Their philosophy of outscoring opponents made sense on the surface, but if any of their Big Three struggles, then success is near impossible. Their first-round postseason matchup against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves is highlighting thei issues.
In Game 1, Booker and Beal combined for a mediocre 33 points on 11-of-26 shooting while Durant tallied 31 points on 64.7% shooting. Game 2 saw poor outings for Durant and Beal, who scored a total of 32 points on 12-of-32 shooting. The Wolves are arguably the NBA’s top defense, and it’s showing in all facets, holding Phoenix to fewer than 100 points in both matchups. After losing in the NBA Finals in 2021 to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Suns have not made it past the second round.
If Phoenix falls to the Wolves in the opening round, it raises the question of whether Booker could be on the move in the near future.The recent acquisitions of Durant and Beal make them hard pieces to trade, but moving one of the league’s top shooting guards could allow them to gain the necessary depth to win a title. High-quality role players and first-round picks could alleviate pressure from the stars, who are relied on to handle the bulk of scoring. This is where sports podcaster Bill Simmons enters the equation, proposing a deal that sends Booker to the New Orleans Pelicans.
“Let’s call New Orleans, [David] Griffin answers and says, ‘CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy, and throw us two future picks, and you can have Booker,'” Simmons said on a recent episode of his podcast.The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, argued the need for more picks, but Simmons stuck strongly to his belief that Murphy is a “special” player.
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The addition of Booker would immediately vault New Orleans into championship contention in the Western Conference alongside the likes of the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder. Forwards Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram are proven stars but lack the ability to step up as the No. 1 option when it matters most. Not to mention the health concerns that surround Williamson.
This season, Booker averaged 27.1 points, 6.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds on 49.2% shooting from the field and 36.4% from 3-point range. Defense would not be much of a concern, with Williamson, Herb Jones, Dyson Daniels, and more holding it down.
Meanwhile, the Suns would acquire established starters in Murphy and McCollum, who are at opposite ends of their careers. After years as the backcourt partner to Damian Lillard in Portland, McCollum joined the Pelicans in 2022. Since then, he’s averaging 21.1 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.4 rebounds on 45.4% shooting. The fit alongside Beal could raise questions due to their similar play styles and subpar defensive attributes, but there’s no doubt he adds another dimension of scoring to their offense.
Murphy is the most enticing asset for Phoenix as a rising star at 23 years old. He has steadily improved in each of his three seasons, averaging 14.8 points and 4.9 rebounds on 44.3% shooting in the 2023-24 regular season. Murphy’s explosive shooting from beyond the arc, paired with an aggressive mindset, leads to a plethora of entertaining and impactful performances.
While the Suns’ front office could be hesitant to part ways with their franchise player, perhaps pressure to improve the roster around Durant could push them to shake things up.
