Devin Booker ‘wants to be in New York’, claims Stephen A. Smith, after Suns were swept in the NBA playoffs… hinting at potential move to the Knicks or Nets
Devin Booker wants to play in New York, Stephen A. Smith has said, with the Suns’ future in flux following their early playoff exit.
The Timberwolves pulled off an upset win over Phoenix on Sunday night, and the Suns have committed more than $150 million in salary to their “Big 3” of Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal for next season – with little room to improve.
Booker, who has spent his entire career in Phoenix, has given no public indications that he wants to leave, but ESPN’s Smith was adamant Monday that the four-time All-Star has a wandering eye.
“From what I’ve been told, I don’t know if it will 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 difficult thing in NBA circles is that my brother wants to be in New York. So if you’re Phoenix, you’ve got at least two people, probably three, all getting paid about $150 million, who don’t want to be there.”
According to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN, Devin Booker is looking for a way out of Phoenix
Smith said Booker wanting to play in New York was the “scuttlebutt in NBA circles.”
Although Smith didn’t 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 are expected to move higher salaries, such as those of Julius Randle 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 after their trade sent Durant to Phoenix, and Booker has close ties to 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 photo posted by his friend and former Nets guard D’Angelo Russell.
Booker was spotted in a Nets jersey in 2019 and has been closely linked to several Brooklyn players
A theoretical Booker-to-the-Knicks trade would see him team up with point guard Jalen Brunson
After trading for Durant last season and acquiring Beal last summer, the Suns find themselves 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.
After the suns were swept, The Athletics reported that Durant “never felt comfortable” in his role within Phoenix’s offense.
Booker, still only 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.