The Phoenix Suns assembled a “Big Three”, in theory, and yet only got worse. Much worse.
In the 2021-22 NBA season, they were legitimate title contenders. The Suns’ 64-18 record was good enough for the first seed in the Western Conference, and although they lost in the Conference semifinals in seven games to the then-Donciced Dallas Mavericks, they were a force to be reckoned with. They even were better than they were in their NBA Finals run of 2020-21, when their 51-21 record in the pandemic-shortened regular season was good for only the second seed.
At the February 2022 trade deadline, however, the Suns made a deal for Kevin Durant. And they have not threatened since.
To be clear, Durant is not the reason for their decline. He is timeless, aging about as well as a player can, cementing his legacy as a surefire Hall-of-Famer with season averages of 26.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in what is remarkably his 18th NBA season. Rather, it is everything around him that is at fault, and particularly the lack of assets with which to upgrade and/or rejuvenate the team. Be it in terms of cheap productive young players, draft picks or financial freedom, the cupboard is very bare.
Acquiring Durant emptied much of the cupboard, yet it was the follow-up trade for Bradley Beal that fully drained the accounts. Unlike Durant, Beal has not enjoyed a fruitful back nine to his career, and the supposed “Big Three” simply has never been. Because of the two trades in tandem, but particularly the Beal one, the Suns now have very few draft picks, one of the worst asset situations in the league, no spending money, and a 32-37 record that might not even make the play-in.
To that end, change must be forthcoming. Another season like this, when things have shown no signs of changing, would achieve nothing. The common assumption around the league – backed up by the heavy rumors of it nearly happening at last month’s trade deadline – is that Durant will be moved.
But what if it was Devin Booker that was traded instead?
Such a possibility has been raised in light of a report by Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic on what such a deal may yield. Rankin reported that trading away Booker could net the Suns four first-round picks, replenishing much of the empty cupboard, albeit at the cost of one of the league’s better guards.
To be clear, nowhere did Rankin say that a trade Booker should or will happen; he merely inquired as to what a hypothetical one may yield. Indeed, owner Mat Ishbia has come out and said that a Booker trade will “never happen”, which would be an emphatic article-ender if NBA team owners always did what they said they would.
Phoenix’s situation however is suitably dire that these are questions they should be asking, too. It therefore merits a discussion as to which teams would be willing and able to acquire Booker, and for what. Booker says he will not ask for one, which is noble, but best business practice might involve doing it anyway, depending on the Durant offers.
There follows a look at possible trade destinations for Devin Booker, should the Phoenix Suns decide to trade him this summer.