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Preface
On July 8, 2022, Booker successfully won a 4-year contract extension of 224 million yuan, becoming the biggest winner of the Suns, but he continued to contradict Paul.
So why did the Suns renew Booker's contract at a sky-high price?
Booker signed a big contract
One step to the sky, one day to fame, this phrase is the best way to describe Devin Booker.
From an obscure rookie to a top NBA star, Booker's rise has been rapid.
But the road to fame has never been easy, and not long ago, Booker signed a jaw-dropping contract with the Suns: $224 million for four years.
This contract not only made Booker one of the highest-paid players in the league, but also tied him firmly to the Suns' chariot.
Information source: Qingtong Perspective - NBA|Booker renewed his contract with the Suns for 4 years and 224 million, and his annual salary exceeded Jokic's
If you think about it, Booker will be able to get a sky-high salary of up to $255 million in the next five years.
This number is probably unimaginable even for Booker himself, you know, just a few years ago, Booker was just an unknown rookie, but now he has become a top star in the league.
This contract is undoubtedly an affirmation of Booker's strength and a reflection of the Suns' high hopes for him.
However, there is no such thing as a free lunch, and the Suns are willing to give Booker a salary cap, but behind it is the pressure on other players.
This practice can't help but remind people of the old saying: "It is difficult for a good woman to cook without rice".
This operation of the Suns management is undoubtedly walking a tightrope.
On the one hand, it is necessary to retain the core stars of the team, and on the other hand, it is necessary to control the salary expenditure, and this balance is really a test of the wisdom of the management.
Booker's big contract is like a double-edged sword.
On the one hand, it ensures that the Suns can retain their star in the long term, but on the other hand, it also puts a lot of pressure on the team's salary space.
You know, the NBA is a team league, and you can't win a championship by relying on just one or two stars.
How the Suns can add to Booker's big contract has become a tricky question.
Booker was retained, but other important pieces of the puzzle could be lost as a result.
Ayton is a prime example.
The Suns were unwilling to give Ayton a maximum salary, and finally had to match the four-year, 133 million contract offered by the Pacers, which undoubtedly made Ayton dissatisfied with the team.
Booker's big contract has also brought huge expectations and pressure to the Suns.
After all, with such a high salary, Booker has to take on the responsibility of the team.
Whether Booker can truly become the leader of the team and lead the Suns to a championship remains to be tested by time.
Source: CCTV - 4-year $133 million new contract! The Suns officially announced the extension of Ayton's contract
Booker's contradiction with Paul
"One mountain does not allow two tigers", this old saying is used to describe Booker and
Luo's relationship couldn't be more appropriate.
As Booker's status continues to rise, the contradictions between him and Chris Paul, the "master of ball control", are becoming increasingly apparent.
Once upon a time, Paul came to the Suns and was seen as a key part of the team's championship attempt.
However, time has passed, and the former "best partner" is now a detached person.
Booker's rise is like a dark horse, which is unexpected.
From obscurity to All-Star to now superstar, Booker has proven himself with his performances.
However, growing up inevitably brought friction, and Booker was no longer content to be Paul's "student" and craved more autonomy.
As the saying goes, "the back waves of the Yangtze River push the front waves", Booker hopes to be the real leader of the team, not Paul's follower.
As an experienced veteran in the league, Paul naturally has his own ideas and style of play.
He is accustomed to conducting and dispatching on the field, as if a conductor is in charge of the orchestra.
However, this approach has made Booker uncomfortable, and Booker believes that he has grown into an All-Star and does not need Paul to dictate everything.
As time went on, Booker's thirst for the ball grew.
He is no longer content to be a mere scorer, but wants to be more involved in the team's offensive organization.
Booker aspires to be an all-around player who can not only score, but also play, and even defend.
This idea undoubtedly conflicts with Paul's character.
After all, Paul has always been the main playmaker of the team.
Booker's idea can't help but be reminiscent of "doves occupy magpies' nests".
He hopes to gradually replace Paul as the team's new ball-keeping core.
However, this transformation did not happen overnight.
Booker needs time to improve his playmaking skills, and the team needs time to adapt to this new style of play.
At the same time, Booker's expectations for his ideal partner have changed.
He is no longer content to partner with a point guard like Paul, but wants to have a guard who is tough defensively but doesn't take up too much of the ball.
This kind of thinking is a bit of a fish and a bear's paw, after all, in the NBA, there are not many guards who can defend well without occupying the ball.
