Devin Booker is in his 11th season with the Phoenix Suns and became the franchise’s all-time scoring leader in February. According to former Suns coach Earl Watson, however, this long-lasting tenure was in danger not even two years in and he threatened to step down if it came to an abrupt end.
Watson said Tuesday on the Milwaukee Bucks Plus Audio podcast that previous Suns owner Robert Sarver in February 2017 suggested that the team trade Booker, then just a second-year pro, for Jimmy Butler. Butler, at the time, was in his sixth year with the Chicago Bulls.
“I am the biggest Devin Booker advocate,” Watson said. “That (move) could’ve changed my entire coaching trajectory. … In that moment, and this was the beginning of the end of me in Phoenix, I say, ‘If you trade Devin Booker, I’m resigning tonight.”
Watson said Sarver had texted him around 2 a.m. during a road trip to discuss the potential trade. Though he admitted that he could envision working with Butler, Watson didn’t want to be the one to trade Booker.
“It’s one thing I learned from coach (John) Wooden, he said, ‘Belief is stronger than reality. If you have a player that makes that locker room believe, then you have a chance,’” Watson said. “And Devin Booker is that type of player.
“And in that moment Sarver said, ‘If we don’t trade him, we’re gonna try to get the No. 1 pick (in the 2017 NBA Draft) and your coaching record will be shot.’ And I just rolled with that.”
This late-night trade conversation notably took place about a month before Booker became the sixth player at the time — the current tally is 10 — to score 70 or more points in a game. He accomplished the feat in a 130-120 loss to the Boston Celtics with 70 points on 21 for 40 shooting (24 for 26 from the free throw line).
Watson served as the Suns interim coach for the final three months of the 2015-16 season after Jeff Hornacek was fired before assuming the head coaching position on a three-year deal. He led Phoenix to a 24-58 record in 2016-17 before an 0-3 start to the following season ended in Watson’s firing.
Interest in Butler should sound familiar, as Phoenix was linked to the six-time All-Star last December but a Kevin Durant reluctant to leave for the Golden State Warriors killed any trade momentum.
In what ended up being his final season playing for Chicago, Butler made Third Team All-NBA with 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. Booker, for comparison’s sake, followed up his All-Rookie season with 22.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. His 36.3% from 3 in 2016-17 is still his fourth-best clip.
“I’m 34, 35 years old, I’m thinking I’ve got a lifetime to coach,” Watson said. “But I also got a chance to change this kid’s life, who I think is amazing and spectacular.
“I want to have an imprint on this organization whether I’m here or not, that forever I set them up to have a chance moving forward.”
Booker is signed through the 2029-30 season and prior to the current campaign said he has “unfinished business” in bringing Phoenix an NBA title.
