Suns: What Happens In Vegas Stays In Phoenix

Booker Emerges

Phoenix was the worst three-point shooting team in basketball after the All-Star break last season and that more than anything else grounded a once powerful offense.

Devin Booker can help with that.

The former Wildcat (get use to that descriptor) shot 40 percent from beyond the arc for the duration of Summer League, while also averaging 15.3 points and 4.9 rebounds a game.

Following a 2-for-8 start in the team’s semifinal game against the undefeated New Orleans Pelicans, Booker showed why he was touted as the best shooter of the draft, dropping 22 points in the second half to finish with a then-Summer League high 31 for the game.

After draining a trey from a couple of feet beyond the line to open the second half, you could basically see NBA Jam-style flames coming off the ball.

His second moneyball of the half was his most impressive, as Booker caught the ball around his own three-point line, took three long striding dribbles in semi-transition and proceeded to drain another deep one that arched so high it nearly disappeared from the television screen before finishing its seemingly inevitable descent to the bottom of the net.

It was the kind of space-bending play that maybe 20 players in the league have the talent and sheer audacity to consistently pull off.

Booker’s rainman act didn’t stop there. After the human beanbag chair known as Josh Harrellson found him on the break, Booker didn’t hesitate, setting his feet flawlessly as he caught the ball before showing off a quick release and tossing in another triple.

Booker failed to follow up on his breakout performance in the title game, finishing with twice as many fouls (six) as field goals (three).

My biggest concern with Booker coming into the draft was his lack of aggressiveness attacking the basket and his inability to finish on the rare times he did. Too often in Summer League, Booker settled for tough mid-range jumpers when he should have been looking to get all the way to the rim, or at the very least draw the defense and find an open teammate.

Booker clearly has one very real NBA skill. Whether he developes more than that will determine if he’s simply a nice role player or something more.

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