Devin Booker's absence has made the Suns' deadline strategy crystal clear

There was never going to be a good time to lose Devin Booker to injury, but ahead of a three-game Western Conference road swing is about as bad as it gets. His absence making a tough slate versus the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves and (21-1!) Oklahoma City Thunder even harder.

Suns have to keep Grayson Allen beyond trade deadline.

What this setback for the team has also shown is that they have to keep Grayson Allen beyond the trade deadline.

We made the case not so long ago that Allen actually had to go, because his trade value has never been higher and the franchise have to create some more money to bring back Collin Gillespie next season.

But we've seen Allen step into a greater offensive role under head coach Jordan Ott this season, the importance of which increases without Booker around.

He has had his own injury woes, and didn't feature once again in the most recent win over the Los Angeles Lakers, but at this point he has become so much more than an elite 3-point shooter.

Allen is still at his most lethal firing away from deep, but head coach Jordan Ott has trusted him with the ball in his hands more to create for others. This is reflected in the 20.9 percent usage he has when he's out there, to this point a career high.

His Player Efficiency Rating of 17.4 is also a career high, and while that is a catch all number that many stay away from, the eye test backs all of this up. Allen is as engaged as a playmaker as he has ever been, while defensively he's having his best season as a professional.

So while the temptation will be there to cash in for something that can help the organization long-term, Allen's value looks set to go up another level if he plays without Booker.

He will be tasked with creating even more, while his ability to work alongside Dillon Brooks will also be useful. Brooks is going to try and take on the responsibility by himself, but Allen's underrated passing and ability to space the floor will be used by coach Ott.

Allen is also the second longest tenured Sun behind Booker at this point, and has grown into a fan favorite in The Valley. At a time when the team are trying to be competitive, and coach Ott has leaned on his veterans to win games, they need a player like Allen.

This might look like a decision taken with only the short-term in mind, but there will be other opportunities to trade Allen. Instead the right move is to give him more responsibility while Booker is injured and remain competitive.