Phoenix Suns 2 Free Agents to Sign who will Elevate Devin Booker

Phoenix Suns Free Agent Targets to Help Devin Booker: LaMarcus Aldridge

We saw Booker improve one other tool last year during mid-to-late winter when Chris Paul went down with a wrist injury. With Cameron Payne unavailable, the Suns ran Booker out at the point guard for a flurry of games, leading to some growth on his behalf as a passer.

We saw Booker put up noteworthy assist numbers during his early years as the team lacked a true point guard. But for the last two years, CP3 ran the team’s passing department with an iron fist.

While that made the Suns a better team, it did stunt a portion of Booker’s growth at the offensive end. This offseason though, if the team adds free agent big man LaMarcus Aldridge, they can restart it.

Although signing Aldridge will not force the passing reins from Paul’s hands back into Booker’s, his presence on the floor will open up new doors for Booker as a facilitator.

We all know how much the Suns love running the pick-and-roll with Booker involved. Last year, Phoenix averaged the fourth most points per game on such plays. With Aldridge though, that scheme becomes more dangerous.

Even in the twilight of his career, Aldridge came through as one of the game’s best pick-and-roll screen, then scorers last year for the Brooklyn Nets. He averaged the fourth most points per game on such plays, only behind Nikola Vucevic, Joel Embiid, and our very own Deandre Ayton.

Aldridge’s ability to pop off the screen and then knock down jumpers make him a lethal option beside a fellow mid-range maestro in Booker. With every pick-and-roll play between the two, Booker will get a chance to either polish out his passing skills with a dish to Aldridge for a jumper or roll to the rack.

Of course, Booker can still take shots off the screen, which he often should. But these two slippery shooters working in tandem with each other will resemble a true nightmare for opposing defenses and simultaneously give way to new passing opportunities for Booker.