Much of the talk surrounding the Phoenix Suns over the past two seasons has been about what an utter failure they have been. While chatter surrounding that topic continues, serious discussion has also started about whether the Suns would finally break up their “Big 3.” The big question is, will the Suns actually “blow things up” by trading their “Big 3.”
Why The Phoenix Suns Would Trade Star Guard and The Reported Haul, They Could Get In Return
Despite Kevin Durant and Devin Booker‘s efforts, Phoenix fell to 30-35 with its 120-118 loss at Memphis on Tuesday night. Durant and Booker combined for 61 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists. While the duo knocked down 10 of their 17 3-point attempts, they finished the night just 20 of 45 from the field and committed half of the Suns’ 16 turnovers.
Phoenix is very much in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. Since opening the season by winning eight of their first 10, the Suns have gone 22-33, including losing 14 of their last 20. The Suns are two and one-half games behind 10th-place Dallas. Granted, the Mavericks are seemingly crumbling right before everyone’s eyes.
With just 18 games remaining, Phoenix doesn’t have much cushion. Here is the thing: the Suns haven’t strung together a winning streak since the end of January, when they won three straight. They also have the hardest remaining schedule, per Tankathon, and 12th-place Portland is only two-and-one-half games behind them. Therefore, if the Suns don’t move closer now or soon, they may have to jump two teams down the stretch.
On the plus side, Phoenix did win the season series against Dallas 3-1. But the Suns and Blazers split their four meetings.
Why Would The Suns Break Up Their Big 3?
There are several reasons that Phoenix would consider breaking up its “Big 3.” First and foremost, it has not worked as the Suns had planned.
Since Phoenix acquired Bradley Beal in a three-team trade in June of 2023, the Suns have gone 79-66. While that seems too bad, consider that the Suns finished sixth in the West and were swept in the first round by Minnesota. The Suns finished eight games above .500 in 2022-23, and Durant only played eight games.
More significantly, Booker, Durant, and Beal have played just 75 games together. While the Suns are 44-31 in those contests that all three stars have played, this also means the trio have been on the court just four times more than they haven’t (71). The Suns have to decide whether paying three players a combined $271 million, including $151 million this season, was worth the limited success.
In addition to their salary obligations, Phoenix is slated to pay over $220 million in salary tax for 2023-2025. Moreover, if the Suns don’t make a major roster move regarding one of the big three, they would have $236.3 million committed to just 10 players for the 2025-26 season, or over $6.2 million more than their total payroll this season. That includes $160 million owed to their “Big 3” in 2025-26.
Durant may be the easiest of the trio to trade. The 36-year-old has been linked to several teams recently and was rumored to be headed to Golden State before the deadline before saying he didn’t want to return to the Warriors. He is on an expiring $54.7 million deal.
Bradley Beal
Even if Phoenix trades Durant, the Suns will likely only save around as much as $20 million in cap salary due to NBA rules. Let’s say the Suns trade Durant. They will likely look to move Beal.
However, the Suns will likely have a hard time moving Beal. The 31-year-old guard hasn’t been able to stay healthy since 2020-21, playing 188 games over the last four seasons. While Beal has shot the ball extremely well with the Suns—compiling a slash line of .508/.415/.813—he is slated to make $53.6 million next year and has a $57.1 million player option for 2026-27. The Suns are 53-45 in games that Beal has played in.
Devin Booker
There is no indication that Booker wants out of the Valley of the Sun, despite Stephen A. Smith of ESPN’s diatribe. But that could change if Durant gets traded or they can’t move off of Beal.
Booker is having another solid season, though he is shooting the ball the worst he has since earlier in his career. Booker has been great for the Suns, as he is a four-time all-star and two-time all-NBA performer. Last month, he became the Suns’ all-time leading scorer.
“The Suns need a hard reset around Devin Booker,” Washington Post national NBA writer Benjamin Golliver said. “They have very few assets to work with, and they will find themselves needing to trade Booker down the road if they don’t act aggressively to put a more competent rotation around him. It seems clear that the Suns and Kevin Durant would be better off if they part ways this summer.”
Booker is in the first year of a four-year, $220.441 million extension he signed in July 2022. He is making $49.3 million and will make $53.29 million next season
If Phoenix does trade Booker, what could they get for him?
Here is what Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic said about the haul the Suns could receive: “Sources informed The Republic the Suns could probably get four first-round picks for Booker and a rising star in his third or fourth year.”
Photo Credit: © Petre Thomas, Imagn Images
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