Thunder @ Suns 2026 Playoffs Saturday Game 3 Thread, 4-25-2026

[leclerc]

I wonder what is offered for Booker. Can we get something from San Antoine? Castle or Harper plus something? Maybe a signed Wemby t-shirt?

 

[leclerc]

We need to rebuild (not tank) and while Uno played pretty good he does not fit "the timeline".

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Ok, then the alternative is he's a shell of his former self and this is what we've got for the remainder of his contract at its exorbitant price. Nobody is going to trade for that. Enjoy complaining for the rest of his five years remaining here.

I’m curious if watching Booker run around, elevate and dunk tonight you still think he’s got some undisclosed, not even hinted at, injury

 

[Superbone]

I’m curious if watching Booker run around, elevate and dunk tonight you still think he’s got some undisclosed, not even hinted at, injury

I don't know just like you don't know. I gave you the alternative and that's your question for me? I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. He's on his way down the other side of the mountain and nobody is going to give up much for him and his giant contract. Enjoy him for the next five years at $316 million dollars.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I don't know just like you don't know. I gave you the alternative and that's your question for me? I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. He's on his way down the other side of the mountain and nobody is going to give up much for him and his giant contract. Enjoy him for the next five years at $316 million dollars.

I do think he’s on decline. And I think it’s unfortunately due to somewhat limited athleticism. Despite his athletic testing he’s just never been a gametime length, run, jump, speed athlete that some of the top guys are. I think he will still fetch a good return. Particularly for a team that’s built to win now and doesn’t need a #1 banana. Heck we’ve seen KD decline and he’s fetched pretty good return on the last two trades. We’ve seen James harden decline and he continues get value in trades. Do I think we will see him traded? No. And I think that’s a mistake.

The injury thing is just full conjecture. What isn’t conjecture is that he’s playing and wasn’t on any injury reports.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yet you don't want to resign Williams. I'm not enjoying this series, Booker is killing me more then the Cardinals

If the Suns can get him for around the qualifying offer, I think you keep him, but not depend upon him.

 

[Mainstreet]

We need to rebuild (not tank) and while Uno played pretty good he does not fit "the timeline".

It raises an interesting question. What is the Suns timeline if not Booker.

Jalen Green, Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach are unproven.

 

[Cheesebeef]

It raises an interesting question. What is the Suns timeline if not Booker.

Jalen Green, Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach are unproven.

I really don't believe there is a timeline with Booker. We're stuck in purgatory mostly because we don't have the assets needed to bring back a great player to pair him with to be a contender again.

The timeline with Green/Fleming/Malauch is ground zero... total rebuild from the ground up.

 

[Superbone]

I do think he’s on decline. And I think it’s unfortunately due to somewhat limited athleticism. Despite his athletic testing he’s just never been a gametime length, run, jump, speed athlete that some of the top guys are. I think he will still fetch a good return. Particularly for a team that’s built to win now and doesn’t need a #1 banana. Heck we’ve seen KD decline and he’s fetched pretty good return on the last two trades. We’ve seen James harden decline and he continues get value in trades. Do I think we will see him traded? No. And I think that’s a mistake.

The injury thing is just full conjecture. What isn’t conjecture is that he’s playing and wasn’t on any injury reports.

I agree with most of that other than return value. KD is/was a superstar. Harden's contract is much more reasonable: 2 years, 81.5 million. Why would anybody pay 316 million over the next five years for a second or third, declining banana?

 

[Superbone]

I really don't believe there is a timeline with Booker. We're stuck in purgatory mostly because we don't have the assets needed to bring back a great player to pair him with to be a contender again.

The timeline with Green/Fleming/Malauch is ground zero... total rebuild from the ground up.

Yeah, I believe it's going to be a mix of youth and veterans going forward. Coach Ott is going to have to learn to trust his youth more. Fleming made a positive impact last night. Too little, too late. I do have faith that Ott will get there with experience but time will tell. Eventually the veterans will fall off and we'll hopefully have a strong core going forward. We're most likely not going to compete at the highest levels for the foreseeable future. I hope I'm wrong. Setting this new identity has been a great first step. Like I've been saying, we have a very interesting off-season coming up. BG and team don't have a lot of room for error.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I agree with most of that other than return value. KD is/was a superstar. Harden's contract is much more reasonable: 2 years, 81.5 million. Why would anybody pay 316 million over the next five years for a second or third, declining banana?

