Within a discussion about Houston’s future trade options on the latest Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link), ESPN’s Tim MacMahon points out that the Rockets control “a lot of Suns draft capital” and have “let it be known they are Devin Booker fans.”
However, while Booker might be the sort of player the Rockets would be willing to go all-in for on the trade market, MacMahon quickly added that there’s no indication the Suns would be interested in making that sort of deal, despite having underachieved this season at 19-20 with the league’s most expensive roster. His ESPN colleague Brian Windhorst interjected to drive that point home.
“Devin Booker is staying with the Suns,” Windhorst said. “I don’t see any wavering on that whatsoever.”
“There’s interest that’s been expressed and no indication that it’s even a possibility,” MacMahon agreed.
Here’s more on the Suns:
- Ahead of Tuesday’s game in Atlanta, Doug Haller of The Athletic described the Suns’ five-game Eastern Conference road trip as a make-or-break stretch for a team with aspirations of contention. The trip got off to a disappointing start, as Phoenix’s road record fell to 6-12 with a loss to the Hawks. The Suns will visit Washington next, on Thursday, followed by dates in Detroit (Saturday), Cleveland (Monday), and Brooklyn (next Wednesday).
- After sitting out the second half of Sunday’s win over Charlotte due to left knee soreness, Suns wing Grayson Allen said he’s been managing an issue with that knee for “two (or) three years,” Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic relays. “That makes it sound like it’s always bad,” Allen said. “It’s not always bad. It’s one of those things that’s better if I don’t miss time. So it’s used to getting minutes and everything.”
- Within a discussion of all five Pacific Division teams, John Hollinger of The Athletic says the Suns are in a precarious position due to their pricey, underachieving roster and their lack of future draft assets. Hollinger suggests that if the club doesn’t trade Booker and Kevin Durant over the summer to get its draft picks back, “the next decade will be one of the most dismal chapters in NBA history.”
- Still, Hollinger doesn’t believe a fire sale is coming anytime soon and expects the Suns to consider using their 2031 first-round pick to pursue a roster upgrade. If they go that route, they should focus on a young player who can help the club now and in the future, according to Hollinger, who wonders if a deal involving Jusuf Nurkic and the Suns’ lightly protected 2031 first-rounder for Wendell Carter might appeal to the Magic.
- Hollinger’s trade suggestion was published before word broke that the Suns have agreed to acquire another center, Nick Richards of the Hornets. The full story on that trade agreement can be found here.