One thing the Luka Doncic trade has taught everyone is that no player is safe in the NBA. Even Kevin Durant realized it the hard way as he was completely ‘blindsided’ by the buzz of him potentially getting traded to the Warriors at the deadline. As per veteran insider Shams Charania, “Kevin Durant did not expect his name to be in any trade rumors.” Well, it ended up being a false alarm as the Suns front office never pulled the trigger. However, the drama has led to an awkward situation in Phoenix and could even jeopardize Devin Booker’s future with the franchise.

Well, renowned reporter Tim MacMahon revealed how the trade saga has affected KD’s mood, “I tried to get Kevin Durant’s thoughts. We can imagine what he’s thinking. My attempt did not succeed. He very glumly walked by, head down ‘I don’t wanna talk man.’” Obviously, Durant rarely shies away from interacting with the media and is one of the most approachable superstars. So, his silence shows how much the Suns’ betrayal hurt him.

Moreover, MacMahon also addressed the scary aftermath of the Suns’ failed attempt at trading The Slim Reaper, “Locker room was very quiet… This is a very fragile awkward situation that the Phoenix Suns have on their hands and I think the obvious next question is: As committed as Devin Booker is now, if the Suns can’t figure out how to get this thing in the right direction, how long will that last?”

Well, its clear that Ishbia desperately tried to get rid of Bradley Beal hoping to acquire Jimmy Butler, but couldn’t. Then, the attempt of sending Durant to the Bay Area also ended in failure. And the Suns are back to square one with no major trades at the deadline. If they end up having another failed season, Booker could demand a trade in search of a situation where he has a shot at contending for the title.

Devin Booker has given “No Indication” of leaving Phoenix but Constant failure could change his stance

One good thing for the Suns is that Book has given no indication that he wants anything but to play for the Suns his entire career. But MacMahon has a valid point. Although he has been in the franchise for ten years, Booker has not had much playoff success, except the one time he miraculously reached the NBA Finals four years ago. So, even though he seems committed now, he could request a trade if the Suns don’t find success soon.

That’s exactly what happened with Damian Lillard as MacMahon reminded everyone, “Damian Lillard was once ten toes down in Portland as well.” Yes, Dame gave the first eleven years of his career to the Blazers and hoped to end his career there. However, repeated team failure motivated him to demand a trade and find a new home in Milwaukee. And he is finally in a situation where he can contend for the title. Who’s to say that Booker will not go through the same turmoil as he continues to struggle in Phoenix?

So, while Ishbia has decided to see how far the current roster goes, the coming offseason will be extremely crucial to determine the future of the franchise. And the front office needs to make significant moves to keep Booker happy. Do you agree?