The Phoenix Suns have themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place after Anthony Edwards and the Phoenix Suns swept them in the first round. Due to their early exit and a bloated roster, the team may have to entertain the thought of trading All-Star shooting guard Devin Booker.
During the previous offseason, the Suns shocked the whole league when they traded for Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards. Even though they gave up Chris Paul, the thought of him joining Kevin Durant and Booker would have been enough to contend and dominate the NBA.
Booker, in particular, met expectations during the regular season while playing with two All-Star scorers in Durant and Beal. Over the course of 68 games, the Suns’ shooting guard averaged 27.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists. He also connected almost 50 percent from the field, 36 percent from beyond the arc, and 88 percent from the free-throw line.
Unfortunately, the Suns’ core wasn’t enough for a Timberwolves team led by Edwards in this year’s first round. Due to the lack of depth, ineffective defense, and Beal’s disappointing performance, Phoenix’s season came to an early end.
Phoenix Suns Star Devin Booker Linked to San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder in Potential Trade
After their elimination, several problems about the Suns’ future were highlighted. Thanks to a no-trade clause in Beal’s contract, Phoenix can only deal either Durant or Booker to recuperate sufficient assets to become competitive again. This development has then linked the latter to several teams via a trade, as written by Tyler Conway in an article for Bleacher Report:
“Ric Bucher of Fox Sports spoke to two NBA executives, one of whom said it’s “unclear” whether Booker wants to remain in Phoenix. Another exec highlighted the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder as potential trade partners.
“San Antonio has the assets to get him,” the second exec said. “So does Oklahoma City. And it’s really the only way Phoenix can change course,” Conway wrote.
If Booker goes to San Antonio, he can accelerate the team’s timeline by forming an interesting one-two punch with Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama. The Thunder, on the other hand, are already contenders and the Suns star’s fit with them is still unknown.
Fans should keep an eye out on Booker when the offseason starts soon. If he does move, expect everyone in the league to lose their minds, especially if he goes to either San Antonio or OKC.
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