Devin Booker wants to play in New York, Stephen A. Smith has said, with the Suns’ future in flux after their early playoff exit.
The Timberwolves pulled off a surprising sweep of Phoenix on Sunday night, and the Suns have more than $150million in salary committed to their ‘Big 3’ of Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal for next season – with little wiggle room to get better.
Booker, who’s spent his entire career in Phoenix, has offered no public indications that he wants to leave, but ESPN’s Smith was steadfast on Monday that the four-time All-Star has a wandering eye.
‘From what I’m being told, I don’t know if it’ll ever happen, Devin Booker wants to be in New York. That’s what I’m being told,’ Smith said.
‘Now he might deny it. I haven’t spoken to him. I’m just telling you. The scuttlebutt in the NBA circles is that, brother want to be in New York. So if you’re Phoenix, you got at least two people, probably three, who all get paid about $150 million combined, don’t want to be there.’
Devin Booker is eyeing a way out of Phoenix, according to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith
Smith said that Booker wanting to play in New York was the ‘scuttlebutt in NBA circles’
While Smith did not specify which New York franchise he was referring to, the Knicks – who won 50 games this season and are on the verge of advancing to the second round – are the likelier bet than the Nets.
The Knicks would be expected to move larger salaries like Julius Randle’s and others to theoretically pair Booker with superstar point guard Jalen Brunson.
On the other hand, the Nets are also loaded with first-round draft assets following their trade sending Durant to Phoenix, and Booker is close with former Suns Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges, now of the Nets.
Booker was even spotted wearing a Nets jersey five years ago during the offseason, in a picture posted by his friend and former Nets guard D’Angelo Russell.
Booker was spotted wearing a Nets jersey in 2019, and is close with several Brooklyn players
A theoretical Booker-to-the-Knicks trade would see him pair with point guard Jalen Brunson
After trading for Durant last season and acquiring Beal over the summer, the Suns are in a tough spot.
Durant, who they hoped could lead them to a title, is 35 years old, while Beal has a no-trade clause.
Following the Suns being swept, The Athletic reported that Durant ‘never felt comfortable’ in his role within Phoenix’s offense.
Booker, still just 27, is by far the youngest of the team’s ‘Big 3,’ so it remains to be seen if Phoenix would actually be willing to move their homegrown star.
