It seems that some around the NBA believe that if the Phoenix Suns were to make the bold decision to trade Devin Booker, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs “have the assets to get him.”
After the Suns season came to a pathetic close last week when they were swept out of the NBA playoffs by the surging Minnesota Timberwolves, there are some big decisions the team has to make this summer. Even before they were ousted from the postseason there were rumblings that the organization could, or should, trade one of their talented All-Star scorers.
In a recent column, FOX Sports NBA insider Ric Bucher went into some depth on the Suns’ current situation, and due to having expensive stars like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal on the roster, they are extremely limited in what they can do to improve the roster around them. That is why they almost have to trade one of them if they hope to be a contender in 2024-25.
In the piece, Bucher speaks with several executives around the NBA and the shared belief is that if they were looking to get the most value in a deal, only Booker could land them a massive return that would include a boatload of first-round draft picks and several strong rotation players.
Last week, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith started a firestorm when he claimed if Booker leaves he wants to go to the New York Knicks. That rumor was only furthered when a second report claimed the Knicks’ interest in Booker was mutual and nothing recent.
Related: NBA MVP race – Where does Shai Gilgeous-Alexander land in the latest rankings?
However, one NBA exec added a very interesting wrinkle to a potential Booker market when they told Bucher the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder should also be viewed as serious contenders for the Phoenix superstar.
“San Antonio has the assets to get him. So does Oklahoma City,” the anonymous executive said.
Victor Wembanyama and Booker would be a dynamite combo in San Antonio while Booker and MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would be the best backcourt in basketball.
