DETROIT – Trade rumors are part of life in the NBA, but Phoenix Suns fans got something increasingly rare in professional sports: an owner publicly drawing a line in the sand. During a discussion about rates and mortgages, Suns owner Matt Ishbia opened the floor for questions. One fan asked whether he could trade Devin Booker to the Detroit Pistons. Ishbia’s response? “When I’m dead.”
Feb 27, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Suns Mat Ishbia watches a game against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second quarter at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Mat Ishbia’s hilarious response to hypothetical Devin Booker trade:
Mat Ishbia when asked if he can trade Devin Booker to the Detroit Pistons:
“When I’m dead… Devin Booker will never be a Detroit Piston.”
(h/t @DowntownDeuce) pic.twitter.com/vr7xCwczyZ
— Booker Muse (@DevinBookerMuse) August 27, 2026
The room erupted in laughter, but Ishbia wasn’t finished. He followed up by saying Booker “will never be a Detroit Piston.” When the fan argued that Ishbia and Booker sharing Detroit roots should mean something, Ishbia made his position even clearer that he doesn’t care about the Pistons. That exchange may have been lighthearted, but it matters for Phoenix.
Suns owner Ishbia speaks with the press during a news conference at Footprint Center in Phoenix on May 1, 2024. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
NBA franchises routinely lose stars to trades, free agency or shifting ambitions. Building around one player for the long haul is increasingly difficult. Ishbia’s comments suggest Phoenix isn’t approaching Booker that way. Booker represents continuity. He has become synonymous with Suns basketball, and his longevity gives Phoenix identity, which is something that cannot be manufactured through a blockbuster trade. For fans, that’s the bigger takeaway. Booker’s legacy in Phoenix is already secure. The next chapter is about determining how much more the Suns can build around him.
Mar 3, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Phoenix forward Oso Ighodaro (11) and Suns guard Booker (1) high five during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
