We’re still a long way away from real trade-deadline drama, which makes now the perfect time for some hypothetical fun. And we all know me. I like hypothetical fun.
Anyway, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley has cooked up a big on with a deal that would send Devin Booker from the Phoenix Suns to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Trade Idea
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Sixers get: Devin Booker
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Suns get: Jared McCain, Paul George, a 2028 first-round pick (via LAC), a 2029 first-round pick and a 2031 first-round pick
Now, this kind of blockbuster wouldn’t be possible immediately. Booker signed a two-year, $133 million extension in July, and per league rules, he can’t be traded until January 10, 2026. But if things continue to spiral in Phoenix, this is exactly the type of conversation that could surface.
Booker has been a four-time All-Star and remains one of the league’s premier scorers. He averaged 25.6 points and 7.1 assists last season, shooting 46.1% from the field. He’s topped 25 points per game in each of the past seven years and has the résumé to match, including that 70-point night in Boston back in 2017.
For Philadelphia, this would be a “win now” swing of the highest order — pairing Booker with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to form a potentially devastating offensive trio. Buckley writes:
“For all that’s gone sideways with the Suns, Booker has continued to rank as one of the Association’s premier perimeter players on the offensive end. … In Philadelphia, he could seamlessly toggle between carrying the offense or merely supporting it as both an off-ball marksman and reliable table-setter.”
Meanwhile, for Phoenix, this type of return would only be on the table if Booker were to request a trade. Around the league, many believe he eventually should.
George would give them a stopgap star, McCain adds a young piece, and the three first-rounders help restock the cupboard. But let’s be real, you don’t trade Booker unless he forces the issue.
I do, though. Just for the purpose of this website, and frankly, my own entertainment.
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Pretty insulting. No surprise from Bleacher Report. This one is obviously clickbate for hopeless Sizers fans. Suns get close to nothing in that deal. But I guess they don’t know until they click either.
PG is either done or almost done. Hasn’t played well in years. Hasn’t even talked right in years. Nobody is trading for Paul George to get Paul George. If it’s to move money, then I think the Suns can do a little better than 3 late first rounders and Jared McCain, who is coming off a serious season ending knee injury and has a brand new UCL / thumb injury that could that could affect the beginning of the season and he might need surgery.
Bleacher Report, do your homework. And better yet, WATCH the NBA This trade, and pretty much every bleacher report trade suggestion I’ve ever read, is aimed at making the bigger market team better at an unrealistically low cost. It’s what the big market teams fans would love. So no surprise that they’re feeding the bigger city with more clicks the most lopsided proposals. It’s a sad and ugly game for media money. Has nothing to with actual basketball, or real NBA conversations.