He didn’t garner as much media attention as some of his teammates, but Devin Booker‘s excellent all-around play for Team USA at the Olympics is a useful point of reference for how the Suns could utilize him in 2024/25, writes Seerat Sohi of The Ringer.
As Sohi details, Booker was frequently utilized in an off-ball role early in his career, before the arrival of Chris Paul. While the 27-year-old developed as a play-maker during his time with Paul and the team found plenty of success — including making the NBA Finals in 2021 — the team’s offense became increasingly heliocentric. That trend continued in 2023/24 after Paul’s departure, with Booker often playing point guard.
With free agent addition Tyus Jones expected to start at point guard and orchestrate the offense, Booker’s off-ball play will be crucial if the team hopes to make the most of its collective talent, according to Sohi, who says playing off the ball more often could help the 27-year-old defensively as well.
Here’s more on the Suns:
- Aside from the financial component, the Suns are waiving Nassir Little because he was unlikely to crack their rotation this season, per Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports. Phoenix will use the stretch provision on Little’s contract, reducing his cap hit over the next three seasons while instead paying him about $3.1MM annually over the next seven years. By releasing Little and fellow forward E.J. Liddell, the Suns will only have 14 players on guaranteed contracts, giving them more roster flexibility heading into the season, Bourguet notes.
- Will star forward Kevin Durant return to Team USA for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles? That’s obviously too many years away for a definitive answer, but Durant fueled speculation by writing “see yall (sic) in LA” on Twitter. The 14-time All-Star will be nearing his 40th birthday by the time the 2028 Olympic Games roll around.
Wait, you need a point guard, who would of thought. Now starting with Jones, Beal and Book at the 3? That’s small. Alot of heavy lifting for KD at his age.
The suns are setting. What a clown show. Where will KD be playing by February. My guess LA with LeBozo trying to get another championship
He has more pride then to team up with that fake human being
What pride? The pride that lead to him leaving OKC to join the greatest regular season team in history? The pride that had him creating burner accounts on twitter to troll people who disagreed with him?
I knew Booker has a little Durant
The Suns have this year. I don’t see unless OKC and Denver have injuries. Minny and Dallas are Better too. Durant just does not have the fire. Beal will get hurt too.
Heliocentric. I see what you did there.