Devin Booker On Disappointing 24-25 Season: It's Been A Slow Bleed Out

Post #1 » by **RealGM Wiretap** » Thu Apr 10, 2025 5:59 pm

The Phoenix Suns were officially eliminated from playoff contention with their 125-112 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. The Suns were the NBA's first $400 million team in terms of salary and luxury tax, but they had an incredibly disappointing season after starting 8-1.

Kevin Durant will almost certainly be traded this offseason as the Suns aim to "pivot and reload" around Devin Booker. With all the uncertainity around the futures of Durant, Bradley Beal and Mike Budenholzer, the future of Booker with the Suns is essentially the only settled part of their team.

"It's been a slow bleed out," said Booker. "I've been feeling this way for the majority of the season."

Booker is averaging 25.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists this season. Booker will be eligible to sign a three-year, $212 million contract extension with the Suns in the offseason.

Via Duane Rankin/Arizona Republic

ghillphx · Post #2 » by **ghillphx** » Thu Apr 10, 2025 6:21 pm

Mat Isbhia - new worst owner in the NBA

MitchB3 · Post #3 » by **MitchB3** » Thu Apr 10, 2025 7:42 pm

The new ownership thought this was NBA2K, where he could turn off the contract sliders. IF he truly had smart people around him, he would see this is the beginning of the end, and just start the rebuild process. We all know Devin has always been a good player, bad team guy. This team peaked back in the 2020-21 season. He's not a leader, doesn't truly play winning basketball, and just talks a lot of trash and doesn't back it up. To paraphrase what Luka said, "everyone talks big while they're up."

alienpick · Post #4 » by **alienpick** » Thu Apr 10, 2025 7:59 pm

MitchB3 wrote:The new ownership thought this was NBA2K, where he could turn off the contract sliders. IF he truly had smart people around him, he would see this is the beginning of the end, and just start the rebuild process. We all know Devin has always been a good player, bad team guy. This team peaked back in the 2020-21 season. He's not a leader, doesn't truly play winning basketball, and just talks a lot of trash and doesn't back it up. To paraphrase what Luka said, "everyone talks big while they're up."

Getting Durant was reasonable. Yes, he brings the drama but he's a win-now guy. The Beal deal was a complete blunder and a franchise crippling decision.

MitchB3 · Post #5 » by **MitchB3** » Fri Apr 11, 2025 2:08 pm

alienpick wrote:
MitchB3 wrote:The new ownership thought this was NBA2K, where he could turn off the contract sliders. IF he truly had smart people around him, he would see this is the beginning of the end, and just start the rebuild process. We all know Devin has always been a good player, bad team guy. This team peaked back in the 2020-21 season. He's not a leader, doesn't truly play winning basketball, and just talks a lot of trash and doesn't back it up. To paraphrase what Luka said, "everyone talks big while they're up."

Getting Durant was reasonable. Yes, he brings the drama but he's a win-now guy. The Beal deal was a complete blunder and a franchise crippling decision.

TRUTHFULLY, after KD left Golden State and chose the Brooklyn Nets, I kind of knew he was no longer interested in being that guy. KD has said it before: He just wants to lace up and ball. A statement like that tells you he's not truly interested in anything else.