After starting the season 9-2, the Phoenix Suns have struggled heavily since and now find themselves in trade rumors as the end of the season approaches. Currently, the Suns are 30-36 and own the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference. Additionally, they are 3.5 games behind the No. 10 seed Dallas Mavericks, who own the last Play-In spot. With a month left in the season, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and company do not have much time to make a late-season push. Regardless, barring an unforeseeable end to the season, it seems like the Suns will undergo some major changes this summer anyway.
The hottest rumor in Phoenix is that the team will trade Durant this offseason. It is so hot, in fact, that this move seems inevitable. However, many have also speculated what Booker’s future in Phoenix looks like. Recently, Suns owner Mat Ishbia spoke about this and gave a direct answer–Booker is not going anywhere.
Per ESPN’s Tim McMahon, Ishbia said that a Booker trade will “never happen.”
“Never happen,” Ishbia said, interrupting the question. “It’s silly. So here’s what I’ll tell you: I have Devin Booker in the prime. In order to win an NBA championship, you got to have a superstar. You got to have a great player.”
Booker has spent his entire career with the Suns up to this point. In 10 seasons, the Kentucky alum is a four-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA selection.
Phoenix Suns Owner Says Team Will Never Trade Devin Booker
Devin Booker Seemingly Does Not Want to Go Anywhere
In the same article, Booker spoke about wanting to remain in Phoenix.
“I mean, it’s a rare breed,” Booker told ESPN, wearing a T-shirt with his idol Kobe Bryant‘s Black Mamba logo as he explained after a recent shootaround why playing for only one franchise is so important to him. “I take pride in the community in Phoenix, the people that have supported me since I was 18 when things were ugly. And the people that are with us, we just fell short of accomplishing what we want. So I want to do it, and I want to do it here.
“That’s the responsibility of being a franchise player, and I wear that with honor. So it might not look the most pretty right now, but we got to get it done and I’m going to do it.”
Booker played an integral role in the Suns’ NBA Finals appearance in 2021. However, the Suns have not made it back since. For them to have any chance of winning a championship soon, it is essential that Booker sticks around. Fortunately for them, it seems like he wants to anyway.
The Last Word
Even if the Suns secure a Play-In spot, most would say this season has been disappointing for them. This is especially true given their first-round sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves last year. They still have some time to turn things around, but the clock is ticking. The Suns just better hope it is not too late.
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