An NBA trade idea sending Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard, Steven Adams and Jeff Green from the Houston Rockets to the Phoenix Suns has been created.
NBA writer Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report created the following trade idea between the Rockets and Suns:
Houston Rockets get: Devin Booker
Phoenix Suns get: Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard, Steven Adams, Jeff Green, 2027 first-round pick, 2029 first-round pick
The Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Suns this offseason. Houston has Phoenix’s first-round picks in 2027 and 2029.
Hughes thinks the Suns should trade Booker to the Rockets so they can get those picks back.
“Booker can’t be traded until January, and it’d be admittedly weird if the Suns and Rockets transacted again so soon after the Durant deal,” Hughes wrote. “But there’s just no other logical destination for this pair of future first-rounders. That also helps overcome the reality that Booker has never shown a willingness to leave the Suns.
“The Suns need these picks back. Otherwise, the non-playoff seasons ahead won’t feature the typical payoff: high lottery position. The key to ensuring Phoenix’s fallow period lasts only a couple of seasons is regaining control of those 2027 and 2029 selections. Otherwise, the dark days could stretch well into the 2030s.
“Oh, and if this feels like the player package accompanying these valuable picks is a little underwhelming, remember that Booker’s massive extension might not actually be that great of a value from Houston’s perspective. He’s on the books through 2029-30 (player option), when he’ll earn $69.2 million in his age-34 season.”
The Suns signed Booker to a two-year, $133 million extension in July. Booker, one of the top scorers in the NBA, can’t be traded until January 10, 2026.
Phoenix isn’t going anywhere with just Booker leading the way. The franchise may as well trade the four-time All-Star and rebuild for the future.
The Suns can trade VanVleet, Adams and Green after acquiring them from the Rockets to acquire either draft picks or expiring contracts. They should keep Sheppard since he’s a young player they can build with.