{"id":10974,"date":"2025-05-05T16:00:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T16:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/10974\/"},"modified":"2025-05-05T16:00:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T16:00:13","slug":"sbn-reacts-hold-onto-devin-booker-even-if-the-rebuild-calls-your-name","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/10974\/","title":{"rendered":"SBN Reacts: Hold onto Devin Booker even if the rebuild calls your name"},"content":{"rendered":"

Devin Booker Week is drawing to a close here at Bright Side. Over the past several days, we\u2019ve debated the pros and cons of putting the Chosen Son on the market, weighing the benefits of moving him against the reasons to keep him right where he is. It\u2019s a question any new front office member must be willing to ask, and one that new GM Brian Gregory<\/a> would be wise to contemplate. <\/p>\n

It would be irresponsible not to conduct the thought exercise, to explore what paths exist, and to understand the market for your most valuable asset. Even if the answer is to hold, you owe it to the franchise to know what\u2019s out there.<\/p>\n

Now that we\u2019ve weighed every angle, it\u2019s time to see where the pulse of the fanbase landed in our polling, and for me to share my final thoughts on what the Suns should ultimately do.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the question of should. Should the Phoenix Suns trade Devin Booker?<\/p>\n

According to our poll, 39% of you said \u201cyes\u201d. The team should move on from the Booker.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a number higher than some might have expected, but maybe not surprising given the state of the franchise. Odds aren\u2019t out yet on where Vegas believes Devin Booker could end up, but they\u2019ll be brought to you by FanDuel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I understand where people are coming from and why they think now is the time to do so. Trading Devin Booker now isn\u2019t betrayal. It\u2019s a Viking funeral: a fiery sendoff that honors his greatness while admitting the kingdom must rebuild. His value is peaking, your roster is cracking, and holding on any longer is like skydiving with a silk parachute and no backup plan.<\/p>\n

But the other 61% believe that trading Devin Booker now is like pawning Excalibur for butter knives. Sure, you\u2019ll get something back, but good luck slaying dragons with it. Don\u2019t rewrite the script by killing off the lead before the story\u2019s even finished. <\/p>\n

But will the Suns trade him? Only 8% think the Suns will do so.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As I continue building my thesis on how to fix the Phoenix Suns \u2014 a blueprint I\u2019ll eventually publish as a step-by-step process for how I believe this can realistically be accomplished \u2014 I do so knowing full well it\u2019ll be torn apart. The community will poke holes in it, challenge my reasoning, and debate every conclusion I reach. And honestly, it should be that way. That\u2019s what makes this worth doing.<\/p>\n

But this particular decision? For me, it\u2019s a no-brainer.<\/p>\n

The Kevin Durant situation? That one keeps me up at night. It\u2019s layered, complicated, and frankly far tougher to reconcile. But Devin Booker? It\u2019s simple.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t trade Devin Booker.<\/p>\n

I keep circling back to a foundational truth in this league: when you have a star in their prime, you build around them. You don\u2019t drive the ball to the opponent\u2019s 30-yard line and punt. You press forward. You try to score. You exhaust every option to make that window count.<\/p>\n

And while I hope readers can understand that I\u2019ve considered all sides of this argument \u2014 and I truly have \u2014 my stance doesn\u2019t waver. I get why some fans are ready for a teardown. The allure of draft picks, financial flexibility, and starting fresh can be seductive when things feel stuck. But me? I\u2019m not there. Not now. Not with this player.<\/p>\n

Because what are we really chasing by moving Booker? Draft capital with the hope that one of those picks turns into an All-Star\u2026someday? A young prospect who, if everything breaks right, might enter his prime in five years? That\u2019s not a plan. It\u2019s a prayer.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d rather have a known star surrounded by role players than no star at all.<\/p>\n

I’d rather have one star and no role players to try to build around then have a roster of only role players with no star. Booker and KD are the most important pieces and excellent building blocks. They have just been surrounded by an incompetent front office.<\/p>\n

\u2014 JustAnAverageJoel (@ParadoxicalJoel) April 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Having Devin Booker on your roster means you still have a shot. A shot to trade for another star, to attract talent to play alongside him, to pivot if needed. No marquee free agent is coming to Phoenix to play with the 24th pick in the 2028 draft, a pick acquired from a contender you just empowered by sending them your franchise player.<\/p>\n

Have the Suns fumbled Booker\u2019s prime up to this point? Absolutely. But the window isn\u2019t shut. There are still moves to make, paths to explore. And even if next season turns ugly as the team course-corrects, Devin Booker will be just 30 going into the following year. I can live with building around a 30-year-old All-NBA player. I\u2019d much rather bet on that than gamble on the blind promise of draft picks and cap space.<\/p>\n

And as for the money, I\u2019m not afraid of it. Yes, his salary will rise to 40% of the cap when his extension hits in 2028-29. But with the cap projected to climb, that percentage drops back to 36% the following year. It\u2019s a big number today, but it\u2019ll be a standard superstar deal by the time it hits.<\/p>\n

Booker’s estimated salary as a percentage of the cap (knowing that the cap will increase by 10% each year):<\/p>\n

2025-26: 38%
2026-27: 37%
2027-28: 36%
2028-29: 40%
2029-30: 36% https:\/\/t.co\/sTwldpetSr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) April 15, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Some fans are eager to hit the reset button now. And guess what? If four years from now this team still hasn\u2019t figured it out, you\u2019ll still be able to trade Devin Booker. The return might be smaller, but it\u2019ll still be significant. The reset option isn\u2019t going anywhere.<\/p>\n

So I\u2019m setting aside the temptation to tear it down. I\u2019m choosing to bet on Booker. For better or worse, I believe it\u2019s the Suns\u2019 best chance to win anything meaningful.<\/p>\n

And if that makes me stubborn, so be it.<\/p>\n

Listen to the latest podcast episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. Stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple<\/a>, Spotify<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, YouTube Podcasts<\/a>, Amazon Music<\/a>, Podbean<\/a>, Castbox<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Please subscribe, rate, and review. <\/p>\n