Suns are doing a good job IMO.
Why pay him the max when you can just match any offer he signs, assuming it's not too much for the Suns' liking. They also signed Thomas, while that's a dropoff defensively, offensively there's not so much of a drop.
Also, they can just sign and trade him to anyone who wants to pay him the max. In any case, Phoenix doesnt have to overpay. Brilliant.