NBA Trade Rumors: Devin Booker Linked To Pelicans In Proposed Blockbuster

 The Phoenix Suns are on the brink of an epic flameout in the first round, down 0-3 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The huge investment in the 'Big 3' of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal has gotten them nothing but a 6th seed showing in the West, and, quite possibly, not a single playoff game win. 

Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant will earn $150M next season.

The salary of the three players is more than 14 teams total payroll in 2024-25.

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) April 27, 2024

As insider Bobby Marks points out, they'll have $150M tied up next season in those Big 3, and no wiggle room to improve the roster around them. ONE or even TWO of those players will have to be dealt to loosen the purse strings. 

Some have already suggested that Kevin Durant will be begging his way out of town, but here, Bill Simmons has proposed a blockbuster trade that will move Devin Booker off the books, sending him to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Bill Simmons throws out an idea of Phoenix potentially discussing a Devin Booker trade with New Orleans

"CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy, and throw us 2 future picks, and you can have Booker."

(h/t @NBABeyondCourt )

pic.twitter.com/2xvqfiNmh7

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 24, 2024

Simmons' proposal is as follows:

Pelicans Receive:

• Devin Booker

Suns Recieve:

• CJ McCollum
• Trey Murphy
• 2 future picks 

Fellow Ringer writer Kevin O'Connor laughed that off, suggesting the Suns would need a lot more for the 27-year-old four-time All-Star who has averaged over 27 points a game the past two seasons.  

"I'd need more than that! For Devin Booker?" laughed O'Connor. "Gimme five firsts!"

It's our guess that if the Suns do decide to gauge the market for Booker, they will not be confering with Bill Simmons first. 

Next year, Booker will be starting a new four-year, $221 million extension that averages $55 million per year. 

Photo: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports