Devin Booker Trade Rumors: NBA GM Questions Star's Future; Exec Links Spurs, Thunder

As the Phoenix Suns look for answers on how to improve their roster, rival executives are wondering if Devin Booker could be on the move.

Ric Bucher of Fox Sports spoke to two NBA executives, one of whom said it's "unclear" whether Booker wants to remain in Phoenix. Another exec highlighted the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder as potential trade partners.

"San Antonio has the assets to get him," the second exec said. "So does Oklahoma City. And it's really the only way Phoenix can change course."

The Suns locked themselves into a high-cost roster built around Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. The three stars are set to make $151.1 million next season. Add in center Jusuf Nurkic's $18.1 million salary, and the Suns have about $169.2 million committed next season to four players. Factor in Grayson Allen's four-year, $70 million extension, and the Suns have a bloated payroll for a core that just got swept in the first round.

Suns owner Mat Ishbia seemed steadfast in his belief that this core can work moving forward.

"We'll be better next year than we were this year, yes," Ishbia told reporters last week. "Are we better this year than we were last year? Absolutely. Think about the team that lost to Denver, even though it was the second round, is our team better this year than last year? It's not even close, but we didn't win. NBA championship, that's what we're focused on and that's what we're going to be focused on this year coming up."

The Suns will almost certainly hang onto Booker unless he requests a trade. Stephen A. Smith of ESPN recently said Booker wants a trade to the New York Knicks.

Booker has four years and $221 million remaining on his contract.