The Phoenix Suns are just three days removed from their season ending via a first-round sweep by the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, yet that hasn’t stopped trade buzz from building around superstar guard Devin Booker.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s First Take dissected the Suns’ elimination, which included wondering about the possibility of Booker leaving Phoenix. Two days later, that talk has been emphatically shut down by owner Matt Ishbia, who appears committed to riding with the 2015 No. 13 overall pick through thick and thin until—he hopes—they win a championship.
“Devin Booker’s our franchise player. I love Devin Booker. Devin Booker loves being here. Our coach loves Devin Booker. Our GM loves Devin Booker. Devin Booker is going to be here. Devin Booker is going to lead us to a championship here in Phoenix. That’s what he’s going to do… I’ll ride into a fire with Devin Booker, and I’ll do it proudly. Devin Booker is not getting traded. Devin Booker is our franchise player, and like I said, we’re going to win a championship here with Devin Booker, and I’m excited to do it, and I’m excited to be next to him when we do that,”
The 29-year-old Booker’s two-year, $145 million maximum contract extension, signed with the Suns in July, doesn’t kick in until the 2028–29 campaign and runs through 2029–30. He averaged 26.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 6.0 APG in 64 games this regular season.
There was never anything concrete when it came to Booker being traded, though some had speculated about it, given that Phoenix doesn’t appear all that close to competing for a championship, as Ishbia hopes.
As much as that may be the case, we now know that Booker isn’t going anywhere, and it sounds as if the Suns will continue doing everything in their power to build a contender around him. Whether they will actually be able to follow through and do that remains to be seen.
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