Valley of the Suns
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Devin Booker’s injury could have wide-ranging effects

By Adam Maynes

TORONTO, ON - December 05: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns injures himself and leaves the court early during the second half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre on December 5, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - December 05: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns injures himself and leaves the court early during the second half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre on December 5, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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What to do at Point Guard

TORONTO, ON – December 05: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the second half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre on December 5, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – December 05: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the second half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre on December 5, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Devin Booker had been logging a lot of minutes recently at point guard, a situation that I am utterly in favor of. However his extra time at point has taken minutes away from Mike James, who as of today, December 6, will have either been signed for the remainder of the season or waived.

There is a chance that with Booker logging these minutes now, the Suns could have decided to waive James and retain Derrick Jones Jr. (who I presume will be the odd-man out and will be released to keep a roster space for James), allowing Booker to continue to develop his point guard skills while the coaching staff schemes with the knowledge that their only other point guard is Tyler Ulis.

This was probably not the case, but you never know. Jones Jr. is still highly regarded, and much younger than James. Jr.’s defense in particular won him extra minutes last season under Watson, and should his shooting improve there is no reason to believe that he can’t yet develop into a decent rotational player.

While there seems to have been little doubt that Mike James was going to be extended as the Suns need that additional point guard on the roster, should Booker be out for an extended period of time, I cannot imagine a scenario in which he is not retained.

The Suns will likely know the full extent of Booker’s injury in the morning, giving McDonough plenty of time to adjust any final decision. Should Booker need to sit for sometime, then James is all but a Sun for the rest of the season and, I’m sorry to say, Derrick Jones Jr. is likely off the roster.

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