Game 75: Houston Rockets (48-26) @ Phoenix Suns (35-39) | Mar 30 | 6:00 PM

[grumpysaddle]

I think Booker's issue was making the finals and then getting embarrassed with the backdoor sweep. He tried to change his game to help win more but it's made him a lesser player overall and hasn't led to any modicum of winning. He's taken too much of KD's personality on and you can't have that from two star players.

Booker sacrificed on team USA, but that is a different thing than making those sacrifices as the face of a franchise. He's lost his edge and all the drive to "be legendary". The team surrounding him since trading high chemistry teammates in Bridges and CamJo and even CamPayne away destroyed him. The fire sale on actual assets makes it nearly impossible to re-tool around him in any meaningful way.

[BobbieL]

I think Booker's issue was making the finals and then getting embarrassed with the backdoor sweep. He tried to change his game to help win more but it's made him a lesser player overall and hasn't led to any modicum of winning. He's taken too much of KD's personality on and you can't have that from two star players.

Booker sacrificed on team USA, but that is a different thing than making those sacrifices as the face of a franchise. He's lost his edge and all the drive to "be legendary". The team surrounding him since trading high chemistry teammates in Bridges and CamJo and even CamPayne away destroyed him. The fire sale on actual assets makes it nearly impossible to re-tool around him in any meaningful way.

Exactly right. I just don't think a Durant trade gets you enough meaningful players, picks to compete around Booker. As look at the rest of the team, not much there.

Trading Allen and O"Neale - again, its just moving a role player for a role player that might be better but using a baseball term, how much true WAR are you going from those players. And I get its a different sport but I don't see either guy bringing much better back.

Beal - stretch him - which is five years of pain, 10% of your cap or you can just ride it out and hope that maybe in the summer of 2026 you can trade him - but those contracts won't be great. Just let him be a big old expiring. And if I were trading O"Neale and Allen, that would be the timeline, trade them for players that expire in the summer of 2027. That would be like $80m of contracts

That leaves one player with true value to flip the script and start the team on the path to success. Devin Booker

[Biff]

Suns have not met expectations for two seasons to be precise, so I don't get your next game is all that matters mentality. I don't think KD wants to stay. Booker wants, but if Ishbia is serious about winning why pay this man superstar money ? It means guaranteed mediocrity at best. He's just not a true superstar who can carry an average team to playoffs or a good team to a championship. He'll follow Lillard's path most likely of being the face of an average team and gets traded later in his career. Personally I'd do it while his value is still high, though not too sure how high with his own decline and more than disappointing team results. It only needs one GM to decide he's the missing piece and overpay for his services.

If we don't trade Booker this summer I am probably done with this team. We will be bottom of the league for a decade if Ishbia doesn't starting getting some assets together. Booker isn't good enough to carry a team anywhere. I already went through a decade of mediocrity, no desire to sit through another. I'll just watch other teams and won't give this team a dime of my time or money.

Yeah, it sucks, but I BARELY watch. And watching us is abysmal. There are a few bright things like Gillespie. Even when him and Royce get super duper hot from 3 and barely miss, we can still get blown out. Book seems to have become his shell of his former self. He played good last game, but we wall know and remember often some of his biggest games are when we are already getting blown out or already blowing someone out, he pours in the stats. Sure he has made the difference a lot, but I've seen his big games like last night often in circumstances like this.

I don't typically like to watch other teams, but so many others are so much more exciting. I think Dallas is interesting even post Luka. It has happened sometimes when teams lose key players (like AD) they end up getting the #1 pick. I don't think there is any sort of fix, but who knows? Though they could beat the Clips or someone for that 8 seed with AD and Gafford back, and maybe Lively (which would then take them out of the lottery of course).

I think with me being a Bulls fan when I was a kid (got yelled at so many times while wearing my Bulls gear during the 93 finals) that rooting for other teams isn't so hard. I didn't start becoming a "real" Suns fan until the early 2000's, around the time we got Marbury. Then I obviously got hooked when we signed Nash. Then we sucked for damn near a decade. Went to some games but wasn't super involved with the team. I saw little reason to have any hope given the moves we were making. But then we finally assembled an actual team and we got to experience it for a brief couple of years before Ishbia came in making it rain, fulfilling Bookers dream of playing with his superstar friends.

