“In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes, and Grayson Allen getting paid.” Ben Franklin said it back in 1789. Well, he said most of it, but it holds true today. Allen has had a fantastic season, and as an unrestricted free agent after this season, his services will be in high demand.
What Allen Brings
I’ll admit it, I didn’t realize how much I’d enjoy having Allen on the team. I knew he could shoot from the outside (career 41.3% as of publishing), but I didn’t realize how often he’d make the smart play, especially as it relates to his passing ability. You’d think with Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker flanking him that he’d get his fair share of open looks, and he has, but I’m impressed with his 3.1 assists per game. He’s not just a stand-in-the-corner guy, he plays within the offense well.
It’s not all about his raw numbers — as role players making the smart play doesn’t show up in the stat sheet — but what we see stacks up well against any non-star in the entire NBA. When Allen is on the court, the Suns outscore their opponents by 3.9 points per 100 possessions, compared to just .5 points per 100 when he sits.
What Will He Cost?
Allen is eligible for a four-year extension that could be worth up to $75 million, though if a deal can’t be made, he’ll hit the open market. Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic notes that if he were to sign an extension with a maximum starting salary of $16.4MM, Phoenix’s luxury tax bill projects to jump another $65-70MM.
New owner Mat Ishbia hasn’t shied away from paying to put a premium product on the court, as long as it contributes to winning a championship.
“Royce and Grayson are two great guys,” Ishbia said. “Royce is new to the organization, has done an amazing job, everything you can think of, and Grayson has been here all year. He’s been a phenomenal part of the team and the organization. We hope and expect to have both of those guys back along with keeping this core team together because we love our team and we’re going to compete at the highest level and hopefully in the playoffs very soon and see them all play together.” (H/T AZCentral.com)
What’s The Play?
One alternative to extending Allen would be to give those minutes to someone else on the roster. In all likelihood, that would mean Josh Okogie getting more run. Okogie is a serviceable player, but more on the defensive side. The other alternative would be looking to the free agent crop, but due to salary cap restrictions (the Suns have about $160 million owed to just Durant, Booker, Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic next season), the Suns won’t be able to afford a Klay Thompson or Buddy Hield.
I think unless something drastic happens, like a surprise Durant retirement or a freak major Booker injury, the Suns need to keep their core together. At 43-31, the Suns are in the thick of the playoff race and can match up offensively against every team they’ll face. Role players who can do more than just hold their own are important, and in Allen’s case, a floor spacer who can also pass well is of immense value.
