Why is this good for the team?
In addition to what was previously stated with Booker being able to study his new teammates and help them from off the court, this will give the rest of the team more run and speed up their development somewhat.
This is especially true for the guys that will be playing at the guard positions.
We know what we have in Troy Daniels. His shooting will be there.
We know what we have in Josh Jackson, although with Booker out he’ll likely log more time at the two in practices and in preseason. This will help the second-year forward expand his game and work on his shooting as the team will need it more.
We know who Isaiah Canaan is. At this point, he’s not going to drastically change.
However, for the others – Shaquille Harrison, Elie Okobo, DeAnthony Melton, Davon Reed and Mikal Bridges – Booker’s absence will give them more of a chance to develop and show what they have to offer at this point in their young careers. They will be given a shot to earn more minutes and carve out a more defined role.
If Reed or Bridges stand out, perhaps the team leans more in the direction of a Point Booker.
If one of the young point guards stands out and shows they are ready for a consistent role at the next level, they can make a name for themselves and possibly get a starting job barring a trade for an experienced lead guard.
It’s almost a sure thing that Booker will be out for all of the preseason. That being said, it’s not out of the question for each of the young guards to get more minutes than they would have had he been able to play. This will help the front office to see what they really have with their “logjam” and be able to give each guy a fair opportunity and make the best decision for the team to be able to win.