Suns 5-On-5: Pre-Training Camp Storylines
2. Would you prefer to see Archie Goodwin or Devin Booker win the battle for backup SG minutes?
Chasen: Archie Goodwin for now. As I outlined earlier, I think it’s absolutely imperative for Booker to get meaningful minutes, but I also think it’s important for him to build confidence. I said I would like to see him get 10 games at the D-League level, and I’ll stick to that.
Bourguet: As much as I’d like to see Devin Booker come in and have an immediate impact as a rookie, I’m going to go with Archie Goodwin. At 18 years old, there’s still plenty of time for Booker to develop and that sweet shooting stroke isn’t going anywhere. But entering his third year in the league, there’s a sense of impatience from both Goodwin and the Suns to see what he can do, which is something that needs to be figured out before Bogdan Bogdanovic comes stateside next year.
Hann: Devin Booker and I wouldn’t call it a battle as much as a foregone conclusion at this point. Even at 18 years old, Booker looks light years ahead of Goodwin in terms of understanding his role on offense and defense. The biggest disparity between the two, however, is their general calmness (or in Goodwin’s case, lack thereof) on the basketball court. Booker lets the game come to him and always seems to be in the right spot, while Goodwin is consistently in ultra-aggressive attack mode, usually resulting in a high amount of turnovers.
Harris: I guess I would prefer Devin Booker just because of his shooting ability, but Archie Goodwin would also be a decent backup.
Dodgson: I’m going with Devin Booker on this one. The excitement about a player who was compared to Klay Thompson has become too much for me. Aside from that, Booker will be a dynamic shooter, will space the floor for the Suns and make the offense more lethal than it’s been in the past. Combine Booker and his outside shooting ability with Alex Len and Tyson Chandler down low, I think Booker will be able to do far more in his rookie year for the offense than Archie Goodwin would be able to.
Goodwin is someone I want to see continue to progress as well, though, as he has made subtle strides in the league and has shown flashes of potential. However, Booker’s appeal will be too much for Goodwin to overcome. Booker should earn more minutes than his fellow Kentucky product sooner rather than later.
Next: No. 3