The New York Knicks 2023-24 season isn’t yet complete. But when their season is over , the Knicks are expected to go star-hunting this offseason. It was initially thought the Knicks would pursue a big man — Karl-Anthony Towns or Joel Embiid — in a trade this summer. While they still may go after one or both of those players, Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports believes that the Knicks top priority will be to attempt to pry Devin Booker away from the Phoenix Suns.
“Over the years, there have been several loose connections between Devin Booker and the New York Knicks. He’s publicly voiced his respect for Madison Square Garden, saying it was probably his favorite place to play. When Phoenix renovated its arena with theater lighting, former owner Robert Sarver revealed it was due in part to Booker’s appreciation for the lighting at MSG.”
Knicks Expected To Go Big Game Hunting For Suns Star
Bourget said that Knicks president Leon Rose has been particularly interested in Booker. Bourget added that Rose would like to pair Booker up with Jalen Brunson and would be willing to do anything to make it happen.
New York is in a major playoff battle with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks lead the series 3-2, but they have dropped two of the last three games, including a 112-106 decision last night. For the Knicks, the story has been, all series long, can anyone besides Brunson score consistently?
Knicks In Search Of A Sidekick For Brunson
Brunson is on a banger, scoring 39+ points in the last three games. Brunson averages 34.4 points on 29.4 field goal attempts and 8.4 assists while shooting .419/.289/.787 in the five games. Josh Hart averages 17.0 points for the series and has been reasonably reliable, but he compiled 9.4 points during the regular season and less than 10 points for his career.
OG Anunoby is an efficient scorer but not a go-to scorer. Miles McBride has continued his splendid regular-season play this postseason, but he is too small to play with Brunson in major minutes. Donte DiVincenzo has struggled this postseason, averaging 9.8 points on 33.3% shooting from the field and 30% from the 3-point line.
Of course, Julius Randle is sidelined, which hurts the Knicks’ offensive production. However, Brunson and Randle haven’t been great together. They posted a +6.4 points net margin per 100 possessions this year, the 11th-best on the team. The duo posted just a +0.6 point margin in Brunson’s first year in the Big Apple.
The Knicks get another chance to close out the 76ers in Philadelphia on Thursday. New York remains without Randle and Bojan Bogdanovic.
New York averages 106.4 points for the series and allows 106.8 a game. The Knicks are being outshot 44.6%-to-43.7% from the field. The 76ers are making 12.8 treys on 36.8% compared to the Knicks 11.4 at a 35.4%.
New York does have an advantage in the series, which is on the backboards. While New York hasn’t been as dominant as earlier in the series, the Knicks still have nearly a five-rebound advantage over the 76ers, which includes about a four-board edge on the offensive boards. Moreover, the Knicks are producing 17.6 second-chance points, while the 76ers total 10.8.
New York has an advantage in fastbreak points, 16.2-to-12.0. The Knicks also own a 42.8-to-36.8 advantage in points in the paint.
Stephen A. Smith’s Proclamation
With New York in the midst of making a playoff run, why would this story come about?
The reason is that ESPN Stephen A. Smith, on Monday’s episode of First Take, said that Booker wants to be “in New York.”
“I don’t know if it will ever happen. Devin Booker wants to be in New York. That’s what I’m being told. “Now, he might deny it. I haven’t spoken to him. I’m just telling you, the scuttlebutt in the NBA circles is that the brother wants to be in New York.”
However, Bourget, in his piece, responded to Smith’s claims and said, “A source with knowledge of the situation told PHNX Sports that these rumors are unequivocally false.” Bourget also stated that Booker is loyal to the Suns and likes sticking with one team his entire career.
Would Phoenix Trade Booker?
Here is the thing. Phoenix had a terribly disappointing season, finishing sixth in the Western Conference with a 49-33 record. The Suns were then swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing three of the contests by 12+ points.
So, changes are surely coming. Head coach Frank Vogel’s job appears to be in trouble after just one season.
But Phoenix has more problems than Vogel. The Suns were the sixth oldest team this year with an average age of 27.7 as four players were north of 30 this past season. Kevin Durant is 36, and Bradley Beal is 31.
Phoenix has 11 players under contract for 2024-25, with salaries totaling $205.89 million. The Suns are over $17 million above the second tax apron. The Suns, who owe the NBA $68.6 million in taxes this year, projects to have a bill of more than $103 million in 2024-25.
The bigger problem is that the Suns owe slightly more than $150 million to Durant, Beal, and Booker. Durant is under contract through 2025-26. Meanwhile, Beal has three years left on his deal at $157. 9 million, while Booker’s four-year, $221 million extension kicks in this upcoming year.
Moreover, Jusuf Nurkic has two years and $37.5 million left on his contract, and Grayson Allen has four years and $70 million left.
