The Phoenix Suns are reportedly not expected to make a long-term commitment to center Mark Williams before the start of the 2025-26 NBA regular season.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Suns “would prefer to bank another full season of data” on Williams before potentially signing him to a contract extension.
During the offseason, Phoenix acquired Williams in a trade that sent Vasilije Micić, the draft rights to Liam McNeeley, and a 2029 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets.
Originally the No. 15 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft out of Duke, Williams showed flashes of brilliance during his three seasons in Charlotte, but injuries often plagued him, and he has yet to play in more than 44 games in a single season.
Although he missed 38 games last season, Williams still enjoyed a career year, averaging career highs across the board with 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 blocks per game in addition to shooting 60.4 percent from the field.
If the 7-footer can stay healthy and maintain that level of production over the course of a full season, he stands to be one of the top centers in the league.
Williams is still only 23 years old, meaning there is plenty of time for him to put it all together, and that could potentially happen in Phoenix.
After trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets and parting ways with Bradley Beal during the offseason, the Suns have a new-look team entering the 2025-26 season.
While face of the franchise Devin Booker returns, Williams is one of several new additions, along with Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and rookie first-round pick Khaman Maluach.
The opportunity will undoubtedly be present for Williams to be a big-time contributor, and if he succeeds in that regard, perhaps the Suns will revisit the idea of signing him to an extension.
For now, Williams is set to enter the final year of his current deal, and he will become a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign.
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