If Phoenix Starts Off In The Lower End Of Their Conference: Is Devin Booker Worth A Super Picks Trade Like Russ and PG13

[eminence]

Does anyone else see Booker as more of a 4th option on a good team like GSW of years past? He seems pretty single-skilled.

Yeah, I'm closer to that evaluation than a lot of these either ones in here, maybe a #2 scorer/3rd best player role someday (Klay on the pre-KD warriors), but not a superstar by any means. Even that seems a little dicey as it's hard to tell if guys will fit those smaller roles until they're in that spot.

If Phoenix can get a bunch of value for him they should absolutely go for it.

[Magic_Johnny12]

I’m not even sure Booker carries positive value, his contract definitely isn’t.

[tiderulz]

Big difference is guys like Russ and PG actually won and their teams had just run their course. I don't see anyone giving up a ton for Booker if the Suns continue to be bad. For sure teams will give up some value, but it will start to become more like Wiggins than those guys where teams will hope the issue is the franchise but will be guarded that he's just a guy putting up numbers on a bad team.

Yeah but the skills he does have are hugely valuable especially if you’re making him your third guy.

obligatory "good numbers on bad team statement"

[basketballwacko2]

Can someone explain why the suns would break up their young core to start another rebuild? Where is the “should the Mavs give up on Luka if they are a bottom team next year thread?”

Suns are not trading one of the best offensive weapons in the league at the age of 22, especially not for a bunch of future picks.

That's what I was thinking. It would an abortive rebuild. Why not let the current team grow up?

[Crives]

Does anyone else see Booker as more of a 4th option on a good team like GSW of years past? He seems pretty single-skilled.

Yeah, I'm closer to that evaluation than a lot of these either ones in here, maybe a #2 scorer/3rd best player role someday (Klay on the pre-KD warriors), but not a superstar by any means. Even that seems a little dicey as it's hard to tell if guys will fit those smaller roles until they're in that spot.

If Phoenix can get a bunch of value for him they should absolutely go for it.

A 3rd option? Single skilled?

Booker already has one of the best offensive games in the league...very well rounded game.

-I think he’s the statistically the most efficient high volume guard from mid range and post ups.
-He’s an excellent shooter.. won a 3 pt contest.
-Last season he became excellent at drawing fouls while driving.. I think I saw he was 2nd behind Harden post all star break for fouls drawn.
-Book is also an incredible passer. Look at his assist totals last season for his position

All of this at the age of 22 with terrible teammates and coaching. Book has gotten significantly better each season. No reason to expect that to stop. Book will get the chance to prove people wrong as the team improves.

[Crives]

Read on Twitter

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[MoneyTalks41890]

Read on Twitter

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Harden 37% on 5 made 3s a game, Booker 33% on 2 made threes a game.

[pacers33granger]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Harden 37% on 5 made 3s a game, Booker 33% on 2 made threes a game.

Also an 8-12 record versus 18-6.

[Crives]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Harden 37% on 5 made 3s a game, Booker 33% on 2 made threes a game.

Also an 8-12 record versus 18-6.

The point is not Book is as good as Harden.. that’s not the case.

The point is Book is only 22 yrs old with a ton of potential. Book has not been the problem on the suns the past few years. Which is why it’s frustrating to see posts that Book needs to be traded because the suns have not been winning. It’s been the supporting cast and coaching that need to improve. And the coaching and roster made significant improvements this offseason.

[Crives]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Harden 37% on 5 made 3s a game, Booker 33% on 2 made threes a game.

Yup.. but Books efficiency inside helped level out the TS%.

Book needs to recover his 3pt % next year.

[Scoot McGroot]

Can someone explain why the suns would break up their young core to start another rebuild? Where is the “should the Mavs give up on Luka if they are a bottom team next year thread?”

Your first question is the valid one, and one I can agree with wholeheartedly unless Phoenix decides they don't think Booker is a true number one option long term AND they get just a stupid massive offer for him.
The 2nd one is another 3 years away as Booker is going into his 5th year and age 23 and Luka is going into his 2nd year at age 20 (21 in February). Surely you see a little bit of difference between the two there?

[darmani]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Harden 37% on 5 made 3s a game, Booker 33% on 2 made threes a game.

Also an 8-12 record versus 18-6.

The Suns were starting 3 rookies and Dragan Bender. What did you expect?

[pacers33granger]

Harden 37% on 5 made 3s a game, Booker 33% on 2 made threes a game.

Also an 8-12 record versus 18-6.

The Suns were starting 3 rookies and Dragan Bender. What did you expect?

Doesn't matter who else was playing for them. The assertion was that he had a similar impact to Harden, which is clearly false and skewed by cherry picking numbers.

[darmani]

Also an 8-12 record versus 18-6.

The Suns were starting 3 rookies and Dragan Bender. What did you expect?

Doesn't matter who else was playing for them. The assertion was that he had a similar impact to Harden, which is clearly false and skewed by cherry picking numbers.

