❚ The Suns’ Devin Booker looks to ‘disappear’ during All-Star break,
Devin Booker doesn’t know where, but he plans to escape during NBA AllStar break.
“Just relaxing, get away from basketball and spending some time with my family and friends,” Booker said before Wednesday night’s game against Golden State. “Not sure of our destination yet, but I might just disappear off the grid a little bit.”
It will be a much-needed departure from what has been a trying last couple of weeks for Booker.
He didn’t make the All-Star team. His idol, Kobe Bryant, tragically died in a helicopter crash.
The Suns have lost six of their last seven games.
Averaging 26.4 points on a careerhigh 49.9% shooting, Booker has managed to stay healthy, played at a high level and the Suns have already won more games than they did all last season. But anyone around him can see he’s drained on multiple levels.
The break will do him good, but Booker will return to still be on the wrong side of what the ultimate team goal was – make the playoffs.
Phoenix went into Wednesday’s game 61⁄2 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference held by Memphis, which owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Suns after winning the season series, 3-1.
The Suns will return from the break with a three-game road trip starting Feb. 21 at defending NBA champion Toronto in the first of a back-to-back. They play at Chicago the next day and conclude the trip Feb. 24 at Utah in Ricky Rubio’s return to where he played his previous two seasons with the Jazz.
This is Booker’s fifth season, all spent in Phoenix. He’s embracing and playing within Monty Williams’ 0.5 offense and taken on more of a leadership role this season, yet the final results are the same.
No All-Star Game.
Still losing more than winning. Still venting frustrations with referees.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr said he voted for Booker. Kerr certainly knows what an all-star looks like considering he’s played and coached with many, but clearly not enough coaches voted for Booker to land a trip to Chicago.
Add the injuries that have kept the Suns from being truly what they can be and Booker finds himself wondering when will it all come together for a sustainable amount of time.
The Suns are better and hope to return from the all-star break healthier and ready to show that. The odds are against a strong finish leading to a playoff appearance, but Booker could use something to stay on the optimistic path.
The $230-million arena renovation project is very encouraging.
The new practice facility that’s a stone throw from his home is exciting.
Nice, but not even close to being enough to compensate for being part of a franchise that didn’t win more than 24 games in any of Booker’s first four seasons..
The franchise player needs more to keep believing in the franchise. Yes, he’s getting paid. A lot. Booker is in the first of his five-year, $158-million deal with the Suns. That’s a comforting, but Booker would love to have postseasons be a major part of his present and future playing days in the desert.
Phoenix stayed pat with the trade deadline a distant memory. The Suns waived Tyler Johnson right after the deadline and have a roster spot they could fill with a player who could help the them down the line.
“We don’t want to rent somebody for a couple of weeks,” Williams said before Monday’s 125-100 road loss against the Los Angeles Lakers. “If we make a decision like that, it has to be somebody that we think could possibly be with us. That’s a decision for (Suns General Manager James Jones) and his crew, but when I talk to James, it’s always long-term thinking as far as places on our team.”
The Suns have signed big Jonah Bolden to a 10-day after Philadelphia waived him last week, but that’s a temporary answer to the injuries to Phoenix’s frontline – Deandre Ayton (ankle), Aron Baynes (hip), Dario Saric (ankle) and Frank Kaminsky (right patella stress fracture).
Phoenix has essentially stuck with its season-opening roster, but have seven players who will be free agents after this season – Baynes, Kaminsky, Saric, Cheick Diallo, Jevon Carter and rookies Jared Harper and Tariq Owens.
Baynes is the only unrestricted free agent. Saric and Carter are restricted, as are Harper and Owens, two rookies on two-way deals. Kaminsky and Diallo are on club options.
So the Suns will soon have to show if they’re committed to their current roster or will make multiple moves as they did last offseason. The Suns payroll right now is $121 million, which is 24th out of 30 teams according to HoopsHype.
The 2020-21 salary cap will be $115 million according to spotrac.com.
The Suns went into this season with nine new players and a plan to build a program. They could enter next season with the same roster thinking they’ll be better after a year together, but this team has needs to address at backup point guard and at power forward.
The Suns must make these decisions keeping Booker in mind, too.
Do they continue to find players to complement him or find the best players possible and make it work regardless?
Booker loves being the man in Phoenix and the responsibilities that comes with it. He must continue to do his part, which is a major one, but the Suns still have much work to do to make themselves a better team.
Right now, a getaway is just what Booker needs, regardless of the destination, to get away from an unkind, but hopeful reality that awaits his return.