Devin Booker’s future in Phoenix looks as locked in as it gets, and Mat Ishbia made sure to shut the door on any fantasy of sending him to Detroit.
The Suns star has been with Phoenix since 2015, and despite the chatter about a possible return to his home state of Michigan, the idea of Booker landing with the Pistons does not appear to be on the table. Ishbia, a Michigan native and former Michigan State player, might have made that rumor feel a little more believable on paper. In reality, it sounds like a nonstarter.
Booker has been the face of the Suns for the last decade, and the relationship between player and franchise still looks strong. Ishbia isn’t treating him like a trade chip, and there’s no sign Phoenix is even considering that kind of move.
The timeline also tells the story. Booker recently signed a contract extension that keeps him in Phoenix through the 2029-30 season, which means he’s set to remain with the Suns well into his 30s. That kind of commitment leaves little room for the kind of speculation that usually swirls around NBA stars.
A deal involving Booker could exist in theory, but the source here makes clear how unlikely that is. With the connection he has to Phoenix, and with Ishbia unwilling to entertain a move to the Pistons, Booker looks positioned to stay exactly where he is.
“Pistons at all,” Ishbia said about potentially trading Booker to the Pistons.
For now, and likely for a long time, Booker is a Suns player. There’s even a real chance he spends his entire career in Phoenix, a rarity in today’s league and a clear sign of how much the organization values him.
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Jalen Duren Just Got A Reality Check In Pistons Contract Standoff
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Jonathan Kumingas recent move only sharpened the lesson. After turning down larger offers from the Warriors, he landed on a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Timberwolves, and it stands as a cautionary example for any player tempted to bet on a better outcome by waiting. For Duren, the risk is obvious if the talks keep going nowhere, because the gap between holding firm and taking the Pistons current offer could end up costing him more than he expects. [Read more 🡒]
