No matter how difficult it is, the Phoenix Suns are only four years away from a trip to the NBA final. Unfortunately we all know how that ended, with the core of that group being broken up as soon as Mat Ishbia bought the franchise. Two of the most important pieces of that team were Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, with the now 28-year-old booker the only player from that time that remains.
Ayton surprised many people by being purchased by the Portland Trail Blazers – to whom the Suns exchanged him for Jusuf Nurkic and Grayson Allen – and then becoming a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. To add another link to this, the Lakers only got and Ayton got after the veto of an exchange for Mark Williams because of his injury history. He is now in Phoenix and you would not know, he was injured.
Booker has nothing left to say about Ayton’s game.
With the Suns and Lakers because of the head in their opening match for the preseason – the Suns goes to China after the game for a few games against the Brooklyn Nets – Booker was of course asked about his former defensive anchor and first overall pick. His answer? Even colder than you expected it would be, take a look yourself.
Question: What do you think he can bring to this Lakers team at this stage of his career?
A: “I think we should just see it, you know. Yes.”
Devin Booker Answer @mcts Ask about what former Suns Big Deandre Ayton can bring to the Los Angeles Lakers. #Suns #Lakeshow pic.twitter.com/uiiq9qfzai
– Duane Rankin (@duananterkin) October 3, 2025
Although Booker did not say much, he really said everything here. This was an opportunity to continue with how much Ayton meant for the sun when they played together, and even how he could bring a lot for the Lakers who had not really worked in Portland. The NBA is a small circle and former players generally use these moments to praise each other.
Booker certainly showed love to Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal during Media Day recently, despite the fact that the trio does not meet expectations. It was more of a franchise decision to continue with the couple and to start this rebuild – versus Ayton who actively wanted from the valley – and Booker seems to have remember that important distinction.
As if these two teams needed more reasons not to like each other, and you can bet that Rookie Kaman Maluach could now also have a difficult time. With Williams offside, this is a huge opportunity for him. One Ayton will not let him have easy, not that Booker is mainly concerned about what his former teammate brings to the court in this phase of his career.
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