New Suns GM Brian Gregory on his relationship with James Jones, Devin Booker
Brian Gregory has a “great relationship” with former Suns GM James Jones.
ESPN explored potential trade scenarios involving the Dallas Mavericks’ presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg.The likelihood of the Mavericks trading Flagg is considered low, given his potential.
Would the Dallas Mavericks consider trading the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft?
It would probably take a lot to entice the Mavs to give up Cooper Flagg, the presumptive No. 1 NBA draft pick, who many see as a generational talent, in a trade.
One national site interestingly decided to come up with potential No. 1 pick trades for the Mavericks anyway, including three teams as potential landing spots for the No. 1 pick in a trade.
The Phoenix Suns were among those potential landing spots for Flagg, according to ESPN, as were the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers.
What would the Suns have to give up for Cooper Flagg?
ESPN’s Andre Snellings suggested Phoenix could send Devin Booker, their 2025 first-rounder (No. 29), a 2028 first-round NBA Draft pick and a 2029 first-round pick swap to the Mavericks in exchange for the No. 1 pick (Flagg), Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall and Caleb Martin.
Would the Suns really trade Booker? He’s the face of the franchise, so it’s highly unlikely at best that Phoenix would entertain dealing their star.
Snellings wrote: “The premise of this offer — trading a potential NBA megastar — is to underscore the Mavericks’ need to improve their roster now. The Doncic-for-Davis trade put the Mavericks in win-now mode anyhow, with a timeline tied around Davis, 32, and Irving, 33, so it would behoove them to trade the future for the now. With those guidelines in place, trading for Booker would make a lot of sense. The Mavericks, as constructed, have elite big-man depth and a perennial All-Star point guard in Irving but could use another dynamic perimeter presence on the wing. Dallas will need an elite playmaker who can lead the team while Irving is out, but play next to him when he returns. Enter Booker, who was a first-team All-NBA shooting guard in 2021-22, and is squarely in his prime at 28 years old. A healthy core of Davis, Irving and Booker would be able to contend for championships immediately, and Booker would remain a centerpiece even as Davis and Irving start to age out of their primes. Add on that Dallas also gets some draft considerations in this deal.”
Would the Mavericks really entertain trading the No. 1 NBA draft pick?
Would the Mavericks really do that trade? Flagg could be really (really) good and set up Dallas for success for years.
Snellings wrote that Phoenix could potentially offer even more to entice the Mavericks to deal Flagg to them, after getting more assets in a Kevin Durant trade.
He wrote: “It has been widely rumored that Phoenix will trade Kevin Durant this offseason as well, and if the Suns were to do that deal before this one, they might have more assets to sweeten the offer for Flagg. As is, getting Flagg’s potential to be their franchise cornerstone for the next generation would be amazing value, even dealing Booker and all of the draft considerations they could move. In the hypothetical scenario in which Durant is moved before the draft, the Suns being able to include potential assets from such a deal would most likely allow them to make a more competitive offer than what is being suggested here.”
Who else could potentially try to trade for Cooper Flagg?
We wouldn’t hold our breath in a Booker to Dallas trade, with the No. 1 pick coming back to Phoenix.
In fact, we wouldn’t hold our breath in the Mavericks trading Flagg. Again, a young talent like him would be very difficult to deal.
ESPN also suggested the Spurs’ could trade for the No. 1 pick, in a deal involving several picks, including the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, going to the Mavericks.
The Cavaliers’ suggestion was a four-team trade centered on Donovan Mitchell going to Dallas, the No. 1 pick and several players going to Cleveland, with the Los Angeles Lakers getting Jarrett Allen and the Chicago Bulls getting Dalton Knecht and Caleb Martin, as well as several picks.
If you were the Suns, would you entertain the idea of a trade package including Devin Booker for Cooper Flagg?
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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