Keep or Trade Devin Booker in the off season?

[Frank Lee]

Spoiler:

Although I get the nostalgia and heartfelt intentions associated with keeping Booker and letting him retire as a sun! In keeping him, all we're really doing is low-end treadmilling right beyond the lottery (if lucky) but we'd still be wasting Bookers' remaining years without really achieving anything other than frustrating mediocrity. The best and most logical pathway for us to rebuild our entire franchisee back to respectability and legitimate competitive dominance is to trade both while they still have value and completely reconstruct our roster.

James Jones needs to go, but his contract expires this summer so hopefully Ishbia just doesn't pick it up and lets him walk! Coach Bud needs to go as well in the interest of a younger coach who will actually play and develop young talent! OR ELSE, sit him down and have a clear understanding of our expectations of him. But if he does agree to stay, then it will be critical to also hire a top-notch defensive coach as an assistant to him who can collaborate on defensive schemes. Now for the best possible KD and then Booker trades (to give us a bright future:

KD Trades (Top 3)

1- OKC
KD for Hartenstein/ Joe/ Dieng/Topic/ LAC 25' 1st (15th pick)/ PHI 25' 1st (protected 1-6).
2- DET
KD for Harris/ Thompson/ Fontecchio/ DET 27' 1st/ DET 29' 1st.

3- MIA
KD for Wiggins/ Robinson/ Ware/ Larsen/ MIA 28' 1st.
OR
KD for Rozier/Robinson/Jovic/ Jacquez/ GS 25' 1st (14th pick)/ MIA 29' 1st.

***SAS
KD for Vassell/ Barnes/ Sochan/ ATL 25' 1st (11th pick)/ ATL 26' 1st (swap rights) to give us a 1st round pick in 2026.

Booker Trades

1- HOU
Booker for J Green/ Landale/ Whitmore/ PHX 25' 1st/ PHX 27' 1st/ PHX 29' 1st.
OR
Booker for Van Vleet/ Smith Jr or Eason/ PHX 25' 1st/ PHX 27' 1st/ PHX 29' 1st.

2- DET
Booker for Stewart/ Thompson or Holland/ Ivey/ Fontecchio/ 3 DET 1sts.

3- UTA
Booker for Collins/Sexton/Hendricks/ UTA 27' 1st/ UTA 29' 1st/ PHX 31' st (back)!!

**** Maybe we trade Collins/ Milicic ($8 million expiring)/ 2 UTA 1sts to Portland for J Grant/ Camara??
**** Maybe we trade Sexton to Orlando for Bidatze/ Black/ Houston/ ORL 27' 1st (lottery protected).
Or we could just keep them and let them expire and get more cap space or try and resign them for less?

You're basically asking for about 25-50% more than is realistic but as a Pistons fan I think a deal for Booker can be had. You simply are not going to get 50% of what you paid for Durant for either of them.

Ghost gets delusional this time of year, and you are right. This is a fire sale, with a 50% chance Azzhat n charge lets it burn to the ground.

the best thing that can happen is both Book and KD say trade me. Force wishbia to lick his wounds and move on.

[Saberestar]

The poll results are surprising me. I voted to trade him but I thought it would be more equal than 3-20.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Spoiler:

Although I get the nostalgia and heartfelt intentions associated with keeping Booker and letting him retire as a sun! In keeping him, all we're really doing is low-end treadmilling right beyond the lottery (if lucky) but we'd still be wasting Bookers' remaining years without really achieving anything other than frustrating mediocrity. The best and most logical pathway for us to rebuild our entire franchisee back to respectability and legitimate competitive dominance is to trade both while they still have value and completely reconstruct our roster.

James Jones needs to go, but his contract expires this summer so hopefully Ishbia just doesn't pick it up and lets him walk! Coach Bud needs to go as well in the interest of a younger coach who will actually play and develop young talent! OR ELSE, sit him down and have a clear understanding of our expectations of him. But if he does agree to stay, then it will be critical to also hire a top-notch defensive coach as an assistant to him who can collaborate on defensive schemes. Now for the best possible KD and then Booker trades (to give us a bright future:

KD Trades (Top 3)

1- OKC
KD for Hartenstein/ Joe/ Dieng/Topic/ LAC 25' 1st (15th pick)/ PHI 25' 1st (protected 1-6).
2- DET
KD for Harris/ Thompson/ Fontecchio/ DET 27' 1st/ DET 29' 1st.

