The Phoenix Suns traded Kevin Durant and waived Bradley Beal this summer after a disastrous 2024-25 season. Mat Ishbia wants to win a championship, so the organization hit the reset button, but not a complete reset because the Suns can't tank when they don't own their future first-round picks. So the Suns pivoted, and reiterated their commitment to Devin Booker by signing him to a two-year, $145 million extension.
Booker wants to be the player to lead Phoenix to a championship, an outcome that was possible a few years ago. Since then, the Suns have been on a downward spiral, causing speculation about whether the guard would remain in the desert. Even amidst the chaos of last season, Booker made it clear that he wanted to stay in Phoenix. His extension proved that.
Everything should be good then, right? Wrong. Booker can request a trade. What will his breaking point be, if there is one? Another season without a playoff berth? Two seasons? Both outcomes are likely, considering the Suns' positioning in the West. If Booker wants to have a shot to win a title anytime soon, it won't happen in Phoenix.
Devin Booker's championship dream won't come true with the Suns
Chances are that Booker has already come the closest to winning a title that he will in Phoenix.
He signed his two-year, maximum extension knowing what the Suns' future looks like. Booker knows what moves other conference teams have made to upgrade the roster. He understands what it takes to make an NBA Finals run, so he knows that his current team isn't close to reaching that height.
Booker got his money, though, so maybe he's content with that. However, that presents another issue. He's signed through the 2029-30 season, and it will be hard to trade him if the Suns decide to do so, or if he requests a trade. A salary that high (he has a $69.1 million player option in 2029-30) will make any trade a challenge. None of that takes into account what kind of player he'll be then.
The 29-year-old has been in it for the long haul, since 2015, to be exact. He said that he wants to stay with Phoenix for the rest of his career. Booker can control whether that comes true, as he isn't set to enter unrestricted free agency until he is 34. Who knows what will happen between now and then?
The Suns can only hope that after the past few seasons they've had, they won't have a Booker problem on their hands. They gave him a max extension to keep him happy, but will that prove to be enough?