Phoenix Suns phenom Devin Booker is having surgery on his hand. If he’s not ready to start the season, what would the starting lineup look like?
Devin Booker is having surgery Monday on his injured hand, which is a scary sentence for Phoenix Suns fans. Even though he’s expected to return before the start of the regular season, surgery is always a scary word to hear surrounding your franchise player, and the outcome can be somewhat unpredictable.
So in the worst case scenario where Booker is forced to miss games, the Suns will be rolling out a starting lineup that no one could have predicted just a week ago. Who will crack the starting group?
If Booker’s hurt, he obviously won’t be playing point guard, so anyone calling for Point Booker will be out of luck. That leaves the Suns with just a few legitimate starting options at the one. A trade could be made whether he’s healthy or not, but let’s assume they’d have to go with someone on the roster.
Shaquille Harrison has a good case. He was with the team for 23 games last season, and he endeared himself to fans with his play on the defensive end. Of course, the team also has two second round rookies worthy of consideration.
Elie Okobo seems like he’d have a step on De’Anthony Melton. After all, the Suns took Okobo with Melton still on the board. Melton likely fits better with Booker, but with Booker out that becomes a moot point. One thing Melton does have going for him is his tremendous Summer League and the fact the Phoenix Suns saw him as a prospect worth pursuing.
Isaiah Canaan is a launcher. He shoots. He loves to shoot. He’s not young, and he’s arguably not as good as any of the other three. He might not even make the roster. But he has far more experience than any other guard on the roster, and that alone can give coaches more comfort to start the season. Okobo would probably be the favorite, but Canaan shouldn’t be counted out.
Deandre Ayton is a lock to start. It’s been reported that Ryan Anderson will start. Trevor Ariza is the highest paid player on the team, so it seems likely he’d start too. After point guard, that leaves one starting spot left. It would likely come down to Josh Jackson, Mikal Bridges, or T.J. Warren playing the two.
Bridges is the more natural fit at shooting guard, but he’s also a rookie, so it would probably go to one of the other two. Warren averaged over 20 points last season, and he’s been with the team the longest. But Jackson has potentially the strongest case.
He got plenty of NBA experience last season, and he was a top five pick just two years ago. He’s a good defender, and he projects to improve his perimeter shot considerably. He also finished strong last season, and he’s a good bet to be a long term piece in the rotation.
That gives a projected rotation of Elie Okobo, Josh Jackson, Trevor Ariza, Ryan Anderson, and Deandre Ayton. That’s arguably the weakest starting five in the league, and that team probably wouldn’t win many games. Which reaffirms what everyone already knows – the Phoenix Suns need Devin Booker.