3- MIA
KD for Wiggins/ Robinson/ Ware/ Larsen/ MIA 28' 1st.
OR
KD for Rozier/Robinson/Jovic/ Jacquez/ GS 25' 1st (14th pick)/ MIA 29' 1st.

***SAS
KD for Vassell/ Barnes/ Sochan/ ATL 25' 1st (11th pick)/ ATL 26' 1st (swap rights) to give us a 1st round pick in 2026.

Booker Trades

1- HOU
Booker for J Green/ Landale/ Whitmore/ PHX 25' 1st/ PHX 27' 1st/ PHX 29' 1st.
OR
Booker for Van Vleet/ Smith Jr or Eason/ PHX 25' 1st/ PHX 27' 1st/ PHX 29' 1st.

2- DET
Booker for Stewart/ Thompson or Holland/ Ivey/ Fontecchio/ 3 DET 1sts.

3- UTA
Booker for Collins/Sexton/Hendricks/ UTA 27' 1st/ UTA 29' 1st/ PHX 31' st (back)!!

**** Maybe we trade Collins/ Milicic ($8 million expiring)/ 2 UTA 1sts to Portland for J Grant/ Camara??
**** Maybe we trade Sexton to Orlando for Bidatze/ Black/ Houston/ ORL 27' 1st (lottery protected).
Or we could just keep them and let them expire and get more cap space or try and resign them for less?

You're basically asking for about 25-50% more than is realistic but as a Pistons fan I think a deal for Booker can be had. You simply are not going to get 50% of what you paid for Durant for either of them.

Ghost gets delusional this time of year, and you are right. This is a fire sale, with a 50% chance Azzhat n charge lets it burn to the ground.

the best thing that can happen is both Book and KD say trade me. Force wishbia to lick his wounds and move on.

Actually, my trad assessment is spot on! Unfortunately, Franks' role here is spicing things up with clever wordsmithing responses and clever quips. It's great and entertaining of course, But ultimately, there's a reason he never posts any trades himself.

Also, Frank understandably so like many others, has been overwhelmed by our teams' current very dismal future and long-term projection resulting from our owner's horrifically egregious compulsive mismanagement. So his schtick has become somewhat foreboding and doomsayer in nature. Regardless though, individual opinions from emotionally attached or detached in our case carry no bearing on perceived market value. And just as your implicit biases towards your core players and desire to fleece another team might affect your perspective here, Franks' frustration and contempt have very likely skewed any objective view of potential KD trades and his market value/ overall desirability to pursuing teams.

The context of his response being emotionally based tells of the implicit influence on any potential objectivity. Although he is right that our owner is an azzhat! And that we'd be best served to trade both KD and Booker! But again, neither of those conditions really changes KD's trade value to other teams with actual functional rosters, competent front offices, cap flexibility, and actually having their assets to work with. But here's a concise breakdown of value:

KD Value
Still an MVP-level elite unstoppable offensive talent! Putting up 27 points/ 6 rebounds/ 5 assists. Is still a top 10 all-time HOF talent, and a top 5 All time offensive player. Still, a game-changing unstoppable score putting up a near triple-double on a nightly basis, And has a well-established reputation for elevating good teams (with functional rosters) to contender status!! And could also represent a huge $54 million expiring the same summer of 26' when multiple big-name players become free agents. KD would drastically accelerate your cors' development and competitive trajectory but wouldn't require any long-term commitment or implied risk due to being an expiring if not resigned. So clearly a "win-win" scenario for your teams' interests!

Now the value assessment of the package for KD:

Harris. (large salary matching filler)
A solid productive starter who is putting up decent but not great efficiency on a $25 million expiring deal.

Thompson. (centerpiece of trade) (Young promising player)
A promising young very athletic wing whose bulk of his value is based upon his high-level athleticism, defense, and overall upside potential. But he can't shoot yet, is only a good not great ballhandler, and isn't really a playmaker either. Currently a potential upside value prospect yet unproven.

