Should this NBA superstar look elsewhere this offseason?

Devin Booker is up for a massive contract extension with the Phoenix Suns, the team that took him in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft. However, should the franchise's all-time leading scorer stay in Arizona or look elsewhere in the offseason? 

Booker, 28, has spent the past 10 seasons with the Suns and it hasn't been all that sunny in the valley. Booker and the Suns failed to make the postseason up until Booker's sixth campaign (2020-21). After having made the NBA Finals alongside Chris Paul in 2021, Booker and the Suns haven't made it past the second round of the postseason since, even with Kevin Durant having joined late in the 2022-23 season. 

Speaking of Durant, it is speculated that he will be shopped once again this upcoming offseason. Since Durant joined the Suns at the 2023 trade deadline, Phoenix has largely been a disappointing team that failed a lot of expectations casted upon it. Furthermore, the addition of former Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal added even more belief that the Suns could still contend for a championship.

This past season for Phoenix basically summed up how underwhelming the pairing of Booker, Beal and Durant has gone. 

The Suns finished 36-46 and didn't even qualify for the play-in tournament, causing head coach Mike Budenholzer, who coached the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA title over the Suns in 2021, to be fired in his first season with Phoenix.

It is worth mentioning Durant had a stellar campaign despite having been in his 18th season. Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists on 52.7% shooting from the field. The 2013-14 MVP likely would've made an All-NBA team but failed to play the 65-game requirement to qualify for league awards. 

As Durant turns 37 in September, his career is definitely in the twilight stages and with the Suns in no position to seriously contend for a title, Durant's services would be more impactful elsewhere. 

If, or when, Durant departs, Booker would be left with a team that just acquired a new head coach in Jordan Ott, Beal, who hasn't played up to his lucrative contract and other role players. It is also worth mentioning that the Suns don't control their draft picks for the next seven years due to their trade acquisitions of Durant and Beal and other deals. 

Booker is still in the middle of his prime. The former Kentucky guard averaged 25.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists last season, having to act as the primary playmaker. Booker is a score-first guard and is more impactful playing alongside a player that can distribute the ball effectively, arguably having his best season alongside Paul in 2021.

Booker should definitely look elsewhere if he wants to compete for a championship while he's still in his prime. However, as one of the franchise's all-time best players, it's possible that loyalty will hinder Booker from leaving the only team that he knows.