Phx-Suns.Net

Think the longest contract Paul can sign is 3 years. Opt out and sign a 3/80-90 million dollar deal. Start it at like 30 and have it drop. 30/28/26 gives him 84 million over 3 years. Which is basically a 2/40 million dollar deal after next season. Enough?

That gives us wiggle room under the luxury tax to use the MLE again next season and bring back Payne if we want.

Then it dips again when Mikal and maybe Ayton’s extensions kick in. Would be very hard to keep everyone that year and not pay the tax, but Saric/Crowder/Carter would expire the next year if we need to avoid the repeater tax.

I want to believe Paul would be onboard with that plan, but I think it mostly depends on how he views the Suns title chances after this coming playoff run.

Ya, he may also just see this as a 2 year stop and then plans to go join forces with Lebron in 2022 with the Lakers. In that case he’ll just take his 44 million.

I would be very happy if CP3 achieved significant playoff success with the Suns and is associated with the team rather than be a 2 year mercenary.