Fontecchio (low end salary filler)
Another good but not great semi-productive firing rotation player with comparable value to a Eubanks, or a Trey Lyles, or maybe a Vit Krejci. Putting up single-digit stats on mediocre efficiency on an $8 million expiring contract. He's not a negative asset, closer to neutral with maybe a 2nd round pick worth of trade value.

2 DET 1sts in 27 and 29. (two mid to late future 1sts)

Considering that Detroit is already a solid young upstart team just barely beginning to come into their own and not even having their core enter their primes yet while also being a solid playoff team in the East, those 1sts in 27 and 29 are at best, highly likely to end up in the 20s (if lucky)! Also, adding KD only advances their young core competitively and accelerates their overall team development with a much deeper playoff run centered around KD!! This provides extreme value elevating their teams' overall trajectory and competitive development very likely turning them into a top young playoff team in the Eastern Conference. But with really no long-term risk or commitment, and also setting them up with massive cap space in the Summer of 26' to possibly sign one of LBJ, Harden, Irving, McCollum, Porzingis, Jackson Jr, etc., and many others if they don't resign KD??

So yeah, the value assessment for KD is very accurate if not modest contingent on individual situation. But clearly, KD and his impact offers significantly more value/impact than what you currently have toward your interests in those included players. The value exchange is more than equitable. Ultimately the determining factor will be our owners' willingness or unwillingness to accept accountability and change. To that specific point if no other, Frank Lee is correct.

[RaisingArizona]

I am the 1%!

[SunsRback4Good]

I am the 1%!

Traitor!

[bwgood77]

What did the trade of Barkley or Nash being the Suns? Looking back, I wish they both ended their careers here.

Well, if you really look back, personally I would have just signed Amare for five years. Sure, the last couple would have sucked, but that gives him and Nash 3 more years.

Though I would have kept Marion too (ignoring KG stuff).

However, having traded Amare, I would have rather freed Nash sooner, that same summer and started rebuilding. We were a fringe playoff team those last two Nash years with Gortat, and I really rooted for them, but really, if we were going to let Amare go, it would have probably been better to trade him. Of course Sarver was under the illusion that Hakim Warrick, Josh Childress and Hedo Turkoglu would be fine in place of Amare.

But Nash asked to be traded to the Lakers.

Not sure about Barkley. We were not any good his last year for whatever reason. Not sure why. KJ probably missed a lot of games. I think we had traded Majerle. We did have Finley though which was exciting, but then we traded him not too long after that.

[lilfishi22]

What did the trade of Barkley or Nash being the Suns? Looking back, I wish they both ended their careers here.

Well, if you really look back, personally I would have just signed Amare for five years. Sure, the last couple would have sucked, but that gives him and Nash 3 more years.

Though I would have kept Marion too (ignoring KG stuff).

However, having traded Amare, I would have rather freed Nash sooner, that same summer and started rebuilding. We were a fringe playoff team those last two Nash years with Gortat, and I really rooted for them, but really, if we were going to let Amare go, it would have probably been better to trade him. Of course Sarver was under the illusion that Hakim Warrick, Josh Childress and Hedo Turkoglu would be fine in place of Amare.

But Nash asked to be traded to the Lakers.

Not sure about Barkley. We were not any good his last year for whatever reason. Not sure why. KJ probably missed a lot of games. I think we had traded Majerle. We did have Finley though which was exciting, but then we traded him not too long after that.

I think Nash earned the right to give it one last shot on another team. I too would've wished he ended his career in Phoenix but the guy was 2x MVP wearing a Suns uniform, had some super memorable playoff moments, he (and MDA) revolutionised the game, but we were a .500 team in his last two seasons with the team. It's clear he was either going to get the Kobe/Dwight/Wade retirement tour or he's going to go somewhere else because he's not carrying the team anymore. In those circumstances, I think we owed it to him to give it one last shot.

If it was with virtually any other team but the Lakers or Spurs, I think he would've been looked upon even more fondly than he already is.

[Ryu]

Trade. Great scorer and a cool guy but never a leader who makes teammates better.

[handsome salary]

The poll results are surprising me. I voted to trade him but I thought it would be more equal than 3-20.

I've already seen him be the "MAN" on the worst Suns teams I've ever watched. Why watch it again for years to come?

