The New York Knicks have accumulated draft selections in the hopes of using them to acquire the superstar who will solve their championship riddle.
They are one victory away from making it to the NBA Playoffs second round for the second consecutive year thanks to their recent playoff success with rising star Jalen Brunson, which has made them a popular destination for celebrities.
The Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker was mentioned by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith as someone to keep an eye on this summer.
One day following the Suns’ heartbreaking season finale, on Monday, April 29, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith stated on First Take that “Booker wants to be in New York.” It is what I am being informed. He could now refute it. It’s been silent between us. I’m just letting you know that the brother wants to move to New York, which is a common rumor in the NBA. Thus, if you’re Phoenix, you have two or three people who don’t want to be there who are all making roughly $150 million a year combined.
The Knicks and Devin Booker
Next season, Booker, the Suns player with the longest contract, will begin the first year of a four-year, $221 million supermax extension. When he was a prominent front office executive at Creative Artists Agency, he was a client of former Knicks president Leon Rose.
Rose’s ability to bring celebrities to New York was cited by Knicks owner James Dolan in official statements as a factor in his hiring.
On WFAN’s “Carton and Roberts,” which was hosted by Craig Carton and Evan Roberts in January of last year, Dolan stated, “I picked Leon because I believe that after you look at the NBA and the game that we play, the team with the best talent wins.” “You’re looking for a man who can bring you the greatest talent. Leon Rose remains, in my opinion, the greatest man.
Among the top shooting guards in the league is Booker. If the Knicks can get him through trade, he will be a significant improvement over current starter Donte DiVincenzo.
“Not Himself” Devin Booker This Season
Booker “wasn’t himself in these playoffs,” according to Shams Charania and Doug Haller of The Athletic.
Booker, a four-time NBA All-Star, had only averaged 20.3 points in the first three games before going off for 49 in Game 4, their opening-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, which ended up being the most competitive game.
“Booker has recognized and accepted the responsibility that comes with being a face of the franchise since his first NBA season,” Charania and Haller wrote. However, something was lacking this season.
Booker made an effort to satisfy Durant and Beal. But in doing so, none of the Suns’ Big 3 emerged as the team’s real leader.
What The Knicks Could Give Devin Booker
The Suns, who are headed toward becoming a second-tier team and have run out of major draft equity, are forced to play with an expensive, imbalanced group that was outmatched by a talented Minnesota Timberwolves team in the first round.
Breaking up Booker, Durant, and Beal would be the only option for them to significantly alter their roster. Of all of them, Booker would demand the highest price.
Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Mitchell Robinson, and draft picks are all up for grabs if the Knicks make an offer. The Suns, led by Frank Vogel, will have the necessary toughness in Randle and Robinson to surround a Kevin Durant-Bradley Beal duo.
However, if the Knicks wish to keep Randle, they can make an offer to the Suns that includes all of their draft picks, Bojan Bogdanovic as a contract filler, Mitchell Robinson, and Donte DiVincenzo.
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