Jovan Buha, on his podcast ‘Buha’s Block’, dismissed the idea of the Lakers trading LeBron James to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Devin Booker. Buha argued that such a trade makes little sense for either team involved.
“The Lakers are not trading him. He’s not going to Phoenix, and if you’re Phoenix, why would you trade Devin Booker for LeBron James? You have Devin Booker, a franchise cornerstone, a young All-Star, All-NBA caliber guy.”
“A guy in my opinion who is a top 15 guy and has been a borderline like top 10-12 guy at various points. Why would you trade that for like a couple years of LeBron when you could have Booker for the next 7 to 10 years potentially?”
“So I don’t see it making sense for either side but I could just say from the Lakers side like they’re not trading LeBron.” (27:40)
From the Suns‘ perspective, trading away Devin Booker, a franchise cornerstone and a young All-Star player with All-NBA caliber potential, is not a rational move. Booker, at his best, is a top 10-15 player in the league and represents a long-term investment for Phoenix, potentially leading the team for the next seven to ten years.
Swapping him for LeBron James, despite James’ legendary status and current high-level performance, would mean trading years of future potential for just a few more seasons of excellence. This trade, therefore, seems unappealing for the Suns, who are looking to build a sustainable championship-contending team around Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal.
Booker had a standout season, averaging 27.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game while shooting 49.2% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range. He was named an All-Star and earned a spot on the All-NBA third team, highlighting his importance to the Suns and his status as one of the league’s top players.
From the Lakers‘ perspective, the idea of trading LeBron James is equally unappealing. LeBron, even at 39 years old and in his 21st NBA season, continues to play at an elite level. His statistics for the season—25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game while shooting 54.0% from the field and 41.0% from three-point range—are remarkable.
Moreover, LeBron’s presence has immense value beyond just on-court performance. He remains a significant draw for fans, media attention, and endorsements. Trading him away would not only impact the team’s performance but also its marketability and financial dynamics.
Both teams had a challenging season. The Suns, despite their strong roster featuring Booker, Durant, and Beal, finished 6th in the West with a 49-33 record. Their season was marred by roster inconsistencies and coaching issues, ultimately resulting in a first-round playoff sweep by the Minnesota Timberwolves and the firing of head coach Frank Vogel. Mike Budenholzer, the former Bucks coach, has since been appointed as Vogel’s replacement.
Similarly, the Lakers had their share of struggles, finishing 7th in the West with a 47-35 record. They too faced injuries and coaching issues, culminating in a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Denver Nuggets in five games. This led to the firing of head coach Darvin Ham, and the Lakers are currently in search of his replacement, with JJ Redick being a frontrunner.
The potential trade of LeBron James for Devin Booker is unlikely. Both teams have much to consider in building their rosters for the future, but trading away their cornerstone players doesn’t seem to be part of those plans.
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