Will Cam Johnson Receive Major Payday?

Phoenix Suns power forward Cam Johnson's potential contract extension is a major question mark as the 2022-23 season progresses.

Author:
Remy Mastey
Nov 5, 2022 10:58 AM EDT

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Phoenix Suns

Phoenix Suns power forward Cam Johnson has been outstanding to start the season, but could his play backfire on the Suns long-term?

In the first seven games of this season, Johnson is averaging 14.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, Johnson had a statement game putting up an impressive 29 points.

Johnson is set to become a restricted free agent next offseason after he and the Suns were unable to agree on an extension this past summer. Needless to say, Johnson has a lot to play for this season.

If he plays his cards right, Johnson could be in for the biggest payday of his life. There are a handful of forwards making upwards of $30 million a year such as Brandon Ingram, Tobias Harris, Michael Porter Jr and Khris Middleton.

Other forwards such as Gordon Hayward and Duncan Robinson were given massive extensions and now are considered overpaid and untradable.

A new deal for Johnson was initially thought to put him in the ballpark of $15-$20 million annually, although numbers from failed contract negotiations never made their way out of either side. An increasing salary cap and offer sheet from another team could push Johnson's worth past those initial numbers.

Duane Rankin from the Arizona Republic reported Johnson's camp rejected Phoenix's offer of a four-year, $60 million deal that averages out to $15 million annually.

Now, a deal that would emerge past $20 million annually would put him on track to be in the same group of players such as Aaron Gordon, De'Andre Hunter and teammate Mikal Bridges next season.

“I would’ve loved to have come to a conclusion. I love it here, but the fact of the matter is that I’m here for this year and that is what I’m focused on," Johnson said before the season.

"I’m excited. We’ve got a good group. We’ve had a good group and we want to win a championship.”

With Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton already eating up a large chunk of the payroll with their contracts ($99.275 million next season just between the trio), it may prove difficult for the Suns to also give Johnson a deal he feels he deserves.

In order to do so, the Suns would have to go deep into the luxury tax which may not be ideal for the franchise.

This is where a potential shift in ownership could impact negotiations, as a new group that has no problem spending to field a winning team could allow Phoenix's front office to stretch their wallet's even further.

Over Johnson's four years in the NBA, he has shown to be a valuable piece for this Suns roster providing valuable three point shooting and excellent defending standing at 6-foot-8-inches.

Every year, Johnson seems to improve and with the absence of Jae Crowder, has been a starter taking up a lot of valuable minutes early on in the season.

“His acclimation will hopefully get smoother over time,” coach Monty Williams said of Johnson becoming a full-time starter this season.

“It’s still hard to say. It’s a work in progress for sure. He’s started before, but he hasn’t been the night in, night out starter from the jump where people are game planning for him at the start of the game. Those guys are used to playing with each other, but I think over time, we may learn some things about that lineup.”

The Suns' championship window is now, and if they want to keep competing, they must try and keep their core together that has had ample success over the past two seasons.

Improvement is still needed from Johnson before Phoenix is willing to hand over a large check, but that's something he's proven capable of doing in each season played.

Is it the right move to potentially give Johnson a hefty extension in the future?

Only time will tell.

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