Anyway, Booker's official facebook page just liked a comment I made. Wonder if that was him. It was in relation to him making his own bed in this scenario. He always wanted a superteam and he got one. Turns out they're not all that they're cracked up to be in the 2020's. Certainly not one with 3 stars with redundant skillsets.

[bwgood77]

If we don't trade Booker this summer I am probably done with this team. We will be bottom of the league for a decade if Ishbia doesn't starting getting some assets together. Booker isn't good enough to carry a team anywhere. I already went through a decade of mediocrity, no desire to sit through another. I'll just watch other teams and won't give this team a dime of my time or money.

Yeah, it sucks, but I BARELY watch. And watching us is abysmal. There are a few bright things like Gillespie. Even when him and Royce get super duper hot from 3 and barely miss, we can still get blown out. Book seems to have become his shell of his former self. He played good last game, but we wall know and remember often some of his biggest games are when we are already getting blown out or already blowing someone out, he pours in the stats. Sure he has made the difference a lot, but I've seen his big games like last night often in circumstances like this.

I don't typically like to watch other teams, but so many others are so much more exciting. I think Dallas is interesting even post Luka. It has happened sometimes when teams lose key players (like AD) they end up getting the #1 pick. I don't think there is any sort of fix, but who knows? Though they could beat the Clips or someone for that 8 seed with AD and Gafford back, and maybe Lively (which would then take them out of the lottery of course).

I think with me being a Bulls fan when I was a kid (got yelled at so many times while wearing my Bulls gear during the 93 finals) that rooting for other teams isn't so hard. I didn't start becoming a "real" Suns fan until the early 2000's, around the time we got Marbury. Then I obviously got hooked when we signed Nash. Then we sucked for damn near a decade. Went to some games but wasn't super involved with the team. I saw little reason to have any hope given the moves we were making. But then we finally assembled an actual team and we got to experience it for a brief couple of years before Ishbia came in making it rain, fulfilling Bookers dream of playing with his superstar friends.

Anyway, Booker's official facebook page just liked a comment I made. Wonder if that was him. It was in relation to him making his own bed in this scenario. He always wanted a superteam and he got one. Turns out they're not all that they're cracked up to be in the 2020's. Certainly not one with 3 stars with redundant skillsets.

It's hard for me to adopt another team because I've been a Suns fan since I was a kid. However, I wouldn't mind seeing a WC team get Flagg (as long as it's not the Spurs), just to make it more exciting. Ultimately I'd prefer he go to an Eastern team though and I think Charlotte and Washington deserve a player like him.

But it's nice to see OKC doing so well and Houston is exciting. Memphis in a small market I like too, but of course I don't want to see the Lakers go anywhere, or the Spurs. If the Spurs get Flagg I will be livid.

Ultimately I probably just won't watch the NBA for awhile unless we do trade Book for a huge package of picks and young players, and KD for whatever we can get and at least have guys we can maybe pull for, for a while, and maybe get some lottery picks.

I plan on making a twitter post at some time and tagging Ish and Book about my thoughts and how Book would have a chance at a championship with Houston as they get their go to scorer and we could get a nice package. Obviously I doubt it does much, but maybe gives Booker more thought about not wanting to be on a bad team and wanting to have another chance at a championship.

[Calvin Klein]

Anyway, Booker's official facebook page just liked a comment I made. Wonder if that was him. It was in relation to him making his own bed in this scenario. He always wanted a superteam and he got one. Turns out they're not all that they're cracked up to be in the 2020's. Certainly not one with 3 stars with redundant skillsets.

Superteams are proper superstars at the prime of their careers coming together. This was none of that. Even if you consider Booker a superstar (which most don't) KD at 36 and Beal....

This would have never worked. Not in any decade. They all have the same role: scorers. It really was one of dumbest roster constructions we've ever seen.

[Xtruroyaltyx77]

Probably need to scratch HOU from the list of teams willing to trade for KD in the summer. Well, maybe they do but trying to lowball us with some meh offer. Can't imagine their FO watched this game and thought they need to give their youth and depth for KD. Must be salivating for the future Suns picks they own. We need a desperate GM like Harrison to behave really stupid in the summer. And was there ever a case of an owner being forced out of the league for being incompetent ? I'm not sure why people discuss it.

Rockets fan here...

Ive always liked the suns going back to when I was a kid and the epic matchups. The Nash years were fun as well.