I think there's probably two teams that might do it - the Pistons/Knicks if they get they both get the boot early. maybe the Rockets if they trade KD - that would be beyond weird, but from a basketball standpoint, it would make a little bit of sense for them and us if we can get back our draft picks.

The Knicks have no kind of enticing young talent so it would all have to be draft picks wayyyyy down the line (whenever the hell they have them again) and big salaries for us to eat and then trade for more draft picks. The Pistons do have some young interesting talent, but I don't know what contracts they have that could make things match.

But sadly, I don't think we do any of this. Apparently the Hawks/Bucks can see their futures are going nowhere with Trae Young/Giannis, but we will just continue to ride likely long-term mediocrity with Devin into the sunset of his years.

 

[Mainstreet]

I really don't believe there is a timeline with Booker. We're stuck in purgatory mostly because we don't have the assets needed to bring back a great player to pair him with to be a contender again.

The timeline with Green/Fleming/Malauch is ground zero... total rebuild from the ground up.

It's hard to see a quick fix.

If Booker wants to stay, it might be best to ride him into the sunset when his salary comes off the books and the Suns own their own draft picks.

The Suns could get fortunate if Green, Fleming and Maluach develop into solid NBA players.

 

[Superbone]

I think there's probably two teams that might do it - the Pistons/Knicks if they get they both get the boot early. maybe the Rockets if they trade KD - that would be beyond weird, but from a basketball standpoint, it would make a little bit of sense for them and us if we can get back our draft picks.

The Knicks have no kind of enticing young talent so it would all have to be draft picks wayyyyy down the line (whenever the hell they have them again) and big salaries for us to eat and then trade for more draft picks. The Pistons do have some young interesting talent, but I don't know what contracts they have that could make things match.

But sadly, I don't think we do any of this. Apparently the Hawks/Bucks can see their futures are going nowhere with Trae Young/Giannis, but we will just continue to ride likely long-term mediocrity with Devin into the sunset of his years.

I just responded to your Detroit idea. Don't see it happening anywhere else but you never know. But to your final sentiment, I don't think the Suns have a choice at this point. Maybe they would have before the latest extension but not now. It is the incessant crying over spilled milk that gets old to read around here. Not just from you. Many on the board. @BooksOrangePlanet knows what I'm talking about.

 

[Cheesebeef]

It's hard to see a quick fix.

If Booker wants to stay, it might be best to ride him into the sunset when his salary comes off the books and the Suns own their own draft picks.

The Suns could get fortunate if Green, Fleming and Maluach develop into solid NBA players.

that might be best for him, but it's not best for the team.

 

[Cheesebeef]

It is the incessant crying over spilled milk that gets old to read around here. Not just from you. Many on the board. @BooksOrangePlanet knows what I'm talking about.

yeah, well, this crap, being told we're crying, the incessant attacks from the person you noted above and Sanders' going off the rails last, personal insults slung etc is even more tiresome.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

yeah, well, this crap, being told we're crying, the incessant attacks from the person you noted above and Sanders' going off the rails last, personal insults slung etc is even more tiresome.

don't worry about me - talk about all the book trades you want - talk about book all you want - talk about me all you want lol it's all good cheese - the season is over - it was a good season- lets have a brownie bro and let it go

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I agree with most of that other than return value. KD is/was a superstar. Harden's contract is much more reasonable: 2 years, 81.5 million. Why would anybody pay 316 million over the next five years for a second or third, declining banana?

Because they’re thirsty for a championship and believe he’s the piece. Why did we accept the contract we did for Beal? Our ownership thought we were close. I think you underestimate the level of desperation of some teams.

 

[Chaplin]

Because they’re thirsty for a championship and believe he’s the piece. Why did we accept the contract we did for Beal? Our ownership thought we were close. I think you underestimate the level of desperation of some teams.

