Suppose Phoenix blows it all up

[louc1970]

The rumors are strong that KD will be moved this summer. The only solid bargaining chip the Suns have is Booker (28). And Booker is not going last through a complete rebuild.
Their upcoming draft pick is the Cleveland pick, so either 29/30.

So 1) what can Phoenix get for KD and 2) what could it get for Booker?

Figuring KD has about 2 years left after this one, he is going to bring in an FRP maybe 2 and matching salary with 1 young up-coming player?

Booker on the other hand is going to bring in a good haul - equal salary, a couple of young players and at least 3 FRPs.

Teams that can supply 3 FRPs for Booker- OKC, SAS, Nets.

Suns/Thunder - Booker for Wallace, Dieng, Topic, Joe, Dort, filler, 3 FRPs
Spurs/Suns - Booker for Johnson, Vassell, filler, 2 SRPs, 3 FRPs

Thunder become even more dangerous. Suns start over with Wallace/Dunn/Topic.
Spurs with Wemby/Booker/Fox stretch out their timeline for a decade of winning. Suns start with Vassell and Dunn.

What else is needed to make either trade happen?

[LarsV8]

Houston offers
Jalen Green
Reed Sheppard
Jock Landale
2025 Phx #1
2027 Phx #1
2029 Phx #1

for Booker

[jayjaysee]

I’ve been wondering what Orlando would offer for Booker, since they own the most valuable part of the 2026 swap, pay Washington something for the chance they pass them up... Then get the 2027 first from Houston for KD, don’t even fight for more assets just a bit of salary relief and then one first?

Then flip whatever youth Orlando gave?

Two year tank with extra assets feels like enough to me.

[BlazersBroncos]

Houston offers
Jalen Green
Reed Sheppard
Jock Landale
2025 Phx #1
2027 Phx #1
2029 Phx #1

for Booker

If this is on the table for Booker, and PHX wants to move Booker, then there wont be a better deal.

Getting back control of their picks is worth more than basically anything else that is within the realm of possibility.

[DirtyDez]

Houston offers
Jalen Green
Reed Sheppard
Jock Landale
2025 Phx #1
2027 Phx #1
2029 Phx #1

for Booker

Worthy offer. What about Whitmore/Jabari/filler 27’ for KD?

[LarsV8]

Worthy offer. What about Whitmore/Jabari/filler 27’ for KD?

We have no filler.

[tester551]

Houston offers
Jalen Green
Reed Sheppard
Jock Landale
2025 Phx #1
2027 Phx #1
2029 Phx #1

for Booker

Personally, if I'm the Suns -> I seriously consider this deal & follow up with a KD trade too.

[parsnips33]

I don't even know if this is cap possible, but could something around Kuminga and all the post Curry/Butler picks unprotected work? For D Book I mean

[gswhoops]

I don't even know if this is cap possible, but could something around Kuminga and all the post Curry/Butler picks unprotected work? For D Book I mean

I would love to get Booker but I don't think we can make a competitive offer.

Best we could do this summer (assuming our '25 pick conveys to Miami) would be something like Kuminga S&T, 26 1st, 28 1st, 32 1st, 27/29/31 swaps, and whatever young players we have PHX was interested in (Podz/TJD/Post)

I don't think that beats Houston's or OKC's best offer.

[Slim Charless]

I’ve been wondering what Orlando would offer for Booker, since they own the most valuable part of the 2026 swap, pay Washington something for the chance they pass them up... Then get the 2027 first from Houston for KD, don’t even fight for more assets just a bit of salary relief and then one first?

Then flip whatever youth Orlando gave?

Two year tank with extra assets feels like enough to me.

I dont think Durant will wanna go to Orlando. He seems destined for Houston or maybe OKC. Now Booker, OTOH seems like a good spot for him. I think it would cost you Franz and whatever picks and filler is needed.

I'm just guessing here, but i think the team would rather trade him out of conference. That will piss off the fans less.

[BlazersBroncos]

TRADE 1 - Jalen Green + Reed Sheppard + Jock Landale + 25/27/29 FRP returned for Booker

TRADE 2 - Devin Vassell + Keldon Johnson + 25 ATL or SA FRP (Higher) + 27 ATL FRP + grab bag of SRP for Durant

Think SA can make some real noise with this -

G - De'Aaron Fox / Chris Paul
G - Stephon Castle / Julian Champagine
F - Harrison Barnes / Liam McNeeley
F - Kevin Durant / Jeremy Sochan
C - Victor Wembanyama / Brook Lopez (MLE)

Like - if Victor takes another step that is a legit title team in 25/26.

