Suns 2025-26 Roster Breakdown

[specialsauce]

Figured this would be a good spot for a thread on point Book. David is even more pro point-book than me, but he covers a lot of things I agree with here(full thread if you click into it)

How is it disingenuous to say that he should have a smaller role and a smaller salary? That seems like a pretty sincere and reasonable take. I don't think it's that simple, but I also don't think people with that take are bullshitting or trolling.

Anyway, I can't read the thread because I'm not on X. So what does he say about Booker's late game turnovers under pressure?

Also, the two have nothing to do with each other. Book was better when he played full time 2 and actually closer to a top 10 player, so his logic is missing entirely

I think he’s almost always played full time at the 2. He was at his best when he did that next to another pg that was a mastermind at dictating what he wanted the defense to do. He spent a lot of time the last two years playing 2-guard to Bradley Beal and Tyus Jones.

I think the point is we haven’t really seen the Point-Book role played out in entirety.

Calling Tyus the Pg was a formality. Book ran the offense. At most Tyus or Brad would just dribble to half court then hand the ball off to him at the top of the 3. I'd like to seee more of Book operating off the elbows coming off screens, and less of him initiating.

[pickle]

I think we need to define what “works” means. The ceiling on this team is what, 45 wins and barely avoiding the playin? And that would surprise me. So as long as Point Book doesn’t hamper the development of our young guys I would say it is working. So am I confident that Point Book will click with Williams and help Maluach grow into all that potential? Probably not. But I’m excited to find out.

[pickle]

Also given the limitations of our team building tools I’m happy that we picked up Goodwin and Butler. Is one of them a two way?

[Split T]

Tyus and Beal both ran a lot of the offense…sometimes they walked it up and handed it to Booker or KD, but Booker was not running pg that much.

[Split T]

Also given the limitations of our team building tools I’m happy that we picked up Goodwin and Butler. Is one of them a two way?

No, both on regular deals. I think neither is guaranteed though, so seems like it might be a camp/preseason battle.

[Split T]

[Split T]

I hope we can all agree at least that playing Jalen Green at pg instead of Booker is insanity.

[TOO]

This. People who want him off the ball don't get it. He's not at his best running around off screens and catch and shooting. Never has been.

[Superbone]

I hope we can all agree at least that playing Jalen Green at pg instead of Booker is insanity.

I'm going to trust Ott to do what's best for the team and players.

[Superbone]

[O_Gardino]

It's not about getting the ball out of Booker's hands, it's about getting the ball to him in better spots. I personally would like a guy who can bring the ball up court, call a play and get the team set, and manage the offence. By manage the offense, I mean making sure the ball goes to the hot hand or the play that is working, making sure guys like Dunn get and Maluach get regular touches to keep them engaged, etc. As a Suns fan, I feel entitled to all-star level PG play, and I can tell the difference between 7 assists form a true orchestrator and 7 assists from a scorer kicking the ball out when he draws a crowd.

Now, I'm not arguing that Book shouldn't run point this season. Obviously we don't have a better point guard. Obviously. I just think that getting a better point guard should be a priority for management.

[specialsauce]

This. People who want him off the ball don't get it. He's not at his best running around off screens and catch and shooting. Never has been.

Finals Booker disagrees. So does Bubble Booker.

[Superbone]

As a Suns fan, I feel entitled to all-star level PG play...

Wow! Aren't you special?!

[TOO]

It's not about getting the ball out of Booker's hands, it's about getting the ball to him in better spots. I personally would like a guy who can bring the ball up court, call a play and get the team set, and manage the offence. By manage the offense, I mean making sure the ball goes to the hot hand or the play that is working, making sure guys like Dunn get and Maluach get regular touches to keep them engaged, etc. As a Suns fan, I feel entitled to all-star level PG play, and I can tell the difference between 7 assists form a true orchestrator and 7 assists from a scorer kicking the ball out when he draws a crowd.

Now, I'm not arguing that Book shouldn't run point this season. Obviously we don't have a better point guard. Obviously. I just think that getting a better point guard should be a priority for management.

You're asking for a PG archetype that is all but extinct.

[TOO]

This. People who want him off the ball don't get it. He's not at his best running around off screens and catch and shooting. Never has been.

Finals Booker disagrees. So does Bubble Booker.

Devin Booker wasn't cutting running people off screens durung either of those runs. He was getting his own shot after either Rubio or Paul gave him the ball. I don't know why we're acting like Bookers offensive game has changed much over his career it hasn't. His efficiency and ability to pass has improved over time, but he's never been a guy that cuts or runs around.

[O_Gardino]

As a Suns fan, I feel entitled to all-star level PG play...

Wow! Aren't you special?!

Yes, I am. We all are. Suns fans are the most special fans.

[Split T]

It's not about getting the ball out of Booker's hands, it's about getting the ball to him in better spots. I personally would like a guy who can bring the ball up court, call a play and get the team set, and manage the offence. By manage the offense, I mean making sure the ball goes to the hot hand or the play that is working, making sure guys like Dunn get and Maluach get regular touches to keep them engaged, etc. As a Suns fan, I feel entitled to all-star level PG play, and I can tell the difference between 7 assists form a true orchestrator and 7 assists from a scorer kicking the ball out when he draws a crowd.

Now, I'm not arguing that Book shouldn't run point this season. Obviously we don't have a better point guard. Obviously. I just think that getting a better point guard should be a priority for management.

I mean that was what Tyus Jones was supposed to do. The problem is no one is worried about Jones creating his own shot and they guard him that way. Like TOO said, I don’t think the game is played the way you are describing anymore. We all think back to the Nash days and wish we had that, but the truth is, Nash should’ve been shooting way way more than he did. Even last years disgrace of a team was a better offense than any Nash led team.

The game has changed and getting up 3s is how you win. You need someone on ball that creates advantages that your offense can then attack. Does Booker have some work to do when he gets trapped up high? Absolutely, but there’s no one else on this team that is forcing the defense to put two defenders on the ball. Booker draws two defenders, the ball moves and finds the open man for a 3 or a dunk…that’s the name of the game today.

CP3 worked because he drew two to the ball and he was a genius passer. Book led the league in 3 point assists last year. He draws two to the ball and creates 3 point shots better than anyone. You mention that like it’s a bad thing. Catch and shoot 3s are what drives highly efficient offense. He’s got some work to do with a rolling big, but I don’t think he’s not a true orchestrator because he’s creating 3 point looks instead of mid range looks.

Our offense was also a lot of standing around, so I’m excited to see some more movement. Book is a good passer, I don’t think he’s incapable of say finding a cutter on the baseline.

[specialsauce]

This. People who want him off the ball don't get it. He's not at his best running around off screens and catch and shooting. Never has been.

Finals Booker disagrees. So does Bubble Booker.

Devin Booker wasn't cutting running people off screens durung either of those runs. He was getting his own shot after either Rubio or Paul gave him the ball. I don't know why we're acting like Bookers offensive game has changed much over his career it hasn't. His efficiency and ability to pass has improved over time, but he's never been a guy that cuts or runs around.

Yes, he was. He was frequently coming off a screen to catch the ball at the elbow/3 elbow and driving immediately or shooting. Point 5 offense.

He didn't start this hold the ball and allow himself to get trapped bullshit until KD came and he started playing the de facto PG role

[TOO]

Bookers shot profile hardly changed at all, infact where he excelled previously in transition and getting FTs went down a significant amount.

[TOO]

Paul made the Suns crawl on offense long before KD did lol. Suns were like 30th in pace with Paul. Can't blame everything on KD, it's coaching, it's roster building, it's Booker, it's everyone.