Suns fans should be ecstatic about Devin Booker's latest involvement with team

The Phoenix Suns have plenty of issues to sort this offseason, but one constant that they hope remains is franchise cornerstone Devin Booker. The 28-year-old is an in his prime star - and although he had a down year in 2024-25 - there is no reason to think he won't be back to his All-Star best next time out.

Who will be joining him in The Valley next season is a different story, with many expecting Kevin Durant to leave for pastures new. That will depending on the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee - but when rumors like these are already coming out - you know it is going to be a long offseason when it comes to figuring out where Durant will call home next.

Booker having hand in new head coach hire a massive plus.

Marc Stein took to his always informative substack on Saturday - and with the Suns narrowing down their head coaching search even further - it was no surprise to see them appear. It is rumored that the franchise are down to their final five ahead of cutting that to two and making a selection, although this person can't be ruled out entirely just yet either.

Nestled in amongst the names that the Suns are zeroing in on - and a first time head coach is very much the direction they look to be headed unless they throw a curveball out there - was the fact that Booker himself has had some say in who the organization hire for the role. This is a massive boost for the fanbase, and proves that owner Mat Ishbia is doing what he can to keep Booker engaged.

This offseason got off to a shaky start when Ishbia hired Brian Gregory - with no real previous experience - to be the General Manager, with their Michigan State ties point to as one of the key reasons why. It may also yet transpire that the next head coach also has links to Ishbia's alma mater, as a couple of the rumored finalists for the job apparently do.

But in keeping Booker in the loop in what is going on - which does not appear to have been the case last season when they hired Mike Budenholzer - Booker is being treated like the superstar that he is in Phoenix. Ishbia has always said all of the right things about wanting to keep Booker long-term, but these actions certainly prove it.

Budenholzer's perceived inability to connect with Booker - as well as Durant and Bradley Beal - was seen as one of the main reasons it didn't work out for him in Phoenix last season, despite the Arizona native on paper looking like everything that team needed. Booker's involvement here is also another hint that a first time head coach will be the choice as well.

If Booker can grow with that coach - and accept that contending for a championship isn't likely in the next couple of seasons - then the Suns are going to be in a much better place than they are now. Get the coach and Booker on the same page, trade Durant for more depth and move forward with a younger roster that can grow together. This is the smartest decision Ishbia has made with the Suns.