That's fair.

I just don't think the Suns are willing to trade Book. Rightly or wrongly.

 

[AzStevenCal]

That's fair.

I just don't think the Suns aren't willing to trade Book. Rightly or wrongly.

Based on what you've said before, I suspect you added one too many negatives here. As it is, you're suggesting the Suns are willing to trade Booker.

 

[Chaplin]

Based on what you've said before, I suspect you added one too many negatives here. As it is, you're suggesting the Suns are willing to trade Booker.

You are correct sir. It's early in the morning, and I had it right the first time, and changed "are" to "aren't" and now back again.

I just finished my first work meeting. My first of 11 back to backs starting in a few minutes. So, sorry...?

 

[Superbone]

You are correct sir. It's early in the morning, and I had it right the first time, and changed "are" to "aren't" and now back again.

I just finished my first work meeting. My first of 11 back to backs starting in a few minutes. So, sorry...?

I think we need a little more explanation from you, mister! No excuses!

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

It's hard to see a quick fix.

If Booker wants to stay, it might be best to ride him into the sunset when his salary comes off the books and the Suns own their own draft picks.

The Suns could get fortunate if Green, Fleming and Maluach develop into solid NBA players.

But what’s the utiiity in doing this? Mediocre play for a few years and then starting over from scratch? If you trade Booker yeah you’ll be bad. Really bad. Like OKC was. And yeah you’ll don’t reap the benefit of what would’ve been our picks. Someone else does. But that’s already sunk cost. The difference in keeping book or trading him is that when you come out of the book era and are starting over you get to do it with extra ammunition - the picks down the line. I’d rather be lousy and have that next era of picks to look forward to than mediocre and then just a normal reset to look forward to. But that’s just my preference.

That's fair.

I just don't think the Suns are willing to trade Book. Rightly or wrongly.

agree.

 

[Mainstreet]

But what’s the utiiity in doing this? Mediocre play for a few years and then starting over from scratch? If you trade Booker yeah you’ll be bad. Really bad. Like OKC was. And yeah you’ll don’t reap the benefit of what would’ve been our picks. Someone else does. But that’s already sunk cost. The difference in keeping book or trading him is that when you come out of the book era and are starting over you get to do it with extra ammunition - the picks down the line. I’d rather be lousy and have that next era of picks to look forward to than mediocre and then just a normal reset to look forward to. But that’s just my preference.

I guess I'd prefer to try to skip a stone across the water with a know commodity than trade Booker and be dismal.

It's the bird in the hand versus the two in the bush dilemma.

There is no guarantee the Suns would become better without Booker. Maybe eventually but the two might not have any correlation. Not every team that is bad becomes OKC.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I guess I'd prefer to try to skip a stone across the water with a know commodity than trade Booker and be dismal.

It's the bird in the hand versus the two in the bush dilemma.

There is no guarantee the Suns would become better without Booker. Maybe eventually but the two might not have any correlation. Not every team that is bad becomes OKC.

While this is accurate let’s look at recent history. OKC, Houston, the pistons and San Antonio weren’t very good. What did they all have in common? Lots of draft picks.

 

[Raindog]

I guess I'd prefer to try to skip a stone across the water with a know commodity than trade Booker and be dismal.

It's the bird in the hand versus the two in the bush dilemma.

There is no guarantee the Suns would become better without Booker. Maybe eventually but the two might not have any correlation. Not every team that is bad becomes OKC.

But there's also no guarantee the Suns aren't going to also become worse with Booker.

Everyone seems to be automatically assuming the Suns are on some upward trajectory just because we had a better season than expected. But the reality is the Suns don't really have much in the way of projectable young talent. We are assuming Maluach/Fleming are, but that's all hopeful speculation at the moment.

And the remainder of the Suns core is deeply flawed - aging veterans, many with health issues. Booker as a centerpiece is particularly problematic given that he is no longer young by NBA standards, has persistent and more frequent injury problems, and his style of play is especially affected by the latter.

While many posters are acknowledging that the Suns getting better over the next few years is speculative, I think we also shouldn't be assuming that a significant decline isn't also a distinct possibility.