Booker's thinking has undoubtedly put tremendous pressure on the Suns' management.
The impact of Paul's departure
Chris Paul's departure was like a hammer that hit the Suns in the heart.
Once upon a time, Paul was seen as a key figure in the Suns' championship attempt, but now it is a thing of the past.
The first impact of Paul's departure is that the Suns have lost a leader at a critical moment.
As we all know, Paul is like a commander on the field, always standing up at the most critical moment to lead the team out of trouble.
Booker, while capable of scoring, is still a little immature in terms of organization and leadership.
Durant is one of the league's top scorers, but he's better at scoring on the court than mobilizing the team.
With Paul's departure, the Suns' overall performance can be said to have plummeted.
The Suns team that once made it to the Finals seemed to disappear overnight, replaced by a team with a mediocre record and inconsistent performances.
The problem on the defensive end is even worse.
Despite his age, Paul's defensive awareness and experience are second to none on the team.
Without Paul, the Suns' defense suddenly became a mess.
The opponents seem to have found the Suns' weakness and frequently caused problems for the Suns on the defensive end.
In this case, Durant's decision to join the Suns is also beginning to be questioned.
At the beginning, Durant came to the Suns and was regarded as the last piece of the puzzle for the team to hit the championship.
However, reality gave everyone a resounding slap in the face.
Without Paul's organization, Durant's talent seems to be tied down and unable to be fully utilized.
Fans began to question whether Durant had made the right choice.
Some people believe that he should choose a more mature and rational team instead of coming to this Suns team that is in turmoil.
This kind of questioning, like "all mouths of gold", has brought a lot of pressure to Durant.
Overall, the impact of Paul's departure on the Suns is all-encompassing.
From offense to defense, from on the court to off the court, it will take time for the Suns to adjust to this massive change.
And whether Durant can find his place in this new environment will also be a key factor in determining the future direction of the Suns.
Problems facing the Suns
A thousand miles of embankment, collapsed in an anthill, this sentence is really suitable to describe the situation of the Suns.
Once a powerhouse in the West, it is now in a lot of trouble, and the problems faced by the Suns are like mountains, overwhelming the team.
The first problem is the lack of a good organizer.
Chris Paul's departure is like draining the central nervous system of the Suns.
Booker, while capable of scoring, is still a young man in terms of organization.
Durant is a pure scorer who struggles to take on the responsibility of playmaking.
Without a good playmaker, the Suns' offense is like a loose plate of sand, and it is difficult to form an effective offensive system.
Secondly, the team's tactical singleness has also become a big problem.
Without Paul's scheduling, the Suns' offense often falls into a single-handed dilemma.
Booker and Durant took turns playing singles, and although they were able to score good points, it was difficult to mobilize the offensive enthusiasm of the whole team.
The problem on the defensive end was even worse, with the Suns losing a lot of defensive players in the trade, resulting in a serious lack of defensive resources for the team.
Booker and Durant, while excellent on the offensive end, are hardly reassuring on the defensive end.
To make matters worse, there are obvious problems with the Suns' Big Three configuration.
Booker, Durant and Beal, all three are players who are good at scoring, but they are slightly lacking in other areas.
All three wanted the ball, they all wanted to shoot, but none of them wanted to take on the responsibility of playmaking and defending.
This unreasonable configuration makes it difficult for the Big Three to exert the maximum effect.
They are like three separate individuals, not an organic whole.
In this case, it is like a chicken and a duck, and it is difficult for the three of them to have a good chemistry on the field.
Overall, the issues facing the Suns are multifaceted and need to be fundamentally adjusted.
From the tactical system to the staffing, from the offensive end to the defensive end, the Suns need to make changes.
The process could be tough, but it could also make the Suns stronger.
The Suns are going through a storm, but perhaps a better future awaits them after the storm.
epilogue
Booker's big contract, while ensuring the stability of the team's core, has also put a lot of pressure on the salary space.
The conflict with Paul exposed the power struggle within the team, and Paul's departure deprived the team of a leader at a critical moment.
Today, the Suns face multiple problems such as a lack of good playmakers, a single tactic, and a lack of defensive resources.
Suns management and players need to confront these issues head-on and make fundamental adjustments and changes if the Suns are to rise back and get back to the top.
Information sources:
Qingtong's perspective - NBA|Booker's 4-year 224 million contract extension Suns, the annual salary exceeds Jokic's, which raises questions
CCTV - 4-year $133 million new contract! The Suns officially announced the extension of Ayton's contract