Mock Trade: Pistons Land Devin Booker
The Details:
In this mock trade scenario, the Pistons pull off the biggest trade of the 2024 summer and land Devin Booker from the Phoenix Suns.
From one angle, you think, why on earth would Phoenix trade Devin Booker? For one, he’s the easiest to move and would be more flexible on landing spots. Could Kevin Durant be moved as well? Yes, but trading KD, who will be 36 to start next season, would be very particular on where he wants to be and result in less of a haul at this point.
Why Detroit?
The Suns would most likely want Booker out of the West, so that excludes a lot of suitors (Spurs, Thunder, Kings, Mavs, Pelicans and Jazz). The East suitors like Heat, Knicks, Hawks and Bulls could all offer close to a star player, but lack the best odds to land #1 in the 2024 draft. Do the Pistons have the best package? Probably not, but they do have two advantages; home and Cade Cunningham.
Devin Booker would return to his home state + clearly his favorite sports city that he is consistently reppin. At just 27 years old, with 4 years left on his contract, he and Cade Cunningham would instantly form a star true point/shooting guard duo in the East for years to come. The Eastern Conference is clearly still up for grabs, with no proven champions outside of Giannis and the Bucks.
The Trade:
Pistons receive Devin Booker.
They finally get their star and form the foundation with Cade, Booker and Ausar.
Suns receive Jaden Ivey, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren, the 2024 top 5 pick, 2028 1st, 2030 1st, 2028 2nd and 2030 2nd.
They sell high on Booker, land some great depth, youth and possibly a #1 pick around KD and Beal. (Pick swaps might also be included to avoid the Stepian Rule. See Brad Beal trade for reference.)
The Aftermath:
The Pistons were looking at around $72.9 million in cap space this summer. Moving another $27.5 million in contracts to the Suns (Ivey, Stew, Duren) puts you at around $100.4 in cap. Subtract Bookers $49.3 million 24-25 annual salary from that, and you still have $51.1 million (less with Fontecchio re-signing) in cap space to build a roster around Cunningham and Booker this summer. Your initial starting 5 after the trade looks something like:
Cunningham - Booker - Fontecchio - Thompson - (Free agent)
At this point, you look to sign Nic Claxton as your tier 1 free agent. Isaiah Hartenstein is an option, or else just find a cheap, young option for the first year of this new era. Add in one or two of Malik Monk, Buddy Hield, Caleb Martin, or Kelly Oubre Jr and you have yourself a fun start to the new era.