If you don’t have a record, you have to give Booker an annual salary of 72.5 million. Why does the Suns have to renew their contract?

Booker and the Suns reached an early contract renewal, with an average annual salary of US$145 million in two years, with an average annual salary of 72.5 million in the "early renewal" (72.5 million, before Alexander had an average of 71.25 million). After the dust settled, salary expert Bobby Marks sorted out Booker's contract situation. His current contract has 171 million yuan in three years, 53.14 million yuan next season, 57.08 million in the 26-27 season, 61.02 million in the 27-28 season; the new one is 145 million in the 22-29 season, 69.88 million in the 28-29 season, and 75.46 million in the 29-30 season.

75.46 million is also the third highest annual salary in the NBA so far. Alexander signed 287 million yuan with the Thunder for four years this summer, with a salary of 76.19 million yuan in the 29-30 season and a salary of 79 million yuan in the last year (30-31 season).

In the past season, Booker has played 75 games, averaging 25.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game, with a real shooting percentage of 58.1%. In fact, from the data alone, Booker in the 24-25 season has been regressing compared to Booker in the 23-24 season. In the 23-24 season, he netted 5.8 points while on the court, compared with a net loss of 3.2 points last season. His real hit rate and effective hit rate were all reduced by about 3 percentage points. Why does the Suns still have to give Booker the first maximum salary in the league when he just missed the playoffs in the 24-25 season, Durant has been traded to the Rockets, and the team's record is unclear?

The reason is simple: Booker is the only trump card worth betting on. He is still the league's top offensive starting point. Although the Suns ultimately failed to get a playoff spot, as long as Booker is on the court, the Suns still have the ability to create threats on the offensive end.

Book is 28 years old this year. His contract with Suns before the early renewal will end in the summer of 2028. After the early renewal, it will end in the summer of 2030. Although it is still a long time, today's big-name players don't look at how long they have to leave. The Sun's contract renewal in advance was at least a statement, which also made Booker less interested in leaving.

Even if the record is poor, Booker is still a scarce three-in-one asset in the league's "core of ball holding at the peak + stable scorer + business face". The significance of early maximum salary renewal is to maintain the initiative to rebuild in the future, continue to operate around him, and even trade when necessary to exchange for a large number of first-round picks, rather than passively losing the core.

Last season, Booker was still the box office and ratings of the whole team, and his commercial value and status were unsubstituted by Phoenix. In fact, in terms of commercial value, although Booker has a gap between the top Curry, James, Antetokounmpo and Durant, the endorsement revenue of these few is basically around US$50 million, Booker also holds more than a dozen brand endorsements, and the annual endorsement revenue is also more than eight figures. In addition, it was able to let Nike produce signature shoes for him, which was enough to prove his market appeal. So you can't bet on Booker in business at least. And for the current uncertain direction of reconstruction of the Sun, retaining Booker can at least avoid completely sliding into the abyss, leaving room to adjust the structure and find a new second core.

From Booker's perspective, this early contract renewal will end when he is 33 years old. At that time, there will still be a chance to sign another long maximum salary to ensure maximum career income in his peak years. It also shows that he is willing to stay in Phoenix City, at least not considering voluntarily applying for leaving the team in the short term. The reality of the

NBA is that super scorers are never cheap. Without Durant, the sun would regress; but without Booker, the sun could completely fall into darkness.

Even without playoff record guarantee, the Suns still have to give Booker the highest NBA salary, which is the price that must be paid for small markets to retain superstars and avoid losing all competitiveness. Keep Booker, the Sun has no other choice.