Don't blame it on Book. The Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker has been on fire over the last three games, averaging 39 points a night over that span. Yet, the woeful Suns are 0-3 in those games, and have lost five in a row, failing to capitalize on a sliding Mavericks team, who still cling to the last Play-In spot by one game in the loss column.
Although he has professed his desire to remain in Phoenix for his entire career, the four-time All-Star may start tiring of the losing in the desert, and the inability of the team to surround him with a proper competitive roster. In addition, maybe he'd be cool with heading home, as the Grand Rapids, Michigan-born Booker tries to get himself into a winning environment.
If there is a Booker trade to be had this summer, we've got a potential blockbuster deal that would send him to the Detroit Pistons, an up-and-coming team in the Eastern Conference. This hypothetical deal comes to us from 'Three Cone' on Bleacher Report:
Detroit Pistons receive:
Phoenix Suns receive:
- Jaden Ivey
- Ron Holland (5th pick, 2024 Draft)
- Tobias Harris
- 3 first-round unprotected picks
This trade would quickly accelerate a Suns' rebuild, by bringing in Ivey, still just 22, an impressive young shooting guard (though injured for the past three months), the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He's averaging a career-high 17.6 points and 4.0 assists, while elevating his long-range game to unprecedented levels, shooting 41% from three.
Holland was also a 5th overall pick, in the 2024 Draft. He's shown plenty of potential in his rookie season with the Pistons, particularly flashing his athleticism and defensive capabilities.
And the three unprotected first-rounders are premium assets.
As for Harris, he can be a contributor next season, and best of all will be on an expiring contract.
The Suns are supposedly getting set to trade Kevin Durant this summer, so it's more likely for that to happen rather than a Booker trade, but if this were to go through, the Pistons would become one of the favorites in the East.
The Pistons have broken through big-time this season, vaulting to the 6th seed in the East with a 43-35 record, an incredible 30-game improvement from their dead-last showing last season.
Booker hasn't averaged less than 25.6 points per game in six seasons, and he's also averaging a career-high 7.1 assists this year.
Photo: © David Reginek-Imagn Images