[SideSwipe]

Trade. Great scorer and a cool guy but never a leader who makes teammates better.

2021 run to the Finals is the counterpoint to this. Clearly our best player. Chris Paul certainly helped, but this team was at its best with Booker leading the way. We simply changed things up too much instead of trying to keep growing the team. Durant trade, Beal trade, Nurkic trade broke up the soul of the team that had chemistry, camaraderie and effort and were an absolute joy to watch.

Durant is an amazing individual contributor but he needs to be paired with stronger leaders, not ones in awe of him. Booker needs to be put in a situation where he is clearly the guy, not just one of the guys.

[BobbieL]

Trade. Great scorer and a cool guy but never a leader who makes teammates better.

2021 run to the Finals is the counterpoint to this. Clearly our best player. Chris Paul certainly helped, but this team was at its best with Booker leading the way. We simply changed things up too much instead of trying to keep growing the team. Durant trade, Beal trade, Nurkic trade broke up the soul of the team that had chemistry, camaraderie and effort and were an absolute joy to watch.

Durant is an amazing individual contributor but he needs to be paired with stronger leaders, not ones in awe of him. Booker needs to be put in a situation where he is clearly the guy, not just one of the guys.

Booker was the best player but Paul was the alpha leader. I think both Booker and Durant are best when they are the best players but not the leader as well. Durant on the Warriors and Olympic team is the best example

Booker needs to go

[SunsRback4Good]

Trade. Great scorer and a cool guy but never a leader who makes teammates better.

2021 run to the Finals is the counterpoint to this. Clearly our best player. Chris Paul certainly helped, but this team was at its best with Booker leading the way. We simply changed things up too much instead of trying to keep growing the team. Durant trade, Beal trade, Nurkic trade broke up the soul of the team that had chemistry, camaraderie and effort and were an absolute joy to watch.

Durant is an amazing individual contributor but he needs to be paired with stronger leaders, not ones in awe of him. Booker needs to be put in a situation where he is clearly the guy, not just one of the guys.

Booker was the best player but Paul was the alpha leader. I think both Booker and Durant are best when they are the best players but not the leader as well. Durant on the Warriors and Olympic team is the best example

Booker needs to go

Hell no he won’t go

[BobbieL]

2021 run to the Finals is the counterpoint to this. Clearly our best player. Chris Paul certainly helped, but this team was at its best with Booker leading the way. We simply changed things up too much instead of trying to keep growing the team. Durant trade, Beal trade, Nurkic trade broke up the soul of the team that had chemistry, camaraderie and effort and were an absolute joy to watch.

Durant is an amazing individual contributor but he needs to be paired with stronger leaders, not ones in awe of him. Booker needs to be put in a situation where he is clearly the guy, not just one of the guys.

Booker was the best player but Paul was the alpha leader. I think both Booker and Durant are best when they are the best players but not the leader as well. Durant on the Warriors and Olympic team is the best example

Booker needs to go

Hell no he won’t go

The narrative: "Booker is the man. He represents Phoenix. We only trade him if we ask him if he wants to be traded. Otherwise, we keep Devin Armani Booker."

Me: trade him, make the team better in the long run. Rip the band-aid off now

[SunsRback4Good]

Booker was the best player but Paul was the alpha leader. I think both Booker and Durant are best when they are the best players but not the leader as well. Durant on the Warriors and Olympic team is the best example

Booker needs to go

Hell no he won’t go

The narrative: "Booker is the man. He represents Phoenix. We only trade him if we ask him if he wants to be traded. Otherwise, we keep Devin Armani Booker."

Me: trade him, make the team better in the long run. Rip the band-aid off now

The narrative is definitely Matt Ishbia attempting to hold on to every inch of at least one star while trading another. I’m afraid the Suns will be a treadmill team just like the Bulls for several years. I pray Booker & KD are gone within the next year so we can finally bring in much needed youth and make suns basketball watchable again.

[Djedefre]

Poll is just showing how members of this community are refusing to be in denial and act delusional. People know what needs to be done for this franchise to rise from the ashes. Too much damage has been done, no half-measures will make things any better. Painful decision or not, Booker has to go and that is not up for debate, really.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Trade. Great scorer and a cool guy but never a leader who makes teammates better.

