NBA Notes: Devin Booker, Warriors, Kyrie Irving, Dyson Daniels

Warriors

If Suns star Devin Booker ever becomes available, the Warriors reportedly plan to be standing near the front of the line with their draft picks in hand.

Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard said on the Warriors Plus/Minus podcast that Golden State “loves” Booker and would be “first in line” to pursue him. Coach Steve Kerr’s relationship with Booker dates to their time together with Team USA, while Stephen Curry also has spoken highly of the Suns star.

There is, of course, a fairly significant catch: Phoenix says it has absolutely no intention of trading him.

Suns owner Mat Ishbia has repeatedly called Booker the franchise centerpiece and said the organization intends to build a championship team around him. Booker also signed a massive contract extension last summer.

So this is not a report that trade discussions are happening. It is merely confirmation that Golden State would be extremely interested if Phoenix changed direction.

In other breaking news, NBA teams like Devin Booker. The Warriors reportedly have three first-round picks they could offer, but Curry is 38. Unless the Suns unravel quickly, the timelines may never cooperate.

Mavericks

Kyrie Irving continues to appear on speculative trade lists despite the Mavericks repeatedly indicating that they want to keep him.

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report ranked Irving fourth among the NBA’s top potential trade targets, reasoning that scoring-starved contenders would be interested if Dallas falls from the playoff race.

That part is surely true. Irving remains one of basketball’s most gifted offensive players, and he can potentially enter free agency next summer by declining his player option.

Still, appearing on a trade-target list does not mean Irving is actually being shopped.

The Mavericks want to see how he fits alongside Cooper Flagg, and new coach Dusty May has spent the offseason praising Irving’s game and leadership. Dallas also added shooting around the two with Santi Aldama, Zaccharie Risacher and Tarik Biberovic.

If the Mavericks struggle, the questions will return before the February deadline. But today, Irving looks more like somebody other teams want than somebody Dallas wants to move.

Hawks

Here is a legitimately bold prediction: Dyson Daniels will shoot 36 percent from beyond the arc this season.

Rohan Roman of NBA on SI made that call after Daniels connected on just 18.8 percent of his threes last year. Daniels attempted only 1.5 per game and practically removed the shot from his offensive repertoire.

The optimism is based partly on personnel. Lu Dort should reduce Daniels’ nightly defensive burden, while Kingston Flemings and Nickeil Alexander-Walker can provide additional playmaking and spacing.

Daniels also has shown flashes before. He shot 36.4 percent from deep with Trae Young on the court in 2024-25 and has produced respectable numbers from the corners in limited volume.

Doubling last season’s percentage still feels ambitious. The Hawks probably don’t need 36 percent, though. If Daniels can become merely respectable on open threes, defenses will have a much harder time ignoring him.

Given everything else he provides as a defender, passer and rebounder, 33 percent on honest volume might feel like 40 to Atlanta.