The NBA playoffs will be a central stage until the champions were crowned in June, and then the focus will turn into offseason moves.
LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and James Harden are the top three free agents of the upcoming years, while Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetocomo and Zion Williamson can all trade with new teams.
Now, NBA expert Rachel Nichols explains that one All-Star who doesn’t even link to the summer exit should demand a deal.
Fans often complain about the recent lack of loyalty in the league, but she believes this player really needs to be more selfish.
The Suns are fully expected to move from Durant in the summer, finishing 11th in the Western Conference this season.
Meanwhile, trading franchise player Devin Booker doesn’t seem to be on their radar except that Nichols thinks it should be.
Booker led the Suns to the NBA Finals in 2021, but they haven’t come close since then, and the change in direction seems like a reasonable idea.
Nichols picked up the phone and urged him to request that he move to another team this offseason.
“I know that Devin Booker’s deal will be a huge hit for them in terms of fanbase and loyalty factors,” she said. “Devin wants to idolize Kobe (Bryant) and become the guy who will always play for the franchise.
“He is so talented, so if he is surrounded by the right pieces, of course he is still young enough to win the title and become the best player on the championship team, and I believe it.
“But I don’t think there’s enough part around him to do that in Phoenix. He says, ‘I’m loyal and I want to be in Phoenix.’ If I were him, I would say, “Please replace me.”
Booker, like anyone in the NBA at large, is an out-out-out scorer. He is one of five current players with a 70-point game on his resume.
The two playoff teams desperately need more scoring and have the assets to trade with him: the Houston Rocket and the Orlando Magic.
The Rockets averaged 13th points per game in the 2024-25 regular season, but their lack of offense was costly in a 95-85 game 1 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
For magic, the Boston Celtics’ 103-86 loss summed up their situation. Paolo Banchero scored 36, Franz Wagner scored 23, and no one else reached double digits.
But the three of them already have, Banchero, Wagner and Booker, surrounded by the excellent defenders they already have, will be the main candidates in the Eastern next year.