2021 run to the Finals is the counterpoint to this. Clearly our best player. Chris Paul certainly helped, but this team was at its best with Booker leading the way. We simply changed things up too much instead of trying to keep growing the team. Durant trade, Beal trade, Nurkic trade broke up the soul of the team that had chemistry, camaraderie and effort and were an absolute joy to watch.

Durant is an amazing individual contributor but he needs to be paired with stronger leaders, not ones in awe of him. Booker needs to be put in a situation where he is clearly the guy, not just one of the guys.

So like Houston or Detroit then??

[BobbieL]

Poll is just showing how members of this community are refusing to be in denial and act delusional. People know what needs to be done for this franchise to rise from the ashes. Too much damage has been done, no half-measures will make things any better. Painful decision or not, Booker has to go and that is not up for debate, really.

Not that Twitter X is the best sample- but I see it there too. Not just suns fans - nfl too. Fans get attached to players. I am about getting the best team

Ishbia tried and failed. Fine. What’s your next move

[Ghost of Kleine]

For me, the 3 best trade options (teams) to trade Booker to for young players and picks would be: ( centerpiece value)

1- Houston
Booker for J Green/ landale/ Whitmore/ PHX 25' 1st/ PHX 27' 1st/ PHX 29' 1st.

2- Detroit
Booker for Stewart/ Ivey / Thompson or Holland/ DET 27' 1st/ DET 29' 1st/ DET 31' 1st.

3- Utah
Booker for Collins/ Sexton/ Hendricks/ UTA 27' 1st/ UTA 29' 1st/ PHX 31' 1st.
** Trade Collins/ Milicic 8 million expiring/ 2 CLE 1sts to Portland for J Grant/ Camara/ Reath?
** Trade Sexton to Orlando for Bidatze/ Black/ Houston/ ORL 26' 2nd/ WAS 28' 2nd.

[BobbieL]

For me, the 3 best trade options (teams) to trade Booker to for young players and picks would be: ( centerpiece value)

1- Houston
Booker for J Green/ landale/ Whitmore/ PHX 25' 1st/ PHX 27' 1st/ PHX 29' 1st.

2- Detroit
Booker for Stewart/ Ivey / Thompson or Holland/ DET 27' 1st/ DET 29' 1st/ DET 31' 1st.

3- Utah
Booker for Collins/ Sexton/ Hendricks/ UTA 27' 1st/ UTA 29' 1st/ PHX 31' 1st.
** Trade Collins/ Milicic 8 million expiring/ 2 CLE 1sts to Portland for J Grant/ Camara/ Reath?
** Trade Sexton to Orlando for Bidatze/ Black/ Houston/ ORL 26' 2nd/ WAS 28' 2nd.

You have them in the right order
Suns might have to take Dillon Brooks as cap filler to make the math work.... better y et, be nice to get under Apron 2 if possible with either the Durant or hopefully Booker trade

[Slim Charless]

For me, the 3 best trade options (teams) to trade Booker to for young players and picks would be: ( centerpiece value)

1- Houston
Booker for J Green/ landale/ Whitmore/ PHX 25' 1st/ PHX 27' 1st/ PHX 29' 1st.

2- Detroit
Booker for Stewart/ Ivey / Thompson or Holland/ DET 27' 1st/ DET 29' 1st/ DET 31' 1st.

3- Utah
Booker for Collins/ Sexton/ Hendricks/ UTA 27' 1st/ UTA 29' 1st/ PHX 31' 1st.
** Trade Collins/ Milicic 8 million expiring/ 2 CLE 1sts to Portland for J Grant/ Camara/ Reath?
** Trade Sexton to Orlando for Bidatze/ Black/ Houston/ ORL 26' 2nd/ WAS 28' 2nd.

You have them in the right order
Suns might have to take Dillon Brooks as cap filler to make the math work.... better y et, be nice to get under Apron 2 if possible with either the Durant or hopefully Booker trade

Thompson is by far my favorite asset out of that bunch. Makes them my favorite option, sending Booker east is a bonus as is the fact that they are WAY under the cap, so we can have them take Royce or Greyson as well.

Booker->Pistons for Ivey, Stewart, Thompson++
Durant-> Houston for our picks++

Works for me