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Suns Sharpshooter Now Eligible For Contract Extension

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Kenny Kluska | Last updated 3/28/24

The Phoenix Suns have yet to reach the heights of their preseason expectations. Even with Wednesday’s impressive win against the reigning champion Denver Nuggets, Phoenix still sits seventh in the Western Conference standings. Nonetheless, Grayson Allen has been a superb addition for the team despite this.

Now in his sixth season, Allen was involved in a blockbuster three-team trade that sent him to Phoenix this past offseason. The 28-year-old has been in the starting lineup for all 67 of his appearances this season for the Suns.

Wednesday marked the day where the Suns are now eligible to offer Allen a contract extension.

Suns Sharpshooter Now Eligible For Contract Extension

How Much is Allen Eligible to Make on an Extension?

Grayson Allen can now sign an extension with Phoenix for up to four years, $75 million. That’s a large increase from the two-year, $18.7 million contract he signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2022.

Selected 21st overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, Allen’s potential extension would carry an average annual value of $18.75 million. According to Spotrac, that would rank as the 80th highest salary for the 2023-24 season.

Allen is eligible to agree to a contract extension through June 30, the eve of league free agency beginning. In a three-point happy league, the sharpshooter would be highly sought after if he were allowed to enter the free agent market.

Allen Having a Career-Best Season for Phoenix

As mentioned earlier, Allen has started every game for the Suns in 2023-24. In 33.7 minutes per contest, the six-foot four guard is averaging 13.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. All of those numbers are career-highs including the minutes.

Booker high ball-screen with Eubanks

Notice Grayson Allen’s lift at the same time Porter Jr. has to tag the rolling Eubanks

That’s pretty pic.twitter.com/u3QbvvGh66

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) March 28, 2024

Those numbers don’t show how accurate of a shooter Allen has been. He has attempted 5.8 threes per game. Allen has connected on 47.8 of them. That accuracy leads the NBA with Luke Kennard of the Memphis Grizzlies in second at 45.4%. He has made the 19th-most threes this season despite attempting just the 43rd-most.

Allen is also shooting a career-best from inside the arc (56.7%).

Is he a Still-Ascending Player?

Not only is Grayson Allen mostly posting career-highs this season, he has continued with his career trend. As a rookie with the Utah Jazz in 2018-19, Allen averaged 10.9 minutes an outing. He has seen an increase in his minutes in each ensuing season.

Allen will turn 29 on October 8. A four-year extension would pay the Duke graduate until the age of 32. With salaries constantly rising, Allen’s contract could look like a bargain if he continues on the trajectory he has been on.

Allen’s effectiveness on the court is causing less and less people to focus on the narrative that he is a dirty player, dating back to his tenure at Duke.

For his career, Allen has played in 331 regular season games (238 starts) for the Jazz, Grizzlies, Bucks, and Suns. In 25.5 minutes per game, Allen has posted career averages of 10.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while connecting on 41.4% of his three-point tries.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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