Read more 🡒]