Mikal Bridges signs rookie contract extension with Suns reportedly worth $90 million over four years

The Phoenix Suns have signed small ahead Mikal Bridges to a rookie contract extension, the team announced Monday. The deal is absolutely assured and value $90 million over 4 years, in keeping with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Bridges was the No. 10 general decide within the 2018 NBA Draft and a key participant in Phoenix’s stunning run to the NBA Finals final season. He averaged 13.5 factors on 42.5 % capturing from behind the arc within the common season whereas incomes sturdy consideration for a spot on the NBA’s All-Defensive groups. 

That 3-and-D talent set is what earned Bridges this contract, however he has prior to now flashed way more potential as a ball-handler. He notably scored 27 factors in Sport 2 of the NBA Finals — Phoenix’s final win of the sequence — and he has drawn fairly a little bit of reward from star teammate Devin Booker. “He is a participant,” Booker mentioned through the Orlando bubble. “You may’t put him in a field, you’ll be able to’t give him one title. You may’t even simply give him a 3-and-D title that folks attempt to use for him.”

With the Bridges deal now finished, all eyes flip to 2018 No. 1 general decide DeAndre Ayton. Phoenix’s beginning heart reportedly wants the maximum five-year extension that his draftmates Luka Doncic, Trae Young and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have earned. Such a deal might pay Ayton as a lot as $207 million ought to he earn Rose Rule eligibility, however the Suns are reportedly hesitant to pay him that a lot. 

The deadline to signal 2018 first-round picks to rookie extensions is Monday, Oct. 18. Phoenix has a minimum of secured the signature of considered one of its two prime kids, however with so little time to go, negotiations with Ayton might come all the way down to the wire. If he doesn’t signal an extension previous to the deadline, he would turn out to be a restricted free agent subsequent offseason. From there, he might both signal a brand new long-term cope with the Suns, signal a proposal sheet with one other crew that Phoenix would have the proper to match, or signal a one-year qualifying supply in Phoenix that may make him an unrestricted free agent in 2023. 

Signing Bridges a minimum of provides the Suns a little bit of insurance coverage ought to they proceed to wrestle to safe Ayton. They not threat each drawing monumental supply sheets subsequent offseason. Now, with considered one of their core gamers locked in, they will focus all of their consideration on locking within the different.