PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns have been a pleasant surprise this season. They have surged to seventh with a 20–14 record. With a playoff spot looking increasingly secure, the front office must look to consolidate the roster. An opportunity could soon arise. The Suns could acquire Karl-Anthony Towns in a multi-team trade centered on Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Suns Could Grant Devin Booker’s Wish To Play With Karl-Anthony Towns
When Phoenix waived and stretched Bradley Beal and traded Kevin Durant to Houston, the franchise closed the book on a disappointing era. Matt Ishbia promised a tougher identity would emerge. He cleared out leadership. He hired first-year executives Brian Gregory and Jordan Otts as general manager and head coach. That reset has paid off. The Suns now own a top-10 defense and the league’s 14th-ranked offense. They have done this despite Jalen Green playing only two games. A right hamstring strain has sidelined him most of the season.
Booker, Towns, and a Longstanding Bond
Devin Booker And KAT have known each other since high school. They played together at Kentucky during the 2014–15 season. That team went 38–1 before losing in the Final Four. Towns, Booker, and D’Angelo Russell formed a close friendship as they came up through the ranks. They famously referto themselves as the “Goodfellas,” after the 1990 film.
“For us, at this point, it’s bigger than basketball,” Booker said at a 2019 SLAM photoshoot. Russell sat to his right. Towns sat to his left. “We know each other’s families. This is way bigger than the game.” Booker continued. “We gotta do this again, when we’re all on the same team. Nah, don’t cut it. Y’all got it on footage. When we’re all on the same team—I ain’t gonna tell you which team because I don’t know—we’re gonna do this again.”
A Booker-Towns pairing in Phoenix would fulfill a long-held dream. Towns currently plays for a contender in New York. That situation could change if Giannis forces a move.
How a Giannis Trade Opens the Door
Giannis has become the centerpiece of trade season. Teams have begun positioning themselves to strike if he asks to be traded by Milwaukee. Giannis reportedly favors New York as a destination. Cap rules complicate that scenario. The Knicks would need to send Towns elsewhere to complete such a deal.
That is where Phoenix enters the picture. The Suns could route Karl-Anthony Towns their way in a multi-team structure. They could leverage Green’s upside as the primary asset. A potential framework could look like this:
Suns receive: Karl-Anthony Towns, Guerschon Yabusele
Knicks receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Bucks receive: Jalen Green, Mark Williams, Grayson Allen, two first-round picks, two swaps, five second-round picks
New York lands Giannis and gives up Towns and Yabusele. Phoenix parts with its two most promising young players. That is a steep price. It is also the cost of acquiring an All-NBA center. Milwaukee gains a young guard-big pairing and significant draft capital. That return matters. The Bucks do not control many of their future picks.
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