Mikal Bridges of the Phoenix Suns controls the ball in the NBA pre-season game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, U.S., October 10, 2021. /CFP
The Phoenix Suns reached a four-year, $90-million contract extension with Mikal Bridges, according to the player's agents, Sam Goldfeder and Jordan Gertler of Excel Sports.
The negotiations with the team's general manager James Jones is on Sunday. Bridges' new deal will take effect from the 2022-23 season, and it's fully guaranteed.
Bridges was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 10th-overall pick in 2018 and then traded to the Suns. Before that, he spent four years playing for Villanova University and won two NCAA titles for his school in 2016 and 2018.
Last season, Bridges averaged 13.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 triples at 42.5 percent in the regular season for the Suns and made their way into the NBA Finals.
Mikal Bridges (#25) of the Phoenix Suns defends Kendrick Nunn (#12) of the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA pre-season game at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., October 6, 2021. /CFP
"Wherever he has gone, he has won. It's no accident. He is the player who buys into a culture as well as sets a culture," said Goldfeder of his client.
"Mikal has worked tirelessly to bring winning basketball back to the Phoenix Suns. This is the culmination of his hard work," said Gertler.
The Suns were hesitating before making extension offers to Bridges and Deandre Ayton during the offseason. On the one hand, both Bridges and Ayton were incredible last season. If they really enter the free agency market in 2022 summer, there will be more than enough teams offering them big contracts that can break the heart of the Suns owner Robert Sarver to match.
However, Bridges' usage last season was only 14.9 percent, which made his annual salary of $22.5 million seem a bit expensive. On the other hand, Ayton has yet been performing like a top 20 player whose new contract will begin at 25 or even 30 percent of the salary cap.
Deandre Ayton (#22) of the Phoenix Suns looks on in the NBA pre-season game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center, October 10, 2021. /CFP
Furthermore, suppose the Suns keep both Bridges and Ayton with the deals they want. In that case, the team may be looking at an over-$157-million exploding payroll in the 2022-23 season. It must be pointed out that the lineup does not necessarily assure championship or Finals.
However, the Suns made the move of keeping Bridges with a generous deal. What will they do with Ayton?