Devin Booker's offseason actions prove he has to stay in Phoenix next year

There might be a ton of uncertainty surrounding the Phoenix Suns as they enter a crucial offseason - but as long as they have Devin Booker, then everything is going to be ok. Right? Well actually no, a small subsection of the fanbase - and it is growing in number - are becoming more in favor of trading away Booker and everything else so the franchise can start over.

When you're stuck in the second apron and can't find a way to shift Bradley Beal, that kind of makes sense. But for those long-suffering fans who have been there through the bad times - and there has been a lot of them - they are rightly not so quick to want to return to the wilderness. Yes Phoenix is a free-agent destination now, but who do you think help to change that?

Booker's early offseason actions prove he has to stay in Phoenix.

With the Suns having endured an ugly 36 win season, you would understand if Booker decided to get out of The Valley to spend some time away to reflect on the season and rest up ahead of a new campaign. The franchise are looking for a new head coach - and potentially a top executive - and laying low for a little while would almost have been expected.

As it is many top players take some time away as soon as they can, then head to hubs such as Los Angeles or New York to put in some offseason work. Not Booker - who rather than run away from Phoenix at the first available opportunity - has instead been spotted about Arizona plenty, opting to face the public instead of running away.

The above video - in which Booker makes the day of two kids at a lemonade stand - is just one example of him being out in the community at a time when the feeling around the organization is not good. If you're cynical you could point out that this is Booker performing some PR work, so as to ensure his reputation in Phoenix remains high after a disastrous season.

We're opting not to view it that way, and this isn't the only example of Booker out in the community either. He and that blue convertible of his - we're sorry we're not bigger car fans to point out the exact make and model - have popped up in several different locations already since the playoffs began. No drama, no massive entourage, just Booker hanging out in the city he loves.

This is exactly the way you want a franchise cornerstone to act after a poor season for the team. It is not on Beal or even Kevin Durant to do this, Booker is the only one that can get out in public and show through his actions that he wants to be on the Suns. Don't forget, to this point he's never once asked for a trade that we know of either.

So for those who want to see him gone as part of wholesale changes, remember these actions if you do somehow get your wish. Nobody would have blamed Booker for heading for the exit as soon as the season was over. He likely will head off during the summer in order to get some workouts in. But when the fans needed some reassurance, Booker was there. That's a class act and rare in this league.