The Phoenix Suns are likely headed right back to the lottery again. They’re 4-15 to start the season and, despite boasting a nice young nucleus to build around, their progress won’t be measured in the win-loss column this year. What they’ll be examining more closely is whether the talented duo of Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton are worthy of the franchise-cornerstone status that has been bestowed upon them.
They’re far too raw and inexperienced to be competitive in the immediate future, but even if they do start to reach their collective peaks, the Western Conference is such that they’ll still need additional superstar talent surrounding them if they ever want to become legitimate contenders.
The concern, of course, is that Booker — who has already had to withstand several consecutive losing seasons — will get anxious and want out before they ever reach that point. Booker’s recent comments, however, should inspire some confidence in his prospective future with the franchise.
It seems Booker is not only committed to remaining in Phoenix; he wants to help transform their squad into a superteam, as he told Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports:
The way Booker sees it, the Suns aren’t in any position to take down the the defending champion Golden State Warriors or even the next tier of contenders. But he knows the path to greatness — look at [Draymond] Green’s recruitment of Durant in 2016 — is possible and can change the league forever.
“ … Dynasties only last for so long,” Booker said. “I’m not wishing trades upon any of the superteams.”
But …
“I’d like to build a superteam. I’d like the superteam to come to me.”
The way the NBA landscape has evolved, players like Booker are increasingly more willing and eager to engage in the process of recruiting other superstars to join forces with them to pursue a title. The question, as always, is one of both cap space and the ability to lure marquee players to town.
Phoenix hasn’t been much of a free agent destination since the glory days of Steve Nash, and it remains to be seen whether Booker and Ayton can effectively alter that perception, particularly in light of both the team’s persistent on-court struggles and organizational mismanagement in recent years regarding how they’ve bungled high-profile personnel decisions.
Regardless, Suns fans should feel good about Booker’s apparent commitment to the organization for now, and time will tell if he can lure more top talent to the desert.
