Oh it’d shake up the NBA, alright.

Devin Booker for Ben Simmons.

Bleacher Report put out another list of potential trades with one being a straight-up deal of all-stars, but this is a one-sided swap in Philadelphia’s favor.

Booker is a rising superstar who played the best basketball of his career in leading Phoenix to an 8-0 run in the Orlando Bubble. Why would the Suns trade him for someone who is coming off an knee injury in the bubble and seems allergic to shooting 3s when analytics say fire away from deep.

Simmons has only attempted 24 3s in 7,449 minutes played. That’s an average of one every 310 minutes. He’s made just two which came this season to give him a .083 career shooting percentage from 3.

Now Simmons is talented enough to improve his 3-point shot, but clearly doesn’t have confidence in it.

Booker doesn’t have a problem shooting or making 3s – or any other shot.  

He’s an elite scorer with growing playmaking ability and has improved his competitive spirt on defense. He’s not close to being a lockdown defender like Simmons, but Booker is athletic enough to be at least a solid one.

Just has to show more discipline and maintain focus after getting called for fouls. 

Offensively, Booker is unlimited. So pairing him up with Joel Embiid would give the All-Star big man even more room to dominate the paint if he choose to do so.

Can’t wait to see if Doc Rivers can get Embiid to play closer to the basket more consistently and get in tip-top shape.

Not better shape. The best shape of his life, but that’s another conversation. 

So yes, Philadelphia would get the better end of this deal. Booker is coming off a near injury-free season while Simmons had surgery on his left knee in August.

Rivers is one of Monty Williams’ coaching idols. He was Rivers’ rookie in New York, played for him in Orlando, but even Williams wouldn’t endorse sending Phoenix’s best player for Philadelphia’s second-best player.

Don’t be influenced by Booker selling his house.

Phoenix isn’t letting him go, especially for someone whose offensive game is only inside 15 feet. Williams worked with Simmons when he was an assistant in Philadelphia, loves his game and appreciates him, but not enough to swap Booker for him. 

Now Simmons could fit in Phoenix.

MORE: Portland Trail Blazers trade Damian Lillard to Phoenix Suns in ‘realistic’ trade proposal

His defense is special. Simmons and Mikal Bridges would give Phoenix two the NBA’s  best wing defenders. The Suns would be deadly in transition with Simmons either leading the break or finishing off a Ricky Rubio assist with a emphatic finish at the rim.

He’s a freak athlete at 6-10, 240 who is averaging eight assists in his three NBA seasons. FYI: Booker is averaging 6.6 assists over his last two seasons.

Simmons could set up Cam Johnson and Bridges for 3s, but he’d probably see action at power forward because of Rubio, who averaged more assists (8.8) than him this season.

Philadelphia was trying Simmons at power forward, but he suffered the injury. Phoenix could try it, too, but playing position-less basketball would help Simmons blend.

Then again, if the Simmons-Embiid tandem hasn’t lead to a championship for the 76ers, the Simmons-Deandre Ayton combo wouldn’t, either.

Simmons is the better overall talent, but Booker is a better player right now. The contracts are both hefty with Booker due $130.9 million over the final four years of his deal and Simmons signed an $170-million extension last summer.

So some tinkering would be required to make this deal. It’dcertainly shake up the league and be a great trade, for Philadelphia only. 

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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