Jalen Green risks upsetting Suns' fans with comments on Houston Rockets

The Phoenix Suns have entered a new era with no less than nine new faces on the roster so far this offseason - and despite an underwhelming assortment of players on their books who are available via trade - they might not be done yet. Jalen Green was the headliner in the return from the Houston Rockets for Durant's services, and it will be interesting to see how he fits in The Valley.

The overlap between his skills and that of Devin Booker is clear for all to see, which made this secret Las Vegas workout recently all the more interesting. Still only 23-years-old and fresh off having a 38 point outing in a playoff game against the Golden State Warriors though, and the best could be yet to come for the player.

Green hurt by exit from the Houston Rockets.

In a recent article by Arizona Sports, Green said that "it hurts (being traded), Houston is home to me and forever will be home to me. I started my NBA career there and built a lot in that situation. Obviously, it’s sad to leave. But it’s a business though." It would be a stretch to say that Green is pining over his previous situation, but it does also feel like he was blind-sided by the trade.

The optimistic view here is that Green uses getting sent packing by Houston as motivation to have his best season yet in Phoenix, even if the fit next to Booker will need some work. Green did also go on to say that he learned with the Rockets that it is not just about scoring the basketball that makes a great player, you have to be an excellent defender as well. That is what fans will want to hear.

But if Houston end up being contenders next season - and they've built a deep roster that is now spearheaded by Durant - at what point could Green look at his old situation and wish he was still there? We already know his trade value around the league is not where the Suns would like it to be, after they got a feel for what other franchises thought of Green ahead of moving for him.

The Suns need players who want to be there, which is part of the reason why the recently inked Booker to the lucrative extension that he signed, even if not everybody was happy about it. Their youngsters Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro - plus their trio of draft picks - have all said the right things about being in Phoenix. Green's comments aren't quite in line with that way of thinking.

The sooner Green can look forward and not in the rear-view mirror, the better everything will be for both player and team. There's reason to believe he can be an All-Star if he takes that next leap forward, and it is not going to happen wondering what might have been in Houston. The vibes are on the up in The Valley, and comments like this only drag the Suns back to where they've been.