Sports Media Mogul Suggests Devin Booker Trade for Suns-Pelicans, Not Involving Zion Williamson

Things are not looking good for the Phoenix Suns. After getting blown out by 25 points in their playoff opener on Saturday, Kevin Durant and Co. suffered another brutal loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves last night. The Suns are down 0-2 in the first-round series, and could possibly be handed an early exit from the playoffs in the coming days. In case the Suns get eliminated in the first round, Mat Ishbia might have to rethink if they can ever win a Championship with this squad. And media mogul Bill Simmons floated a blockbuster trade idea involving Devin Booker to solve Phoenix’s problems.

Having witnessed the Suns’ getting humiliated in the first two games in Minnesota, Bill Simmons put forth the idea of getting rid of Booker this summer. And he said during The Bill Simmons Podcast, “CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy, and throw us 2 future picks, and you can have Booker.” Now, the idea might sound crazy, giving up Booker without even getting a chance to acquire Zion Williamson. Quite understandably, the Pelicans will not give up Williamson that easily. But that wasn’t the end of their plan, as it ripened further.

After listening to Bill’s proposal, his co-host Kevin O’Connor was shocked, suggesting that Phoenix would not give up Booker for so little. With Booker’s talent and the four years left on his contract, Ishbia should demand at least 5 future picks, along with Murphy and McCollum. However good Murphy and McCollum may be, Bill’s co-host claimed they are role players compared to Booker. But Simmons claimed Murphy could turn out to be special.

However, they then realized that Booker was on the books till 2028, which prompted him to say, “With that many years on his contract, it’s 4 or 5 first”. At 23, Murphy is averaging nearly 15 points and has the potential to produce more in a Championship team.

Do the Phoenix Suns really need a change?

With high hopes, the Suns created the Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. However, a young Anthony Edwards-led squad is making the Suns look like amateurs on the court. If Phoenix loses Game 3 on Friday, they might as well pack their bags and prepare for their long summer. With that, the Big 3 experiment might also go down the drain and Ishbia would be looking at a major change. They were quick to part ways with Chris Paul when they saw the opportunity to improve the roster. And the same could happen this summer as well.

Apart from an NBA Finals appearance in 2021, Booker has not had any significant success in the playoffs. Maybe he is not the right superstar to build the team around. Moreover, after leaving the Warriors, Kevin Durant has also struggled to find his footing in the league and win meaningful games. First, KD failed to find success in Brooklyn despite having Kyrie Irving and James Harden on his side. Then, after spending over two years with the Nets, he moved to Phoenix, but is struggling in the postseason yet again. And the newest addition, Bradley Beal has mostly spent his debut year in Phoenix, battered and bruised.

The Suns also do not have many future picks to start a rebuild.

So, a big trade might be in order for the Suns like Bill Simmons suggested for Mat Ishbia to regain some control and build a Championship team. Do you believe the Suns should trade Devin Booker if they fail in the playoffs this year?