There is something odd about the Phoenix Suns this season. First, their head coach Mike Budenholzer benched Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic. Then, their failed attempts at the trade market to get Jimmy Butler and trade Kevin Durant to the Warriors. And now, there is a strange coldness between the Suns guard Devin Booker and the HC.

Recently NBA insider, Chris Haynes shared Mike Budenholzer called Booker into his office to issue a complaint. The complaint was that Booker was being too vocal on the court and during timeout huddles. He urged Booker to dial it back so the coach’s voice could take center stage. “This completely shocked Booker,” Haynes added.

Meanwhile, Devin Booker didn’t hold back after the Suns’ tough loss to the Pelicans. Frustrated and fed up, Devin Booker called out the team’s lack of communication—his most candid interview in a long time. “It can be fixed with a little more talking, I’d say. Things get tough, we get quiet as a team,” the 28-year-old said in the postgame presser. “I’d rather two people say the wrong thing to each other than nobody talk at all and leave the gray area. I always look at myself first, but I also talk a lot,” Booker added.

At first, Devin Booker’s rant seemed like typical post-loss frustration. However, with the revelation, it feels like a clear shot at Mike Budenholzer. While the report is one-sided, more details will likely emerge. Still, for a team already battling enough distractions, this is the last thing they need mid-season. But interestingly enough, all this drama is fueling now when new trade rumors around a link between Booker and the Houston Rockets are brewing out loud. What’s going on?

Could the Houston Rockets trade for Devin Booker?

According to Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, the Suns might have a chance to trade Booker to the Rockets this offseason. “A Phase 3 launch could be in the works should the Rockets learn their developing-by-the-day roster still isn’t championship-ready,” Buckley recently wrote. With the assets to pull off a blockbuster, Houston’s trade ambitions know no bounds.

According to The Athletic, the Houston Rockets have had a “longtime interest” in Devin Booker and may still see his scoring prowess as the missing piece to their championship puzzle. Adding Booker would finally give the Rockets the elite No. 1 option they’ve been chasing. Paired with Amen Thompson in the backcourt, Houston could build a powerhouse in the West for years to come.

Tension is rising in Phoenix, and the timing couldn’t be more intriguing. With friction brewing between Devin Booker and Mike Budenholzer, the Rockets’ long-standing interest feels more relevant than ever. If Houston believes their young core still needs a star to contend, a blockbuster move for Booker could be on the horizon. As the Suns navigate internal chaos, the Rockets may be watching closely—ready to strike.