[Astaluego]

Houston offers
Jalen Green
Reed Sheppard
Jock Landale
2025 Phx #1
2027 Phx #1
2029 Phx #1

for Booker

I think the Suns are asking for 1 of J.Smith/Whitmore as well...even if they have to send something(Allen/Royce/Oso or FRP Cavs)

[tmorgan]

As much as Detroit would love for Booker to come home, I think if he gets dealt, Houston is the only option because of the returned picks. If I were Ishbia, I’d have done this last week, but clearly he’s delusional, so he wouldn’t and didn’t.

Durant could go a lot of places, though. More of a bidding war, but with a significantly lower final price.

[LarsV8]

Houston offers
Jalen Green
Reed Sheppard
Jock Landale
2025 Phx #1
2027 Phx #1
2029 Phx #1

for Booker

I think the Suns are asking for 1 of J.Smith/Whitmore as well...even if they have to send something(Allen/Royce/Oso or FRP Cavs)

They can ask for whatever they want, but they aren't getting it. Bottom line is Phoenix went all in, and they lost big time. Now Houston has them completely over a barrel.

Frankly, they are lucky I am offering that much. To be honest, that offer only exists because of long term salary concerns on Houston's side. And I wouldn't be shocked if Houston demanded those bad firsts from the Utah deal back as well.

This is non playoff team with a 150 million in tax bills, getting older every day, and zero avenues to improve.

They have exactly three cards to play,
-Do nothing, get worse, older, funnel top ten picks to other teams for the next six years while paying a half a billion in taxes.
-Try and trade Durant and retool, which might only get them right back where they are, outside looking in on a loaded Western conference. Basically solves nothing and risks losing the only not terrible lifeline they have left.
-Or they can take whatever pittance Houston offers, and let's be clear, it will be a God awful deal. They would also sell off Durant for rebuilding pieces. This is the only non horrific path forward, where they can sell some vison of hope going forward.

They are lucky a good portion of their picks are owned by a team that can use Booker. The nightmare scenario for Phoenix is if that changes. If Booker declines or is injured....if Green takes a leap....if those picks get moved to another team looking to rebuild. Then they will be in really bad shape.

[Daddy 801]

Booker will go to the Rockets. And Lakers will offer multiple picks, players, and swaps for Durant.

[Astaluego]

Houston offers
Jalen Green
Reed Sheppard
Jock Landale
2025 Phx #1
2027 Phx #1
2029 Phx #1

for Booker

I think the Suns are asking for 1 of J.Smith/Whitmore as well...even if they have to send something(Allen/Royce/Oso or FRP Cavs)

They can ask for whatever they want, but they aren't getting it. Bottom line is Phoenix went all in, and they lost big time. Now Houston has them completely over a barrel.

Frankly, they are lucky I am offering that much. To be honest, that offer only exists because of long term salary concerns on Houston's side. And I wouldn't be shocked if Houston demanded those bad firsts from the Utah deal back as well.

This is non playoff team with a 150 million in tax bills, getting older every day, and zero avenues to improve.

They have exactly three cards to play,
-Do nothing, get worse, older, funnel top ten picks to other teams for the next six years while paying a half a billion in taxes.
-Try and trade Durant and retool, which might only get them right back where they are, outside looking in on a loaded Western conference. Basically solves nothing and risks losing the only not terrible lifeline they have left.
-Or they can take whatever pittance Houston offers, and let's be clear, it will be a God awful deal. They would also sell off Durant for rebuilding pieces. This is the only non horrific path forward, where they can sell some vison of hope going forward.

They are lucky a good portion of their picks are owned by a team that can use Booker. The nightmare scenario for Phoenix is if that changes. If Booker declines or is injured....if Green takes a leap....if those picks get moved to another team looking to rebuild. Then they will be in really bad shape.

I understand your point and mostly agree, although I think there is a middle ground where they could meet.. Houston will have a hard time finding a player as good and who fits as well as Booker just entering his prime and they will surely open very good offers, if they make him available and rebuild through trade without the need to completely sink.. Pistons/Magic/Spurs/Jazz or even Thunder could present higher offers..