Regarding Book and KD I personally dont want to trade for either one of them, but ive heard the front office loves Booker. I think our interest in a suns trade will hinge on how we perform in the playoffs. If our young guys perform well and look like they are ready to take a leap I dont think we'd be willing to give up much to add kd or Book. If we flame out, struggle to generate offense...then I think those talks would gain a lot of steam.

[sunsbg]

Probably need to scratch HOU from the list of teams willing to trade for KD in the summer. Well, maybe they do but trying to lowball us with some meh offer. Can't imagine their FO watched this game and thought they need to give their youth and depth for KD. Must be salivating for the future Suns picks they own. We need a desperate GM like Harrison to behave really stupid in the summer. And was there ever a case of an owner being forced out of the league for being incompetent ? I'm not sure why people discuss it.

Rockets fan here...

Ive always liked the suns going back to when I was a kid and the epic matchups. The Nash years were fun as well.

Regarding Book and KD I personally dont want to trade for either one of them, but ive heard the front office loves Booker. I think our interest in a suns trade will hinge on how we perform in the playoffs. If our young guys perform well and look like they are ready to take a leap I dont think we'd be willing to give up much to add kd or Book. If we flame out, struggle to generate offense...then I think those talks would gain a lot of steam.

I don't hate the Rockets now, but used to after denying us a title in the 90s, later Yao vs Amare times. Rooting against you again then if it means getting a better offer for KD/Book.

[thamadkant]

Anyway, Booker's official facebook page just liked a comment I made. Wonder if that was him. It was in relation to him making his own bed in this scenario. He always wanted a superteam and he got one. Turns out they're not all that they're cracked up to be in the 2020's. Certainly not one with 3 stars with redundant skillsets.

Superteams are proper superstars at the prime of their careers coming together. This was none of that. Even if you consider Booker a superstar (which most don't) KD at 36 and Beal....

This would have never worked. Not in any decade. They all have the same role: scorers. It really was one of dumbest roster constructions we've ever seen.

Suns are like the worst example of Super Team.

It's like having Curry, Dame and then Harden as your Super Team... guarantee that this team would be horrible also.


Old KD, Booker and Beal all are overlapping in skill sets and preference of team role. All rely on isolation create a jump shot type player. All aren't good play makers... Booker assists is fools gold, he is worst than Marbury when getting assists. Harden was atleast really good at throwing lobs and simply has better court vision.

Put Jimmy Butler next to either Booker and KD and that would fit better.

I'm so keen on keeping KD that maybe trading Booker for Butler and first rounders would be best choice if Warriors will consider that.

KD and Butler can still go for championship and have Beal be their 3rd banana while Suns get a couple of first rounders. Then trade Grayson Allen for a proper starter Big Man... heck bring Ayton back.

[Biff]

Anyway, Booker's official facebook page just liked a comment I made. Wonder if that was him. It was in relation to him making his own bed in this scenario. He always wanted a superteam and he got one. Turns out they're not all that they're cracked up to be in the 2020's. Certainly not one with 3 stars with redundant skillsets.

Superteams are proper superstars at the prime of their careers coming together. This was none of that. Even if you consider Booker a superstar (which most don't) KD at 36 and Beal....

This would have never worked. Not in any decade. They all have the same role: scorers. It really was one of dumbest roster constructions we've ever seen.

Suns are like the worst example of Super Team.

It's like having Curry, Dame and then Harden as your Super Team... guarantee that this team would be horrible also.


Old KD, Booker and Beal all are overlapping in skill sets and preference of team role. All rely on isolation create a jump shot type player. All aren't good play makers... Booker assists is fools gold, he is worst than Marbury when getting assists. Harden was atleast really good at throwing lobs and simply has better court vision.

Put Jimmy Butler next to either Booker and KD and that would fit better.

I'm so keen on keeping KD that maybe trading Booker for Butler and first rounders would be best choice if Warriors will consider that.

KD and Butler can still go for championship and have Beal be their 3rd banana while Suns get a couple of first rounders. Then trade Grayson Allen for a proper starter Big Man... heck bring Ayton back.

Butler would without question be better because he is willing to play whatever role it takes to win. I won't defend Bud too much but trying to get Beal to play a different role was the right move. Unfortunately Beal is daft as hell and has no idea what winning looks like, and thus get supremely offended when asked to put the team before himself.