Nobody expected the Phoenix Suns to lose in the first round of the playoffs after they paired Devin Booker and Kevin Durant with Bradley Beal last summer. To make matters worse, they were swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who picked up their first series win since 2004. This is a low point for the Suns given all the resources they have invested in their core, which is why internal change is imminent. Not only could this apply to head coach Frank Vogel, who is on the hot seat, but perhaps owner Mat Ishbia and the Suns will have second thoughts about their All-Star trio.
Beal owns a no-trade clause, plus there isn't a realistic scenario in which any team would take on his contract right now. Durant is still one of the best offensive players in the world, and he will hear his name mentioned with All-NBA honors when that list is revealed. This leaves Booker, who has spent all nine years of his career with the Suns. Could Phoenix actually entertain the idea of making what would be a league-altering trade involving Booker?
The idea of doing so is something that will be brought up during the offseason, given the value Booker could return to the Suns. Then again, the Suns truly want to regroup with their same core heading into the 2024-25 season. Trading Booker is not something on their agenda at this time, and the four-time All-Star has no desire to demand a trade, according to Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports. This report comes in the wake of ESPN's Stephen A. Smith suggesting that Booker wants to play for the New York Knicks, a rumor that doesn't hold much truth at this time.
Of course, Booker's “connection” to the Knicks comes from him stating on multiple occasions that he loves to play at Madison Square Garden. In fact, the Suns star said this season that the Knicks' arena “gives you a certain feeling” just driving past it.
Booker is not the only player who loves playing at Madison Square Garden, as even the likes of LeBron James and Stephen Curry have commented through the years about the energy the New York arena brings. The rumors suggesting that Booker is going to work his way to the Knicks in the offseason are simply that. There is nothing suggesting that the Suns would entertain the thought of giving up the face of their franchise, and New York is in a position where they could possibly go on a deep postseason run this year.
Still, the idea of Booker being traded to the Knicks is entertaining enough to at least discuss in depth what this trade could look like.
Trade offer for Devin Booker
Jalen Brunson has turned himself into a true MVP candidate for the Knicks. Placing Booker by his side in the backcourt would instantly create the best scoring duo in the NBA, one that many teams wouldn't have an answer to on a nightly basis given each player's abilities to go for at least 40 points in any given game.
Aside from the idea that the Knicks would do anything to make this trade a reality, Booker's ties to New York stem from executive Leon Rose's past as an agent for CAA. Before Rose joined the Knicks, he represented Booker. Do you see where some of these rumors are coming from?
The Knicks are not the only team that would love to get their hands on Booker, as virtually every other team in the league would be bidding for his services should the Suns entertain the thought of a trade. This would leave New York with very little room to counter their offers, especially since there are several other organizations that can offer a slew of draft picks and valuable assets to Phoenix.
With this said, the Knicks offer for Booker would likely include All-Star forward Julius Randle, swingman Donte DiVincenzo, and breakout guard Miles McBride. These three players combine to make $46.4 million next season, allowing the Knicks to take a crack at Booker's $49.3 million salary. Randle would almost definitely need to be included in the trade, not only due to his All-Star status but also because his $30.3 million salary carries the bulk of the financial capital needed for the Knicks to go after a player making nearly $50 million.
The other players included in this trade could be mix-and-match between DiVincenzo, McBride, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Bojan Bogdanovic. DiVincenzo and McBride are the two players that make the most sense here, especially since the Suns would need immediate backcourt production in the wake of Booker's hypothetical departure.
Then come the draft picks, as the Knicks have the ability to offer 12 different first-round picks through 2031. New York will have only two picks in 2024 due to the Washington Wizards pick that they own being deferred until 2025 as a result of prior protections.
A deal with Randle, DiVincenzo, McBride, and a slew of first-round draft picks through the next several years helps the Suns rebuild their financial situation and gives them future assets, which were sacrificed to get Durant and Beal to Phoenix. As good as this sounds from a fan's perspective and those who think they are general managers on Twitter, Booker being traded to New York simply isn't a likely scenario by any means.
Would Knicks, Suns make this trade?
Devin Booker is old-school in the sense that he puts a lot of value on representing his franchise the right way. Not only is Booker happy with what he has achieved with the Suns, taking them to the NBA Finals in 2021, but he does appear to be of the same mindset as his mentor Kobe Bryant in terms of remaining with the same franchise over the course of his career, according to Bourguet.
He doesn't want a trade, the Suns don't want to trade him, and it is almost impossible for the Knicks to come up with an offer that the Suns would give the time of day to. Even if, by some miracle, Phoenix was willing to do this deal, would the Knicks actually want to give up a chunk of their roster for Booker?
The idea of pairing Booker with Brunson is something that would blind many people to the truth. The Knicks are a great team as they are, and they are on the verge of making it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the second straight season. Honestly, out of all the teams in the East, they have the best chance of dethroning the Boston Celtics and advancing to the NBA Finals this season, despite not having Randle.
The Knicks are a gritty team that gets after it for all 48 minutes on both sides of the floor. While Booker is a better scorer than Randle and an instant upgrade for this team offensively, his presence would cause a lot of problems for the Knicks' style of play. Booker is not known for his defensive presence, and his playmaking skills would ultimately take the ball out of Brunson's hands, something New York has no interest in doing.
Brunson is the face of the Knicks. In this role, he has ascended to being a borderline All-NBA First Team player and MVP candidate. Why would the Knicks want to change his role just to bring in Booker? Sure, the Suns guard is one of the most complete offensive players in this league, but New York is already a deep, hungry team in the East.
There is no reason for the Knicks to make this trade or even entertain the idea of adding Booker at this time. Financially, they are in a perfect situation, given that their secondary talents are on affordable contracts. With a massive extension coming for Brunson, bringing in another $50 million per year player would put the Knicks in a position the Suns currently find themselves in where they have no long-term flexibility and no ways out if things go south.
Booker heading to New York is nothing more than a dream someone had while playing NBA 2K. It may work in the video game, but in real life, Booker is quite content sticking out the remainder of his career with the Suns.
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