Phoenix Suns facing deadlines on Jared Dudley, Earl Clark

Monday could have gone differently for Jared Dudley and Earl Clark.

Dudley might have been signing a contract extension before Monday's 9 p.m. NBA deadline if there were no threat of a lockout, as teams brace for changes to the collective-bargaining agreement, and no recently added long-term deals on the Suns payroll.

Clark might have seen the team option on his contract for the 2011-12 season exercised by the Suns if the general manager who drafted him, Steve Kerr, was still around or if acquisitions in July had not affected his spot in the team's rotation.

Instead, it is certain that Clark will not have the option exercised by tonight's deadline, and Dudley said it is "unlikely" he will reach an agreement on an extension. Without an extension and barring a rule change, Dudley would become a restricted free agent next summer.

"We're going to use the whole time to make all our final decisions," Suns General Manager Lance Blanks said. "It's only fair."