Latest Devin Booker trade rumor proves it will be long offseason for Suns

The Phoenix Suns are staring into a long and uncertain offseason, with no quick fixes after being swept from the playoffs in the first round. Bradley Beal doesn't look like he is going anywhere as a result of having a no-trade clause and $160 million owed to him, while it is not easy to trade Kevin Durant either.

Although there have already been rumblings that Durant was unhappy with his role in head coach Frank Vogel's offense, he is 35-years-old and clearly does not guarantee you being a contender anymore. Asking for a trade would also further complicate his own legacy, which we all know he cares a lot about.

Then there is franchise cornerstone Devin Booker - the player the Suns surely don't want to trade - but who will appear in the most rumors this offseason.

In fact we're barely 24 hours removed from the Suns officially exiting the postseason, and already there are people out there claiming Booker wants out of The Valley. People like Stephen A. Smith...

This sort of baseless comment thrown out there is exactly what the Suns and Booker are going to have to get used to after a season that fell way short of expectations. It is easy to simply say you've heard talk throughout the league, and then throw out a player and a team name and watch as the internet goes into overdrive.

This rumor was quickly squashed by Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports, who spoke to his own contacts around the organization and came to the conclusion that what Smith had said was false. Even if most star players deny these rumors at the start of a long and drawn out process that ultimately sees them leave, there is no way Booker has reached that point yet.

He might be the most viable option out of the Suns' "Big 3", but he's also the face of the franchise and is probably going to go down as the greatest player in the history of the organization. He's already been to The Finals with the team back in 2021, and the additions of Beal and Durant before that still show a willingness by owner Mat Ishbia to win big.

Unfortunately for Suns fans though, they better strap in for a summer full of Booker leaving Phoenix rumors. It'll get clicks and drive content once free agency has come and gone - and with this being one of the weaker draft classes in recent memory - what a handful of stars including Booker do this offseason will dominate the landscape.