The Phoenix Suns, now at 28-33, couldn’t catch a break as they fell 116-98 to the Timberwolves, who sit at 34-29. Honestly, it was a rough night. Devin Booker put up 17 points along with five assists, four rebounds, and six turnovers, but it wasn’t enough to spark the offense. Phoenix struggled big time, shooting just 43.8% (35-for-80) from the floor and a chilly 31% (13-for-42) from three. And talk about turnovers—they gave up 22, which translated into a season-high 40 points for Minnesota. In comparison, the Suns managed a mere nine points off eight Timberwolves turnovers.

Following the Suns’ 98-116 loss to the Timberwolves, Booker didn’t mince words about his frustrations. When asked what’s been bothering him, Booker stated, “There’s numbers of things. But ultimately just the physicality of it, and not matching it.” A reporter then pressed, “What’s preventing everyone from being on the same page?” Booker responded, “I mean, that’s the conversation of last week.” The reporter followed up with, “The communication?” to which Booker simply replied, “Mmhmm.”

For those who don’t know, rumors have been flying about a possible rift between Devin Booker and head coach Mike Budenholzer, reported by Chris Haynes. One report even suggested that Budenholzer told Booker to quiet down during games—a request that reportedly left the Suns star “completely shocked.”. But the 4x All-Star shut down any talk of tension with Mike Budenholzer, making it clear their conversations weren’t out of the ordinary. “Nah, coach said it, too. We’ve had multiple conversations,” he told The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin on Sunday. “I can’t seem to find one that sticks out more than the others.”

He dismissed the idea of any drama, pointing out that speculation always ramps up when a team struggles. “It’s a player-coach relationship,” Booker had explained. “When things start going bad, everybody tries to point fingers to find out what’s wrong. People are going to come up with stuff.”  Despite D-Book’s attempts to downplay the situation, the tension doesn’t seem entirely resolved. His responses felt measured, almost as if he was choosing his words carefully. While he insisted that his relationship with Budenholzer was solid, his brief, almost dismissive answers hinted at underlying frustration.

With the Suns struggling and playoff hopes slipping away, Booker and Budenholzer might be trying to keep things professional. But whether they’re truly on the same page or just keeping things civil for now remains to be seen. Still, with the Suns sinking in the standings, the tension feels far from over. The bigger question now? If Phoenix is struggling this much with Kevin Durant, what happens if he’s gone this summer?

What does the future hold for the Suns Big 3 of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal?

Kevin Durant’s rumored return to the Warriors was one of the biggest trade deadline moves that never materialized. The Suns star admitted he didn’t think it made sense at the time, but he didn’t completely shut the door on a move this summer.

Now, the idea of Durant leaving Phoenix is picking up steam. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Suns could be open to trading him in the offseason. “The stakes are high,” Charania reported. “Unless there’s a significant run here into the playoffs for the Phoenix Suns, league sources believe that there will be real changes in Phoenix coming to the Suns. From a roster standpoint, that likely starts with Kevin Durant.”

Durant, reportedly blindsided by trade talks earlier this season, could be on the move, but this time, Phoenix plans to work with him to find the right destination. Charania noted that four to six contenders will aggressively pursue the two-time Finals MVP if the Suns put him on the trade block.

Meanwhile, Booker isn’t going anywhere.

Charania emphasized Booker’s strong commitment to the Suns, and the front office still regards him as the centerpiece. “Any trade that the Suns would make with Kevin Durant that would be to retool, as of right now, around Devin Booker,” Charania explained.

With Phoenix sitting at 28-33 after their loss to Minnesota, their playoff hopes are fading fast. If things don’t turn around soon, major changes could be inevitable.