NBA agent Rich Paul casts doubt on Devin Booker’s future with the Suns in bold statement

The Phoenix Suns entered the season with one of the most talented rosters in their recent memory. They added Mike Budenholzer as head coach to boost their competitiveness. Expectations were sky-high. However, the team had a disastrous run. A string of losses dropped them to 11th place in the Western Conference. This poor performance led to immediate consequences. The Suns fired Budenholzer and now consider starting over with a new project. As a result, NBA agent Rich Paul even raised doubts about Devin Booker‘s future with the team.

“I think it’s having a conversation with (Booker) to see how long he can withstand maybe not being at that playoff contention level...If he can have some patience from that perspective then it gives you a little more capability to strategize. If that is not so much then you have to think about moving everybody and start all over,“ affirmed Devin Booker.

The Phoenix Suns had a difficult season. As a result, they fired head coach Mike Budenholzer. Now, the team is heading toward an imminent restructuring. In light of this situation, Rich Paul raised questions about Devin Booker’s future with the franchise.

The timing matters, especially because Booker is already 28 years old and still has not won an NBA championship. A fresh start might take years to develop into a title-contending project. Because of that, the Suns’ star could start rethinking his commitment to the team.

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center.

Is Devin Booker’s 2024-25 season strong enough to look for a more competitive NBA project?

Despite a challenging season for the Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker stood out as a consistent offensive leader. He averaged 25.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game. These numbers confirmed his role as the team’s second-leading scorer. He also led the team in assists. Booker scored 37 or more points in two of the last five games. His performance proved crucial to the Suns’ offensive production down the stretch.

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His impact went beyond scoring. Booker created opportunities for teammates and took on more playmaking responsibilities. This showed his growth as a well-rounded offensive player. With a stronger team structure, his numbers could be even better. However, there is no sign that he plans to leave Phoenix. He has not been linked to other teams, and the regular season just ended. For now, he seems committed to staying with the Suns.

Phoenix Suns plan to protect Devin Booker with potential contract extension

The Phoenix Suns made it clear: Devin Booker will lead their roster rebuild. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the franchise plans to offer him a two-year extension worth $149.8 million. This move would keep Booker as the face of the team’s new project. In March 2025, team owner Mat Ishbia backed that idea. He said it would be ridiculous to trade Booker during his prime. After all, the guard remains the franchise’s biggest star.