Aside from a few notable changes, it’s been a relatively quiet summer for the Phoenix Suns. While some teams were busy adding bona fide superstars to their roster, Phoenix opted to mostly run it back by re-committing to their veteran core.
According to ESPN, their latest move is a contract extension for veteran forward Dillon Brooks that will keep him in town for the next four years. The 6’7″ forward initially only had one year left on his contract for $19.9 million in 2026-27, but he’ll make roughly $24.3 million per year starting from 2027-28 through 2029-30.
“Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks has agreed to a three-year, $73 million contract extension through 2029-30,” reported ESPN’s Shams Charania. “Brooks has become a key part of the Suns’ two-way, hard-nosed culture under Jordan Ott and lands a new guaranteed long-term deal. Amid contract decisions, the Suns have maintained continuity from last season’s surprise playoff team by signing Brooks, Collin Gillespie, Mark Williams and Jordan Goodwin to multiyear deals — along with acquiring Miles Bridges and Luke Kennard.”
The Suns have experienced several major transformations over the years. Before this current rendition of the team, they had guys like Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Before them, there was Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. So far, none of those core groups were able to achieve success in Phoenix, but they finally made some traction last season, when nobody expected anything.
Led by young stars Devin Booker and Jalen Green, the Suns remade their identity into a scrappy, hard-nosed unit. Employing a team-first approach and an ultra-competitive mindset, they went 45-37 to secure the seventh seed in the West. They even advanced to the first round before being swept by the Thunder. Going into this summer, it’s unclear what Phoenix had planned, but they learned the hard way that chasing stars isn’t always the way to go. That’s why they took a more humble approach by taking care of their own.
Despite his controversial history, Dillon Brooks was too important not to keep around. He was a major part of their rise last season, and the Suns have seemingly rewarded him with a shiny new extension. Last season, in 56 games, the 6’7″ swingman averaged 20.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game on 43.5% shooting from the field. That doesn’t count his elite perimeter defense, which often has him guarding the opponent’s best scorers.
At 30 years old, Brooks isn’t just a temporary contributor for the Suns. He’s someone they envision as a long-term piece, and someone who could stick around and establish a winning culture in the locker room. Alongside Devin Booker, Mark Williams, and Miles Bridges, the Suns hope that Brooks can help them build upon their progress so far and set a positive example for younger teammates.
In the end, it’s hard to know what to expect from the Suns this season. As presently constructed, they have enough talent and depth to give any contender some serious fits. But without a true co-star for Devin Booker, they may never surpass the Western Conference juggernauts. For that, they’ll need a miracle, and not even Dillon Brooks will be enough.
