2 Positives that could come from Devin Booker's injury

Just as it looked like the Phoenix Suns might enter a period of being fully healthy, Devin Booker went down with left groin tightness in a dispiriting loss to the Indiana Pacers. A defeat which plunges them back into the play-in conversation, having done well to distance themselves from that distraction.

In the aftermath of that loss - and with a big game versus the Denver Nuggets on Christmas Day looming - Kevin Durant went on the record to explain that the turnover issues that have again impacted this group has not been good enough. This was also the case last season, but that was before the arrival of both Tyus Jones and Monte Morris.

Yet there could be positives to take from this setback to Booker.

Alright, so it is going to be hard to make this argument. But it is Christmas after all - and if you can't have a positive outlook at this time of the year - then when are you supposed to? Obviously it would be better for the organization if he was healthy and out there, but until that is the case again, the Suns can lean on these two things to make his absence pass by as quickly as possible.

2. Kevin Durant can be the man again

In many ways Durant is already the man in Phoenix, and it speaks volumes of the talent of both he and Booker that they've been able to figure things out from day one in order to win games together. Durant has no problem telling everybody this is Booker's team - it is - while for his part Booker is cool with Durant being the closer when the situation calls for it.

But without having to ensure Booker gets his own looks and is kept happy in the flow of the offense, this might be the last great opportunity we get to see the 36-year-old Durant go supernova. The Suns started the campaign 8-1 and he emerged as an early MVP candidate, before injuries put that talk to bed.

But if Booker is to miss some time - and Durant leads the team to much needed wins - that conversation has to be revived. If we're being honest - and it gives us no pleasure at all to say this - it doesn't feel like this team has a championship in them in 2025. The talent is there, but a combination of injuries at the wrong times and inconsistencies have the franchise barely above .500.

A team's record never lies - so if a first title isn't coming to The Valley - is getting behind an MVP run for Durant the next best thing? There is going to come a time soon when uncomfortable conversations are had about whether or not the Suns have wasted the tail end of Durant's prime. Letting him run the show would be a nice consolation.

1. Bradley Beal will fit better with this roster

One of the main knocks on the Suns trading for Bradley Beal was that they were adding another elite scoring guard who looks to get his shot before teeing up his teammates. Which is exactly what Booker is for this organization. It's not that the two have cancelled each other out since Beal landed in Phoenix, but injuries and a failure to find his spot here haven't helped.

This season Beal has been better defensively for the team, but the argument continues to be made that he'd be better served propping up the bench. That's not a conversation the Suns appear ready to have at the moment, which means the enforced absence of Booker could actually be just the break Beal needs here.

His fit alongside Booker and point guard Jones has been clunky, while defensively it is prone to giving up a lot of points. If he starts and the Suns can bring in a Royce O'Neale or Grayson Allen though, that's a different story. Both are elite 3-point shooters and are that bit bigger than Beal, so can defend other wing players.

Alternatively head coach Mike Budenholzer could turn to rookie Ryan Dunn, which would give Beal a ton more offensive freedom. That kind of roster revolves around Beal a lot better - just like it does Booker - and so this could be the perfect time for him to carry the franchise for a stretch. It could even lead to his trade value increasing, even if that no-trade clause is the ultimate obstacle.