How do we know we don't have better options lined up now ?
We don't and there's a reasonable chance there isn't so why not speculate when the player in question is good. And building for the future doesn't mean every single player needs to be under a certain age (see Coveny) so there isn't much problem with one older player on a short contract.
On a slightly different note, I've been away for the last two weeks so are there any credible rumours of players signing on/leaving the Phoenix?