The Phoenix Suns are entering into a rebuilding phase around Devin Booker, but the public perception of the team has changed over the course of preseason play. The results themselves don't matter - although it is always nice to go 3-1 and beat the Los Angeles Lakers twice - but rather it was the manner in which they played that was encouraging.
New addition Dillon Brooks has already brought with him a new commitment to defending, while center Khaman Maluach showed some flashes on both ends of the court. This team begins and ends with Devin Booker however, and Zach Lowe of The Ringer believes that will ultimately be their undoing this season.
Booker won't have any playmaking help from teammates this season.
Lowe was speaking as part of The Ringer's over/under podcast ahead of the new season, and to the surprise of many the Suns were given some love by another member of the episode in Joe House. He believes they're a lock to go over 31 wins this season, with both Lowe and Bill Simmons not being as certain. Lowe also thinks the Suns have a playmaking problem, and he's right about that.
Booker will begin the campaign running the show for his teammates, with Collin Gillespie backing him up. Jalen Green will be there to help, although a hamstring issue means he will miss the opening week plus of games. He's not known for his playmaking abilities either, although if he can make a leap in that department, then he will surely be in the All-Star conversation.
Third-string point guards Jordan Goodwin and Jared Butler will both also have their moments as long as they're in The Valley - they've been excellent additions so far - but they can only do so much. Which means it is always going to be on Booker to execute at a high level both for himself and his teammates each night, and that is going to be a problem long-term.
The regular season takes a toll, and the Suns will need Booker to put up 24 a night if they want to be competitive. In the last two seasons he has posted career highs in assists each night, but that was also when Kevin Durant was in town. Building an offense around those two - in theory at least - is easy, less so when Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale aren't seeing their 3-pointers drop.
So while fans should be optimistic about what this season could bring - and we're talking play-in tournament if all goes well - Lowe is right to bring a dose of reality to the situation. The Suns have no Plan B behind Booker in terms of elite playmaking and scoring, and that will eventually be their undoing. Doesn't mean they can't have a lot of fun in the process though.