ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith thinks a split of the Pheonix Suns’ trio is inevitable, saying on the network’s First Take that Booker, in particular, could come to the New York Knicks this summer.
Following the shocking four-game sweep of the Phoenix Suns at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, rumors are now speculating if Phoenix’s big three of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal will run it back next season.
“[Devin Booker] might deny it, I haven’t spoken to him. I’m just telling you the scuttlebutt in the NBA circles is that brother wanna be in New York,” said Smith via ESPN’s First Take (h/t KnicksMuse on X).
Stephen A. Smith says that Devin Booker wants to be in New York and play for the Knicks.
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) April 29, 2024
(via @FirstTake) pic.twitter.com/DqkvaC0agY
The possibility of the Knicks adding another superstar has been floated around since last offseason, and rumors have only accelerated since their surprising success this season which saw them make the playoffs as the second seed in the Eastern Conference.
If Booker were to leave Phoenix, it would have to be through a trade, as he is currently under a four-year, $221 million contract he signed with the Suns this past summer. He will not become an unrestricted free agent until 2028, his age-32 season.
In the Suns’ first-round series against the Timberwolves, Booker averaged 27.5 points on 49% shooting from the floor and 35% from three, which very closely resembles his regular season averages this year. He scored a new playoff career-high 49 points in Game 4 despite losing to be eliminated from the postseason.
Acquiring a star like Booker would require a lot of moving parts, though the Knicks could be a team to buy in on him given their surplus of draft picks over the next several years. Phoenix, on the other hand, doesn’t have a first-round draft pick from 2025-2030, and won’t have a second-round pick until 2030 as well.
Therefore, the Suns are likely to prioritize acquiring some draft capital this summer, but it may cost their franchise cornerstone piece to get it done. The Knicks, meanwhile, have made it clear that they are stockpiling their picks to pull off a major trade, and if Booker becomes available, they may start sending some phone calls to the Suns’ front office.
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