No, it wasn't. It was just comparing basic per game stats.

[pacers33granger]

The Suns were starting 3 rookies and Dragan Bender. What did you expect?

Doesn't matter who else was playing for them. The assertion was that he had a similar impact to Harden, which is clearly false and skewed by cherry picking numbers.

No, it wasn't. It was just comparing basic per game stats.

"Devin Booker and James Harden were a near image of one another post-All-Star break"

If it's just comparing a sampling of per game stats that support some false position, what's the point? They weren't a near image at all and Booker wasn't even close to putting up MVP type numbers over the last 20 games as it alludes to. The tweet was clearly trying to pull the same "he's an elite guard but everyone around him sucks." Yeah, the team has sucked and had issues, but sometimes it's the "star" too.

[tiderulz]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Harden took his team to the playoffs.

[Crives]

Doesn't matter who else was playing for them. The assertion was that he had a similar impact to Harden, which is clearly false and skewed by cherry picking numbers.

No, it wasn't. It was just comparing basic per game stats.

"Devin Booker and James Harden were a near image of one another post-All-Star break"

If it's just comparing a sampling of per game stats that support some false position, what's the point? They weren't a near image at all and Booker wasn't even close to putting up MVP type numbers over the last 20 games as it alludes to. The tweet was clearly trying to pull the same "he's an elite guard but everyone around him sucks." Yeah, the team has sucked and had issues, but sometimes it's the "star" too.

Bud... that wasn’t the point of the post... check my reply above.

The point is not Book is as good as Harden.. that’s not the case.

The point is Book is only 22 yrs old with a ton of potential. Book has not been the problem on the suns the past few years. Which is why it’s frustrating to see posts that Book needs to be traded because the suns have not been winning. It’s been the supporting cast and coaching that need to improve. And the coaching and roster made significant improvements this offseason.

[BoogieTime]

No, it wasn't. It was just comparing basic per game stats.

"Devin Booker and James Harden were a near image of one another post-All-Star break"

If it's just comparing a sampling of per game stats that support some false position, what's the point? They weren't a near image at all and Booker wasn't even close to putting up MVP type numbers over the last 20 games as it alludes to. The tweet was clearly trying to pull the same "he's an elite guard but everyone around him sucks." Yeah, the team has sucked and had issues, but sometimes it's the "star" too.

Bud... that wasn’t the point of the post... check my reply above.

The point is not Book is as good as Harden.. that’s not the case.

The point is Book is only 22 yrs old with a ton of potential. Book has not been the problem on the suns the past few years. Which is why it’s frustrating to see posts that Book needs to be traded because the suns have not been winning. It’s been the supporting cast and coaching that need to improve. And the coaching and roster made significant improvements this offseason.

No the coaching didn’t. That’s an excuse.

Not seeing the talent (Rubio?) making significant improvement

[Crives]

Can someone explain why the suns would break up their young core to start another rebuild? Where is the “should the Mavs give up on Luka if they are a bottom team next year thread?”

Your first question is the valid one, and one I can agree with wholeheartedly unless Phoenix decides they don't think Booker is a true number one option long term AND they get just a stupid massive offer for him.
The 2nd one is another 3 years away as Booker is going into his 5th year and age 23 and Luka is going into his 2nd year at age 20 (21 in February). Surely you see a little bit of difference between the two there?

There’s definitely a difference. There are not many apple to apple comparisons.

The point was... from a team building perspective does it make sense to trade a 20 or 22 year old player with star potential?

Doesn’t make any sense to move either player to me.

[Crives]

"Devin Booker and James Harden were a near image of one another post-All-Star break"

If it's just comparing a sampling of per game stats that support some false position, what's the point? They weren't a near image at all and Booker wasn't even close to putting up MVP type numbers over the last 20 games as it alludes to. The tweet was clearly trying to pull the same "he's an elite guard but everyone around him sucks." Yeah, the team has sucked and had issues, but sometimes it's the "star" too.

Bud... that wasn’t the point of the post... check my reply above.

The point is not Book is as good as Harden.. that’s not the case.

The point is Book is only 22 yrs old with a ton of potential. Book has not been the problem on the suns the past few years. Which is why it’s frustrating to see posts that Book needs to be traded because the suns have not been winning. It’s been the supporting cast and coaching that need to improve. And the coaching and roster made significant improvements this offseason.

No the coaching didn’t. That’s an excuse.

Not seeing the talent (Rubio?) making significant improvement

Look... you may not think Rubio or the players we added are stars....but it’s really important to understand the context... who these new additions are replacing. I saw a stat earlier.. suns had the biggest improvement in net +- with the roster changes that were made. No one is expecting suns to be in the playoffs.. but they definitely look to have a much improved team. No more blowouts by the 2nd quarter night after night.

Not sure your point on the coaching issues. Book is already on his 5th HC. We absolutely need to build stability on the coaching staff and with Monty it feels like we finally have a long term answer instead of a 1st time HC.