[LarsV8]

I think the Suns are asking for 1 of J.Smith/Whitmore as well...even if they have to send something(Allen/Royce/Oso or FRP Cavs)

They can ask for whatever they want, but they aren't getting it. Bottom line is Phoenix went all in, and they lost big time. Now Houston has them completely over a barrel.

Frankly, they are lucky I am offering that much. To be honest, that offer only exists because of long term salary concerns on Houston's side. And I wouldn't be shocked if Houston demanded those bad firsts from the Utah deal back as well.

This is non playoff team with a 150 million in tax bills, getting older every day, and zero avenues to improve.

They have exactly three cards to play,
-Do nothing, get worse, older, funnel top ten picks to other teams for the next six years while paying a half a billion in taxes.
-Try and trade Durant and retool, which might only get them right back where they are, outside looking in on a loaded Western conference. Basically solves nothing and risks losing the only not terrible lifeline they have left.
-Or they can take whatever pittance Houston offers, and let's be clear, it will be a God awful deal. They would also sell off Durant for rebuilding pieces. This is the only non horrific path forward, where they can sell some vison of hope going forward.

They are lucky a good portion of their picks are owned by a team that can use Booker. The nightmare scenario for Phoenix is if that changes. If Booker declines or is injured....if Green takes a leap....if those picks get moved to another team looking to rebuild. Then they will be in really bad shape.

I understand your point and mostly agree, although I think there is a middle ground where they could meet.. Houston will have a hard time finding a player as good and who fits as well as Booker just entering his prime and they will surely open very good offers, if they make him available and rebuild through trade without the need to completely sink.. Pistons/Magic/Spurs/Jazz or even Thunder could present higher offers..

Layout a reasonable scenario where they rebuild via trade, id like to see the end result.

[tmorgan]

Pistons can’t make a better offer, no. We should have our own picks after this year and a bunch of extra seconds, but other than that it’s non-Cade players.

I guess if the Suns really liked Ivey, Holland, and/or Ausar, something could happen.

Truthfully, though, I question the Cade/Booker fit. Though they go about it different ways, they share a preference for the same area of the floor (free throw line extended back to top of the key). Neither is a prolific three point shooter, either.

[Mr Puddles]

Houston offers
Jalen Green
Reed Sheppard
Jock Landale
2025 Phx #1
2027 Phx #1
2029 Phx #1

for Booker

I think the Suns are asking for 1 of J.Smith/Whitmore as well...even if they have to send something(Allen/Royce/Oso or FRP Cavs)

They can ask for whatever they want, but they aren't getting it. Bottom line is Phoenix went all in, and they lost big time. Now Houston has them completely over a barrel.

Frankly, they are lucky I am offering that much. To be honest, that offer only exists because of long term salary concerns on Houston's side. And I wouldn't be shocked if Houston demanded those bad firsts from the Utah deal back as well.

This is non playoff team with a 150 million in tax bills, getting older every day, and zero avenues to improve.

They have exactly three cards to play,
-Do nothing, get worse, older, funnel top ten picks to other teams for the next six years while paying a half a billion in taxes.
-Try and trade Durant and retool, which might only get them right back where they are, outside looking in on a loaded Western conference. Basically solves nothing and risks losing the only not terrible lifeline they have left.
-Or they can take whatever pittance Houston offers, and let's be clear, it will be a God awful deal. They would also sell off Durant for rebuilding pieces. This is the only non horrific path forward, where they can sell some vison of hope going forward.

They are lucky a good portion of their picks are owned by a team that can use Booker. The nightmare scenario for Phoenix is if that changes. If Booker declines or is injured....if Green takes a leap....if those picks get moved to another team looking to rebuild. Then they will be in really bad shape.

Booker is a first team all NBA player who finished 4th in MVP voting, led his team to the finals, and is in his prime years. But sure, the Suns had a bad season so they should just take whatever pennies on the dollar deal they can get?

Applying that same logic, the Mavericks didn't make the play in a season ago, does that mean Doncic could only have been moved for a discount then?

[MoneyTalks41890]

I’ve always wanted Booker on OKC but it doesn’t make as much sense anymore.

I wonder what the timeline is like where OKC was able to leapfrog Phoenix in the 2015 draft and take Booker instead of Cam Payne.