GLENDALE – As the Phoenix Suns shift their attention towards the offseason, a problem arises. The Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer reported that the franchise wants to secure a long-tern extension with Dillon Brooks, but age is a major problem. When the proposed extension would hit, the 6’7 forward would be 32 years old and expected to get payday north of $30 million annually. Phoenix is hoping it doesn’t reach that high of a price.
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Apr 17, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) celebrates a three point shot against the Golden State Warriors during the first half in the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
What a Brooks’ extension could look like:
If Brooks signs a four-year, $120 million extension, then for the 2027-2028 season the Suns would have $127 million connected to him, Jalen Green and Devin Brooks. The salary cap for next season is $165 million, so if it continues to increase by 10% annual, the trio of players would take up 70% of the 181.5 salary cap. For a core that just got swept in the first round and is only getting older, the franchise being hesitant makes sense.
Apr 8, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia reacts against the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Brooks deserves a massive payday because of his work dragging the franchise from purgatory. After the Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant drama, Phoenix looked to be stuck in mediocrity because of the lack of draft picks. However, Brooks helped create a new culture around the Valley that had the Suns increase their win total by nine compared to last year, even with all the injuries.
Despite that fact, the money to keep this core will be hard considering the $20+ million in dead cap because of Beal. General manager Brian Gregory have two starters hitting free agency in Collin Gillespie and Mark Williams. As of now, Phoenix has around $27 million of space before the first apron for next season, or $19 million until the luxury tax.
Apr 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) celebrates a shot against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
A trade of a bigger contract of Grayson Allen could be done to free up room to bring back Gillespie or Williams. Gregory could also do the inconceivable and trade Brooks to avoid giving him an extension to save money and get the max return in a trade. That scenario isn’t likely to happen, as the owner Mat Ishbia stated on Wednesday that he wants to keep this core together for a long time during the end-of-season press conference.
The cap will become a problem for the franchise in the next couple of years, but for now, Ishbia and Gregory looked to just be celebrating a successful season of reinvigorating the Suns.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
