The Phoenix Suns have barely gotten settled in Cancun after a postseason sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and already the sharks are circling their roster. No sooner had the team faced up to the reality of a long offseason full of uncertainty, then none other than Stephen A. Smith claimed that Booker wanted to be in New York playing for the Knicks badly.
That appeared to be baseless speculation, and the much more reputable when it comes to the Suns Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports was quick to shoot the rumors down as false. He did admit that the Knicks would give up almost anything to get Booker on their team, but who wouldn't? There's nothing shocking in that, Booker is an All-NBA level talent.
But let's say the Suns entertained a phone call from the Knicks on Booker, what would a trade package look like?
If we learnt one thing from last offseason - when the Suns moved on from former first overall pick Deandre Ayton - it is that these trades rarely live up to what fans think a player is worth. Only Booker is a little different, because he is a legitimate superstar and would immediately make the Knicks one of the two best teams in the Eastern Conference. So... what does this do for you?
From the Knicks' perspective, this is a home run. They get to pair Booker with Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, while they have all of their own first round picks for the rest of the decade. In fact they have four first round picks in 2024 alone, as well as two in 2026. They could throw in a sixth first rounder if they thought it could get the deal done.
They'd also still have shooting in Miles "Deuce" McBride, while Isaiah Hartenstein was a revalation for them this season. Still only 25-years-old, they could easily absorb losing Mitchell Robinson to the Suns, and still have a well fleshed out starting five with some depth behind it. The Boston Celtics might be the top team in the East currently, but that Knicks roster might just be better.
For the Suns, this is a lot more troubling. Nassir Little is added just to make the salaries match - really this is why the Suns got him last summer in the first place - while Julius Randle has both a spotty injury history and a demeanour that has not always been easy to root for out on the court. The fit next to Durant is questionable as well.
But what this would do is make the Suns' starting five much more straightforward. Bradley Beal either becomes the full-time point guard, or else the Suns see if they can get Alec Burks instead of Robinson. Burks can't be traded until after June 29th, although you get the sense this franchise would prefer to go and get a better floor general through free agency or another trade down the road.
Mitchell Robinson on Tyrese Maxey's four-point play late in regulation:
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 1, 2024
"Just take it like a man. I f--ked up. S--t, just got to be better next game." pic.twitter.com/TaSLhUCBxp
With Beal and Grayson Allen in the backcourt - and Royce O'Neale their sixth man off the bench after owner Mat Ishbia said he wants to bring him back during the season - Durant and Randle would make up a jumbo forward line. The Suns would also try and ditch Jusuf Nurkic somewhere along the way, and have Robinson start games.
Alternatively Robinson could come off the bench, Randle could play the center position and the Suns could go and get another forward elsewhere. The haul of first round picks would be massive though, as it would finally give the Suns more flexibility down the road to add players on rookie deals to their roster, as well as flipping them for other assets.
That would have to wait until after the Suns came back under the second apron though, which is part of the reason moving Booker for fair value is even harder. The money coming back needs to match what goes out. An offseason of rumors like this one is just starting though, but is this fictional trade enticing to you? How about Donte DiVincenzo instead? Yep, going to be a long summer...